The Spanish High Court has provisionally lifted the two-year ban handed to Athletic Bilbao player Carlos Gurpegi for a positive doping test.
The midfielder saw his player’s licence revoked last month after originally testing positive for 19-norandrosterone, a metabolite of the steroid nandrolone, back in September 2002.
However, Gurpegi decided to take his case to ordinary law courts in a bid to get the decision overturned. The 24-year-old has now had his suspension lifted until his case is heard in full by the High Court.
A statement on Athletic’s official website read: “In its reasonable judgement, the edict considers that the immediate imposition of the proposed punishment would cause the player irreversible damage should the aforementioned punishment later be reversed.
“Gurpegi will be able to play from today (Wednesday) in every game that the team has until a firm juridicial sentence is passed.”
Gurpegi – who has missed three games since his original suspension – will be available for Bilbao’s trip to Zaragoza on Thursday. Ê
