Brazil's Athirson Cleared of Doping
RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazilian full-back Athirson has been cleared of doping, officials said on Wednesday.
The player, who has attracted interest from several European clubs, had been suspended since mid-June when the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said that he had tested positive for the banned stimulant fenoproporex, which is found in dietary supplements.
A three-man tribunal on Tuesday evening accepted evidence from Athirson's club Flamengo that there had been a mistake in the production of medicine he had been taking.
'I've lost two or three kilos and I haven't slept since this started,' said the player, who wept when the tribunal announced its decision.
Athirson, 23, missed Brazil's World Cup qualifier against Uruguay as a result of his suspension as was also left out of the squad announced on Tuesday for the matches later this month against Paraguay and Uruguay.
The lifting of the ban makes him likely to claim his place in Brazil's squad for the Olympic Games soccer tournament .
Reuters
Source: SOCOG
The player, who has attracted interest from several European clubs, had been suspended since mid-June when the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said that he had tested positive for the banned stimulant fenoproporex, which is found in dietary supplements.
A three-man tribunal on Tuesday evening accepted evidence from Athirson's club Flamengo that there had been a mistake in the production of medicine he had been taking.
'I've lost two or three kilos and I haven't slept since this started,' said the player, who wept when the tribunal announced its decision.
Athirson, 23, missed Brazil's World Cup qualifier against Uruguay as a result of his suspension as was also left out of the squad announced on Tuesday for the matches later this month against Paraguay and Uruguay.
The lifting of the ban makes him likely to claim his place in Brazil's squad for the Olympic Games soccer tournament .
Reuters
Source: SOCOG