The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has handed Cote d’Ivoire goalkeeper Sylvain Gbohouo an 18-month ban from football activities over a doping violation.
Gbohouo will be out of action until 24 June 2023, just before his country hosts the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
This comes after the 33-year-old goal-minder tested positive for the banned substance trimetazidine which he was “found to be in violation of article 6 of the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations.” He was provisionally suspended in December last year which saw him miss the 2021 AFCON tournament held in Cameroon earlier this year.
Trimetazidine is a heart medication that the World Anti-Doping Agency stated is a stimulant.
“As a result of the presence of the prohibited substance in his sample, the player was found to be in violation of article 6 of the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations as read in conjunction with article 17 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code,” read the world football governing body statement.
“The aforementioned suspension period starts on 23 December 2021, the date on which the player was provisionally suspended by the chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.
“In line with article 30 of the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations, the suspension covers, inter alia, all types of matches, including domestic, international, friendly and official fixtures.”
The Ethiopian side Wolkite Ketema shot-stopper has amassed 65 caps for the Elephants.
