Peruvian fans can rest easy: their legendary captain will be able to play in the 2018 World Cup.
Paolo Guerrero lived a tense life in the past couple of months, as the former Bayern Munich player was involved in a doping case following the World Cup Qualifying match between La Franjirroja and Argentina.
Guerrero was initially banned for a year, but after presenting evidence to support the player's innocence, Peru's all-time top scorer will lead Los Incas in their Russian adventure.
FIFA'S Appeal Committee explained via a press release how they reached this decision.
"On 20 December 2017, the FIFA Appeal Committee decided to partially uphold the appeal lodged by the Peruvian international player Paolo Guerrero. The decision rendered by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee on 7 December suspending the player for one year was therefore partially set aside and the initial period of ineligibility of one year imposed against the player has been reduced to six months," the document states.
"The FIFA Appeal Committee after taking into account all the circumstances of the case, in particular the degree of fault of the player, considered a six-month period of ineligibility to be a proportionate sanction," the document adds.
Guerrero's ban is retroactive to November 3, the original date of his suspension, giving him enough time to get in shape and help Peru in the World Cup. Russia 2018 will mark Perú's first appearance in the tournament after a 36-year hiatus.
