XtraTime Web Desk: Some positives new for Peru striker Paolo Guerrero, as he returned to professional football after a six-month ban for drug use on Sunday and expressed confidence he would soon be cleared to play in the World Cup.
Guerrero was banned after testing positive for cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine following Peru’s World Cup qualifier with Argentina in October last year.
He appeared before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland last week to appeal against the six-month ban and defend himself against a request for the suspension to be increased.
“I am very confident that it’s going to be alright, because I am innocent,” Guerrero said after the game.
“This is very emotional, a big crowd, the Maracana full, us winning 2-0,” he added.
“It’s incredible living this after the six months I’ve gone through, this injustice.”
Guerrero replaced center forward Henrique Dorado in the 57th minute of Flamengo’s league match against International.
He almost scored with a free kick that flashed inches wide and the Rio club eventually won 2-0, a victory that lifted them two points clear at the top of the Serie A table.
Guerrero has scored 32 goals for his country and helped them finish third in the 2011 and 2015 Copa Americas when he was leading scorer in both tournaments.
Some positive new for Peru striker Paolo Guerrero, as he returned to professional football after a six-month ban for drug use on Sunday and expressed confidence he would soon be cleared to play in the World Cup.
Guerrero was banned after testing positive for cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine following Peru’s World Cup qualifier with Argentina in October last year.
He appeared before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland last week to appeal against the six-month ban and defend himself against a request for the suspension to be increased.
“I am very confident that it’s going to be alright, because I am innocent,” Guerrero said after the game.
“This is very emotional, a big crowd, the Maracana full, us winning 2-0,” he added.
“It’s incredible living this after the six months I’ve gone through, this injustice.”
Guerrero replaced center forward Henrique Dorado in the 57th minute of Flamengo’s league match against International.
He almost scored with a free kick that flashed inches wide and the Rio club eventually won 2-0, a victory that lifted them two points clear at the top of the Serie A table.
Guerrero has scored 32 goals for his country and helped them finish third in the 2011 and 2015 Copa Americas when he was leading scorer in both tournaments.