Rio de Janeiro: Peruvian Flamengo striker Paolo Guerrero has said that he is confident he will receive a positive response from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), on his request that the six-month doping ban imposed on him by Fifa be lifted, clearing him to represent Peru at the World Cup in Russia next month.
“I am very confident because I am innocent and I did not do anything,” Guerrero said after the away match in which Flamengo lost 2-3 to Chapecoense on the fifth day of the Brazilian football Championship.
Guerrero’s participation in the World Cup in Russia depends on the decision of the CAS, which is due to be announced on May 16.
“I am very confident because I believe in justice,” added the Peruvian striker, who made a comeback to the field on May 6 after completing a six-month doping ban imposed by Fifa.
However, after the suspension ended on May 3, Fifa and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) called on the CAS to extend the ban on the captain and top scorer of the Peru national team for one more year.
Guerrero tested positive on October 5 for benzoylecgonine, the main metabolite of cocaine and coca leaf, after playing a World Cup qualifier against Argentina in Buenos Aires.
After the six-month suspension the Peruvian striker returned to the field last week and scored a goal in Sunday’s match against Chapecoense.
Peru are in Group C at the World Cup, together with France, Denmark and Australia.
