It has been reported that Senegal international Keita Balde could be set to miss the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar due to a doping ban that is set to run until December.
African International Passes Away
Although the 27-year-old winger is currently at Spartak Moscow in Russia, he could be an absentee for the Indomitable Lions in Qatar when the World Cup gets underway due to his actions from when he was on Cagliari's books last season.
The player provided a drugs test after his former side were defeated 5-1 by Udinese in Italy, and, while he is believed to have returned a negative result, Spartak has confirmed the ex-Barcelona prodigy has been suspended by the Italian National Anti-Doping Court.
The ban will reportedly end on 5 December, a few weeks into the World Cup.
"A sample taken from Keita that day found no banned substances. However, in accordance with the disciplinary code, any doping-related sanction imposed by another national or international sports association, national anti-doping organisation, is automatically accepted by FIFA and must be recognised by all confederations and associations," a statement on Spartak's official website read.
"Accordingly, the sanction applied by the Italian Anti-Doping Organisation is subject to recognition by the RFU.
"Under the terms of the disqualification, the player will be able to return to the training process no earlier than 22 days before the expiration of the sentence."
According to Transfermarkt, Balde has represented Senegal on 39 occasions since his international debut in 2016, while he also made one appearance at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
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