El Salvador international Erick Rivera suspended for four years
The 32-year-old striker tested positive for clostebol during the World Cup qualifiers in CONCACAF with the national team.
Bad news for the El Salvador national team after Erick Rivera has been suspended for four years for testing positive to clostebol. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee confirmed that the 32-year-old striker’s results were positive following the game played against Canada on 8 September 2021 during the World Cup qualifiers in CONCACAF.
Rivera violated the article 6 of the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations and he will be banned until 5 October 2025. This means that the El Salvador international will not be able to play domestic, international, friendly and official fixtures during that time period. Rivera’s contract with Santa Tecla is expected to be terminated as well due to the suspension granted by FIFA.
Another player that has been banned by FIFA is Djiboutian player Sabri Ali Mohamed and he has been suspended until 11 January 2026. The 21-year-old player tested positive for exogenously administered testosterone following the match played on 12 November 2021.
What is clostebol?
It is listed under anabolic agents on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s banned list and it is a steroid. Clostebol is a synthetic derivative of the muscle-building steroid that the body naturally produces in larger amounts in men than women.