After 15-month ban, Boris Céspedes prepares for return to professional football

Bolivian midfielder Boris Céspedes is on the cusp of returning to professional football, with his 15-month suspension for a doping violation set to end on August 14. The ban, imposed by FIFA after he tested positive in a doping control in March 2025 following a World Cup qualifying match between Bolivia and Uruguay, initially carried a two-year suspension.

However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS) reduced the penalty in August 2025, enabling Céspedes to resume his career sooner. At the time of the infraction, he was playing for Yverdon Sport in Switzerland's top division. The case garnered significant attention, as Céspedes was considered a key player for the Bolivian national team.

During the proceedings, Céspedes explained that he had taken medication to combat the effects of altitude before a qualifying match. Despite this, it was not proven that the substance was ingested during the national team's training camp. While serving his suspension, Céspedes continued to train and was announced in July of this year as a new player for Étoile Carouge, a team in the second division of Swiss football.

The TAS ruling permits Céspedes to play again starting August 14. This timing could allow him to be available for his team's match on August 15 against Collex-Bossy. With his suspension concluded, Céspedes seeks to regain consistent playing time in European football and re-establish himself as a candidate for future call-ups to the Bolivian national team.