World Cup winner slapped with TWO YEAR ban as FIFA dish out meaty punishment for doping violation

Alejandro 'Papu' Gomez has been hit with a two-year ban following a positive doping test from his time with La Liga outfit Sevilla.

Currently with Serie A side AC Monza, the Italian club issued a statement announcing the sanctions late last night. It read: "AC Monza announces that it has received today from FIFA, through the FIGC [Italian FA], notification of the first instance sentence of the Spanish Anti-Doping Commission, issued against the footballer Alejandro Dario Gomez.

"The sentence provides for a two-year disqualification from sporting activities. The presence of Terbutaline was found in the footballer's biological samples. It is a drug taken to calm a bronchospasm crisis, in October 2022, when the footballer was registered for Sevilla FC." The club also revealed that they will now assess all options available to them, which could include an appeal. 'AC Monza reserves the right to evaluate the next procedural steps.'

Gomez enjoyed a stellar spell with Atalanta before his move to Sevilla and his loss will come as a huge blow to ambitious Monza, who had viewed his signing this summer as somewhat of a coup, despite him being able to make just two substitute's appearances this campaign.

The 35-year-old had started two games in Argentina's victorious World Cup in Qatar 2022, in the opener against Saudi Arabia and again in the Round of 16 clash with Australia, but his international career is surely over given he will be 37 by the time his ban is served.