Soccer-Ivory Coast confirm drugs ban on goalkeeper

Football Soccer - France v Ivory Coast - Friendly soccer match - Stade Felix Bollaert, Lens, France - 15/11/16. Ivory Coast goalkeeper Sylvain Gbohouo catches the ball during the match against France. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol/File Photo

DOUALA (Reuters) - Ivory Coast will not be able to use their first choice goalkeeper Sylvain Gbohouo at the Africa Cup of Nations finals after a drugs ban was confirmed by FIFA, the Ivorian Football Federation said.

Gbohouo, who plays club football in Ethiopia at Wolkite City, had been provisionally suspended by FIFA after testing positive for trimetazidine, a heart medication that the World Anti-Doping Agency categorises as a stimulant.