Keita Balde, a forward for Senegal, has been suspended until December 5 for an anti-doping violation committed in Italy, his new club, Spartak Moscow, stated, substantially diminishing his World Cup hopes.
Balde (27), who spent the previous season in Serie A with Cagliari, signed a three-year agreement with Russian Premier League club Spartak last month.
Spartak stated in a statement that Balde “has been suspended by the Italian national anti-doping organization until December 5 for a procedural infraction during an anti-doping examination while he was playing for Cagliari.”
The Russian club did not detail the nature of the violation, but stated that no banned substances were found in the sample that was analyzed.
In accordance with Fifa regulations, according to Spartak, Balde will not be able to resume training until three weeks before the conclusion of his suspension.
Balde, who was born in Spain, won the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal in February, but he could miss the World Cup in Qatar, which runs from November 20 to December 18.
On November 21, Senegal plays the Netherlands in their opening Group A encounter. They also face Qatar and Ecuador as hosts.
Due to his suspension, Balde would miss the quarterfinals.