Chile defender Cereceda suspended for doping
Reuters - Tuesday 19 October 2010, 16:36
SANTIAGO - Chile defender Roberto Cereceda
has been suspended after testing positive for cocaine and an
appeal been put in motion, his club Colo Colo said on Tuesday.
Cereceda, who learnt of the doping result while on tour with
Chile in the Middle East two weeks ago, tested positive for
cocaine after a Copa Sudamericana match away to Bolivia's
Universitario in Sucre in August.
The South American Football Confederation (CSF), which
decided on Monday night on a provisional suspension pending a
hearing, said Cereceda had 21 days to appeal.
The Paraguay-based CSF decided to "provisionally suspend the
player Roberto Cereceda from all football related activity," the
CSF said in a statement published by Colo Colo on their website.
"Cereceda was positive (for cocaine) in the first sample and
the second."
The 26-year-old full-back's contract with Colo Colo concludes
at the end of this season but the Chilean champions said they
would support him through his appeal.
Local media said Cereceda's defence would be centred on his
having drunk coca leaf tea, a legal activity common in Bolivia
to combat altitude sickness. However, Colo Colo doctor Roberto
Yanez was quoted as saying that if he did, it was not with the
club's knowledge.
"Our main concern is to prepare the best defence possible
and be able, in a responsible manner, to defend the player and
attempt to get the smallest sanction possible," club president
Guillermo Mackenna told the website.
CSF sources said Cereceda faced a suspension of up to two
years.
Despite the positive test coming to light on Oct. 8, Chile
coach Marcelo Bielsa fielded Cereceda in friendlies against the
United Arab Emirates and Oman.
The defender converted a penalty
in the 2-0 win over UAE in Abu Dhabi on October 9.