Paolo Guerrero cocaine use "ruled out", says lawyer
The former Bayern Munich striker's lawyer has stated upon his return to Brazil that the metabolite in Guerrero's sample came from coca tea.Champions League draw 2018
There is positive news in what has become known as the 'Guerrero Case'. Paolo Guerrero's lawyer has returned to Brazil after spending three days in Lima with the Peruvian Football Federation (FPF).
Paolo Guerrero's lawyer issues statement
FIFA suspended Guerrero, 33, for 30 days on Friday after he failed a random anti-doping test, the FPF stated. Peru face New Zealand in a crucial play-off on 11 November in an attempt to reach their first World Cup since 1982. The loss of their talismanic striker therefore came as a blow.
Pedro Fida, the player's lawyer, and Luiz Carlos Cameron, a biochemist, stated that "the consumption of cocaine has been ruled out" after tests, and that "the metabolite found in the Flamengo player's urine is from coca tea."
Coca tea is a legal drink that is often used in South America to reduce the effects of altitude.
Peru striker's infusion may have been contaminated
The next investigation will be to determine whether any infusions that Guerrero consumed were contaminated, which could see a penalty reduced from a four-year ban to a warning.
"We met with the Peruvian Football Federation, gathering evidence and requesting the help of the Federation itself. FIFA has responded quickly to our requests. We are very confident in Guerrero's innocence and at the end of November I'm sure that there will be an outcome that proves Paolo´s innocence," said Pedro Fifa.
Guerrero is Peru's all-time leading goal-scorer with 33 goals in 84 appearances.
