Suspend your disbelief
Paolo Guerrero’s on-again, off-again ban a bizarre saga
The Paolo Guerrero precedent needs unpacking.
How did Peru’s captain — its great hope at this World Cup — go from banned, to unbanned, to suspended (again), to benefiting from a “temporary” reprieve that will see him feature at this summer’s tournament?
Why does such a feel-good story feel so bizarre, so unjust, after a Swiss judge overturning what, at one point, was supposed to be a 14-month ban?
According to reports, Guerrero might still have to serve his suspension at the conclusion of Peru’s stay in Russia.
Uh, what?
It sounds like Guerrero might still be suspended — just not now.
This after a Swiss judge ruled last week in favour of Guerrero’s appeal to return to the pitch.
First, the back story.
The 34-year-old tested positive for a metabolite of cocaine following a crucial World Cup qualifier on Oct. 5, 2017 — a discovery that landed him a costly 12-month ban.
As a result, Guerrero didn’t feature in Peru’s intercontinental playoff series with New Zealand.
The 34-year-old later appealed that he accidentally consumed the substance while drinking tea he didn’t know was contaminated.
So Guerrero sat idle until the FIFA appeal committee apparently bought his plea to have his suspension cut in half. It appeared Peru’s skipper was back in the picture until the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) sided with the World AntiDoping Agency’s appeal to undo FIFA’s decision, putting Guerrero’s World Cup inclusion back into jeopardy — again.
What followed was unprecedented.
Guerrero received an outpouring of support. The world players’ union reportedly backed Guerrero before the captains from all three Group C World Cup opponents signed a letter asking soccer’s governing body to grant Guerrero another reprieve.
“We are writing to you in relation to the situation of the captain of the national team of Peru, Mr. Paolo Guerrero,” the letter read, according to Sky Sports.
“For the past 14 years he has represented his country with pride, pursuing qualification for the FIFA World Cup. Finally that moment has arrived, with Peru set to appear at the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia.”
The Swiss supreme court, which oversees the CAS, backed Guerrero’s World Cup inclusion last month, ruling his ban should be put on hold until his case can be reviewed.
“This decision does justice, at least partially, and I’m grateful to the Swiss court,” Guerrero responded, according to The Guardian.
Whether or not Guerrero is guilty of consuming a banned substance feels strangely inconsequential.
And you can’t help but wonder if Peru’s Group C competitors will come to regret supporting one of South America’s most lethal strikers.