UPDATED: Former Wanderer and CPL Golden Boot winner João Morelli receives 18-month ban following doping violation
A report from the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) announced on Tuesday that former Halifax Wanderers star João Morelli has received an 18-month ban following an anti-doping rule violation.
The ruling relates to a failed urine sample collected on August 6, 2023, and revealed the presence of clomiphene metabolites, a prohibited hormone and metabolic modulator. Morelli failed to dispute the violation within the timelines specified by the Canadian Anti-Doping Program (CADP), forfeiting his rights to dispute the ruling. Morelli was injured in a match against Cavalry FC on September 12, 2023 and did not return for the remainder of the season.
Although Morelli officially announced his retirement from football at the end of the 2023, he'll be ineligible — should he decide to return to sports — for 18-months, which ends on November 7, 2025. During this period, Morelli is ineligible to participate in any capacity with any sport signatory to the CADP or the World Anti-Doping Code, including training with teammates.
Morelli, 28, left the Wanderers as the club's all-time leading scorer with 24 goals across all competitions. He originally signed with the club in 2020 and went on to lead Halifax to a finals appearance at the Island Games before going onto to be named CPL Player of the Year in 2021. He also won the Golden Boot that year with 14 goals.
However, Morelli sustained a serious knee injury in 2022 and had a lengthy rehab before returning part-way through the 2023 season. He scored four goals and added an assist before re-injuring himself in a match against Cavalry last September. He was then given permission by the club to return to Brazil to be with his young family and subsequently announced his retirement.
Morelli tallied 58 goals and 23 assists over his professional career.
"The Halifax Wanderers are aware of the CCES ruling and sanctioning regarding former player João Morelli. As a club, we take the Canadian Anti-Doping Program, which is independently administered by CCES, seriously. Our players receive education about the CADP before the season, have the opportunity to disclose the use of any substances and are made aware of both the in and out-of-competition testing requirements. We will have no further comment on this matter," said a spokesperson from the club when contacted for comment.
Cover Photo Credit: Halifax Wanderers FC
