The Biggest Doping Scandals That Have Rocked the World of Soccer
Soccer has seen its fair share of controversial moments, but nothing rattles fans quite like a doping scandal. The sport isn’t usually linked with performance-enhancing drugs the way cycling or track might be, yet several major stars have had their careers put on hold after testing positive.
Let’s look back at some of the biggest stories that shook the game.
Fred’s Copa América Nightmare
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Copa2014.gov.br
Brazilian midfielder Fred was a rising star when he was pulled into controversy at the 2015 Copa América in Chile. He tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide, a banned diuretic often used to mask other substances. Initially, CONMEBOL hit him with a one-year ban, but the suspension only applied to international play. That changed when FIFA stepped in and extended it to cover club games as well, thus sidelining him at Shakhtar Donetsk.
Fred denied wrongdoing, and the World Anti-Doping Agency even took the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, arguing the punishment wasn’t harsh enough. In the end, he served his time, came back strong in Ukraine, and earned a move to Manchester United along with a spot in Brazil’s 2018 World Cup squad.
Onana’s Costly Mix-Up
André Onana’s doping case has been unusual. While at Ajax in 2020, the Cameroonian goalkeeper accidentally took a pill called Lasimac, which had been prescribed to his wife after childbirth. He claimed he meant to take medicine for a headache, but UEFA didn’t buy the explanation and slapped him with a one-year ban in 2021. After an appeal, the suspension was reduced to nine months.
Onana missed a huge chunk of Ajax’s season but returned in time to play for Cameroon in the African Cup of Nations. Eventually, he signed for Inter Milan, reached the Champions League final, and later joined Manchester United. His story is often cited as a cautionary tale about the potential drawbacks of strict anti-doping rules.
Pep Guardiola’s Fight for Innocence
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Niklas B.
Long before he became one of the greatest managers in history, Pep Guardiola faced accusations that could have damaged his reputation for good. Back in 2001, while playing in Italy for Brescia, he tested positive for nandrolone, an anabolic steroid. The Italian Football Federation suspended him for four months and issued a fine, but Guardiola never stopped insisting he had done nothing wrong.
He fought the case for years and argued that the result was unreliable. At the time, nandrolone testing was controversial, with several athletes challenging its accuracy. Eventually, Italian courts agreed there wasn’t enough proof that Guardiola had deliberately doped. In 2009, while he was managing Barcelona, a court overturned the earlier ruling and cleared him of all charges.
Paul Pogba’s Painful Suspension
Paul Pogba, a World Cup winner with France, is one of the biggest names in recent times to face a doping scandal. In August 2023, he tested positive for DHEA, a substance that boosts testosterone. Italy’s anti-doping body suspended him provisionally, and in early 2024, he was handed a four-year ban, one of the harshest punishments in recent soccer history.
Pogba claimed he never knowingly took the substance and pointed to supplements prescribed in Florida. After appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, his ban was cut to 18 months. That means he could be back on the field in March 2025, but whether a club will take a chance on him remains to be seen.
Maradona’s Rollercoaster Career
No conversation about doping in soccer is complete without Diego Maradona. His career was marked by both moments of genius and scandal. In 1991, while at Napoli, he tested positive for an illegal substance and was banned for 15 months, effectively ending his time at the club. Three years later, at the 1994 World Cup, he was expelled after testing positive for ephedrine following a memorable win over Nigeria.
It was one of the most dramatic exits in tournament history. Then, in 1997, during his final days at Boca Juniors, he tested positive once again and retired not long after.