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Lionel Messi's lawyer to defend Guerrero before FIFA Appeal Committee

Paolo Guerrero corre contra el tiempo para poder jugar el Mundial Rusia 2018

Paolo Guerrero corre contra el tiempo para poder jugar el Mundial Rusia 2018

17:46 | Lima, Dec. 13.

Juan de Dios Crespo will join Paolo Guerrero's group of lawyers to appeal FIFA's decision following the doping penalty imposed on the Peruvian athlete, which leaves him unable to defend Peru at the 2018 World Cup.

Crespo is a well-known expert in sports law. This year, he provided advice to Argentinean Lionel Messi, who had allegedly insulted a linesman during an Argentina-Chile match at the South American Qualifiers.

As is known, the four-match international suspension was later lifted by FIFA's Appeal Committee.

In this sense, the lawyer —who is the sports department's director at Spanish firm Ruiz-Huerta & Crespo— will join Guerrero's defense, which is also composed of Brazilian Pedro Fida.

As is known, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee decided to suspend Guerrero for one year after analyzing the adverse analytical result of the anti-doping test conducted on him following a match against Argentina on October 5.

Guerrero's appeal must be submitted within a 10 day period, started on December 8 —the date when FIFA Disciplinary Committee revealed the decision in Zurich.

It must be noted the athlete's suspension will be in force thru November 2018, excluding Guerrero from the 2018 World Cup —for which Peru qualified after 36 years.

According to FIFA, the player tested positive for metabolite benzoylecgonine, a substance included in WADA's 2017 Prohibited List under the class "S6. Stimulants." 

The ban also comprises any type of match including national, international, friendly, and official ones.

(END) JSO/FGM/MVB

Published: 12/13/2017