Flamengo announced its list of 50 players registered for the group stage of the Copa Libertadores and included Gabigol, despite a two-year suspension for an alleged fraud attempt during an anti-doping test.
The incorporation of Gabriel Barbosa to the roster with his usual number 10 is a clear sign that the club believes in the footballer’s innocence and in the possibility of reversing the sanction imposed by the Brazilian Anti-Doping Sports Justice Court.
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“We will assist the player in presenting the appeal to the Court, considering that there was no type of fraud, not even an attempt, that justifies the punishment applied,” Fla had stated last Tuesday, after learning of the decision, in a statement.
The complaint indicates that on April 8 of last year the forward failed to comply with the schedule and disobeyed the instructions of a surprise test before the final of the Carioca Championship with Fluminense. The footballer denied the accusations.
Confira os inscritos do Flamengo para a fase de grupos da @Libertadores de 2024! #VamosFlamengo pic.twitter.com/tBCKMYL0cq
— Flamengo (@Flamengo) March 27, 2024
Flamengo’s debut in the Libertadores
Mengão will play the first game of the Libertadores group stage next Tuesday at 7 p.m. (Brasília time) against Millonarios in Bogotá. It also shares Group E with Bolívar (Bolivia) and Palestino (Chile).
In addition to Gabigol, on the list for this first instance of the contest that he won three times in its history, the Rio institution included several youth players. Many of them have just lifted the U-20 Copa Libertadores after winning the final against Boca Juniors (Argentina).
