The Socceroos' chances of progressing to the second round of the 2018 World Cup in Russia have received a major boost after the captain of one of their group-stage opponents was banned from the tournament.
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After guiding Peru to their first World Cup in 36 years, talismanic striker Paolo Guerrero will not travel to Russia after receiving a 12-month ban from all competitive games for testing positive to cocaine. The 33-year-old former Bayern Munich striker tested positive for the illegal drug after the October 5 World Cup qualifying draw away to Argentina and his year-long ban was provisionally ratified by FIFA on Saturday evening.
It means Peru's all-time leading goal scorer will be absent for his country's crucial final World Cup group match against Australia in Sochi on June 26 that will likely determine which nations progress to the knockout stages. Guerrero is regarded as one of Peru's greatest players and was their joint top goal scorer during the qualifications for the 2018 World Cup, netting five goals to help seal qualification.
Guerrero did not play in Peru's World Cup play-off against New Zealand due to the positive test for cocaine, with his 12-month ban backdated from November 3.
"The player tested positive for cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine, a substance included in Wada's 2017 Prohibited List under the class 'S6. Stimulants', following a doping control test conducted after the match," a FIFA statement read.
"By testing positive for a prohibited substance, the player has violated article 6 of the Fifa Anti-Doping Regulations and, as such, contravened article 63 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code."
However, Guerrero maintains his innocence and appears to be weighing up a possible legal challenge to his suspension. Pedro Fida, Guerrero's lawyer, told Peruvian media they will contest the decision through an appeals process.
"The evidence is clear, and when added to the low concentration of the substance typical of coca leaves there can be no justification under any circumstances for this decision," Fida said.
The Peruvian football federation, FPF, suggested they would support an appeal on behalf of Guerrero and have provided their assistance to the player.
"Today we were visited by Paolo's family and spoke to him with the certainty that football and Peruvians united can overcome adversity," FPF said in a statement.
Guerrero has scored 32 goals in 86 appearances for his country and plays his club football in Brazil with Flamengo. He is most known in the German Bundesliga where he spent two years with Bayern before spending six seasons with Hamburg.
Alongside Peru, Australia was drawn with France and Denmark in Group C in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
