Peru striker Paolo Guerrero to miss World Cup playoff against All Whites after testing positive for banned substance

  • Updated
  • 04/11/2017
Peru striker Paolo Guerrero has reportedly tested positive for banned substance.
Peru striker Paolo Guerrero has reportedly tested positive for banned substance. Photo credit: Getty Images

Peru captain Paolo Guerrero has been suspended for 30 days over a doping violation, and will not feature in the intercontinental playoff against the All Whites.

The 33-year-old has tested positive after their goal-less draw against Argentina last month. 

Some say it was a "social drug", while Brazilian Football's doping control chairman Fernando Solera has told ESPN Brazil the positive test was due to medication to treat the flu.

"The Peruvian Football Federation informs that after the match ended on 5th October 2017 against the selection of Argentina, our player Paolo Guerrero was subjected to an anti-doping control according to the general protocol established in the preliminary stage of the competition Russia 2018, "the Peruvian Football Federation's statement said.

"Today, November 3 at 14:09, the President of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has just informed us of the provisional suspension measure for 30 days of our player Paolo Guerrero for an adverse analytical result in the aforementioned control.

"The FPF abides by and respects FIFA's decision and trusts that the facts will soon be clarified and this process will be definitively resolved.

"Paolo, captain and leader of our national team, plays a very important role for our selected on and off the pitch thanks to the quality of the person he has always shown. We value his immense contribution to our National Team so the FPF and the whole Peru stand in solidarity with him in these difficult moments."

Guerrero is Peru's all-time leading scorer with 33 goals in 84 internationals.

Peru are expected to arrive in New Zealand for the first leg in the coming days.

The first leg will be played at Westpac Stadium on Saturday, November 11, with a 4:15pm kick-off, while the second leg will be played in Lima on Thursday, November 16, at 3:15pm (NZ time).

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