Swiss federal judges reject final appeal by Peru’s Guerrero

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Peru forward Paolo Guerrero lost his final appeal against a 14-month ban by FIFA for a positive doping test.

Switzerland’s supreme court said on Thursday its panel of five federal judges rejected Guerrero’s appeal against FIFA and the World Anti-Doping Agency.

The Swiss Federal Tribunal ruling announced on Thursday delays the 35-year-old player’s return to action with Brazilian club Internacional until early April.

Guerrero is also ineligible for Peru’s two friendly games in the United States this month, against Paraguay and El Salvador.

He tested positive for a metabolite of cocaine at a World Cup qualifying game against Argentina in October 2017. He argued that he drank contaminated tea at a hotel.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport extended FIFA’s six-month ban to 14 months. That case was heard after Guerrero appealed to overturn the ban, and WADA requested a longer sanction than FIFA’s appeals committee imposed.

However, a Swiss judge froze the ban last year to let Guerrero play at the World Cup in Russia, noting it could be a “crowning glory of his career” in Peru’s first World Cup appearance for 36 years.

Guerrero scored one goal at the World Cup, in a 2-0 win over Australia. Peru had already been eliminated by 1-0 losses against Denmark and eventual champion France.

Federal judges ordered him to pay court costs of 7,000 Swiss francs ($6,970), and 8,000 Swiss francs ($7,960) to WADA.