The CAS partially upheld an anti-doping appeal by football player Boris Cespedes (Bolivia)against a FIFA decision
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has partially upheld an appeal by football player Boris Cespedes (Bolivia) against a FIFA decision, concerning an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV). Mr Cespedes’ suspension from any football-related activity has been reduced from a period of two years to 15 months, with credit for provisional suspension served.
Boris Cespedes is a professional football player of Bolivian nationality who then played for Swiss Super League club Yverdon-Sport FC and represents the national team of the Bolivian Football Federation (FBF). He was selected for an in-competition doping control following the match Bolivia v. Uruguay played on 25 March 2025 in the Estadio Municipal de El Alto, located at 4000 metres above sea level (FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers). The player did not play that match as he was unwell.
On 7 August 2025, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee (FIFA DC) found the player responsible for violating the FIFA Disciplinary Code and the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations by committing an ADRV. Acetazolamide was found in the player’s sample, which is a Specified Substance in the World AntiDoping Code Prohibited List (S5, diuretics and masking agents). The FIFA DC imposed a period of ineligibility of two years, with credit for the provisional suspension voluntarily served since 14 May 2025.
Mr Cespedes filed an appeal with CAS against FIFA on 3 October 2025. He requested that CAS annuls the FIFA DC decision and issues a new decision with a suspension of no more than six months, for bearing no significant fault or negligence. The appeal stated that Mr Cespedes was prescribed medication for altitude sickness by the FBF team doctor and due to severe illness, was in no condition to verify the medications administered to him.
A virtual hearing was held on 15 January 2026 where a Sole CAS Arbitrator examined the evidence and the arguments of the parties. The Sole Arbitrator found that Mr Cespedes committed an ADRV and the finding of acetazolamide in his sample is not in dispute. However, the Sole Arbitrator also found that Mr Cespedes narrowly established, the source of the prohibited substance, which more likely than not entered his system through altitude sickness medication prescribed by FBF medical staff.
A virtual hearing was held on 15 January 2026 where a Sole CAS Arbitrator examined the evidence and the arguments of the parties. The Sole Arbitrator found that Mr Cespedes committed an ADRV and the finding of acetazolamide in his sample is not in dispute. However, the Sole Arbitrator also found that Mr Cespedes narrowly established, the source of the prohibited substance, which more likely than not entered his system through altitude sickness medication prescribed by FBF medical staff obligations as a professional footballer playing at a high level for twelve years. For these reasons, the Sole Arbitrator determined that the player’s degree of fault was “normal” and that the applicable range of ineligibility under the FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations corresponds to a range of 12 to 24 months.
Consequently, the Sole Arbitrator determined that a period of ineligibility of 15 months is proportionate and appropriate to the circumstances of this case. The appeal is partially upheld and the sanction against Mr Cespedes is amended, with a deduction for the provisional suspension served since 14 May 2025.
This is an unofficial summary for media use. Unless Parties request confidentiality, the full CAS award will be published on the CAS website. For legal purposes, only the wording used in the written decision is binding.
***The original press release can be found here:***chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.tas-cas.org/generated/assets/lists/dceab111-07bc-435f-b5f9-de88eff9db72/CAS Media Release_11815_EN.pdf
