Tribunal of Honor suspends FIFA Normalization Committee in Guatemala

The Tribunal of Honor of the Autonomous Sports Confederation of Guatemala (CDAG) has suspended the FIFA Normalization Committee after accepting a complaint from four players who tested positive for doping in December last year, said the president of the commission, Adela Camacho.

"We are suspended. No action can be taken. We don't know if CDAG will appoint a committee or if FIFA will suspend," commented Camacho.

The suspension of the players, two Guatemalans, Argentine Alejandro Díaz and Costa Rican Alexander Robinson, all from Antigua club, was agreed upon by the FIFA Committee in January, one month after taking office.

The athletes tested positive for testosterone, a substance prohibited by FIFA that helps increase muscle mass, and were sanctioned with a four-year suspension, so they appealed to the CDAG's Tribunal of Honor.

On July 25, FIFA issued a statement warning that it could suspend Guatemala from all international activity due to the interference of the CDAG, a state organism, in a doping case in football.

"We regret that Fedefutbol is at imminent risk of suspension due to actions by third parties against members of the FIFA Normalization Committee in Guatemala," said FIFA.

The potential punishment would also affect Antigua club, which is participating for the first time in the Concacaf Champions League this year.

A sanction would also leave Guatemala out of the U-20 Pre-World Cup and the Futsal World Cup in Colombia this month.