PERU CAPTAIN NOW ELIGIBLE FOR RUSSIA 2018, AS DRUG BAN IS LIFTED
In case that particularly annoyed Peruvians, it seems like there is green light at the end of the tunnel as the captain of the national football team, Paolo Guerrero, is now cleared to play for Peru at the 2018 World Cup.
The Peruvian, who is the nations all-time top goal scorer, was handed a 14-month ban by the court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for an alleged drugs violation just last week.
Today, Guerrero was granted a stay of execution by the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland, which means that his case will be delayed and revisited after the World Cup tournament that commences in just two weeks.
The Supreme Court, in reaching its verdict took into the account the fact that FIFA does not oppose Guerrero’s participation in the tournament. It also accounted for suffering that he will go through if he was unable to compete for his country as it would be the greatest achievement of his career.
This new development will definitely lighten up the mood of fans in Peru, who had previously held rallies and protest on the streets in support of their captain.
Guerrero, who plays his club football in Brazil for Flamengo, tested positive for the cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine in October 2017. However, he claims the substance he tested positive for was as a result of a cup of coca tea, a common drink in South America.
In an unlikely twist of event, Peru who is in Group C for this year’s world cup got support from fellow countries in the group as the captains of Australia, France and Denmark wrote letters to FIFA urging the governing body to let Guerrero play.
The Peru Coach has until the June 4 deadline to list Guerrero in his 23-man squad that will fly to Russia.
Image Credit: One Football
