CAN 2021 – Ivory Coast: The truths of Beaumelle on the suspension of Gbohouo by FIFA

Côte d’Ivoire should, unless the situation turns around, play in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations without Sylvain Gbohouo. The number 1 Ivorian goalkeeper is suspended by FIFA from all football-related activities. A decision taken after a doping test. A case clarified by Patrice Beaumelle, the coach of the Elephants, in an interview conducted by the Communication Unit of the Ivorian Football Federation.

A treatment that seems to go wrong

It is an ordinary routine treatment which is about to cost Sylvain Gbohouo the CAN 2021 and perhaps the last years of his professional career. “We asked, at the beginning of last year at the March camp, to go for an eye exam as often the guards do. He went to do it in Abidjan. The doctor who performed the auscultation prescribed medicine for him. He took these drugs in March. Since March, he has stopped these drugs, ”said Patrice Beaumelle, coach of Côte d’Ivoire.

Eight months later, Sylvain Gbohouo was far from doubting the cost of a treatment which was nevertheless normal. Everything will then change on November 16, 2021 when the Ivory Coast Elephants meet in Cameroon.

The doping test that changed everything

On November 16, 2021, the Ivory Coast traveled to Cameroon for the last day of the second round of the Africa zone qualifiers for the Qatar 2022 World Cup. A match lost by Patrice Beaumelle’s men 1-0. At the end of the match, two players were invited to take the doping test. Among them was Sylvain Gbohouo, the Elephants goalkeeper.

“During the match against Cameroon, there was an anti-doping test after the match. Two players had been designated. Sylvain went to do this test and the result came out on Monday. I was informed on Monday 27 (December 2021) that there were traces, not of the doping product, because he was not aware. It is a tablet compared to his eyes so he took this treatment just in March, then he stopped because he no longer needs it, ”clarified Patrice Beaumelle.

The rest, we know it. FIFA has decided to suspend Gbohouo from all competition for damage. This deprives him of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, except for a turnaround.