Gabriel Barbosa, widely known as Gabigol, the former Inter Milan striker who now plays for Cruzeiro, has taken to his social media channels to express his profound emotions. This follows the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) having upheld his appeal against the Brazilian Football Federation and the Brazilian Anti-Doping Authority (ABCD). The appeal challenged a two-year suspension he had received for alleged tampering with an anti-doping test.
“Justice has been done. But the wound remains,” he posted on Instagram. His statement further read, “I carried the weight of guilt even before being judged.”
Indeed, a final ruling was issued today, definitively quashing the case that first emerged in March 2024, when Gabigol was still playing for Flamengo. While his suspension was initially set to last until April 2025, that specific decision had been provisionally halted in April 2024.
In its publicly released judgment, the court affirmed that “although Gabriel Barbosa`s conduct was entirely uncooperative, it cannot be considered `tampering` under the World Anti-Doping Code and does not meet the threshold for an ADRV (Anti-Doping Rule Violation).”
The tribunal indicated that a violation would have occurred if the agents had adequately warned Gabigol or adopted a more decisive approach, clearly informing him that delays in presenting himself at the anti-doping control center or any form of obstructive behavior would not be tolerated.
Gabigol`s Full Statement:
“Justice has been done. But the wound remains.
These have been two of the most challenging years of my life, as I was unjustly accused of something I never did. No prohibited substance was found, yet they still sought to punish me for alleged `attitude.` I witnessed my reputation questioned, my word discredited, my family suffering, and my fans divided.
I bore the burden of being deemed guilty even before being judged. I experienced the pain of seeing potential new opportunities closed off and young people who admired me confused about who I truly was.
Today, CAS recognized the obvious: that there was no fraud, no tampering. That justice for justice`s sake is not persecution. I hope my case serves as a warning so that no athlete, or anyone else, ever has to go through what my family and I have endured.
I leave this journey with my head held high, but with the certainty that I will never forget those who walked with me.
The truth always prevails! Thank you, family.”
