One of Colombia’s goalkeepers for the upcoming Copa America has reportedly been confirmed to have tested positive in a doping control.
Deportes Tolima goalkeeper Alvaro Montero reportedly tested positive for isometheptene in 2018 and his counter sample has now also tested positive for the banned substance, according to local media.
Isometheptene is used for the treatment of migraines and Colombian journalist Cesar Augusto Londono said Montero, 24, “will have to wait for the decision of tribunals if the positive result is doping and a possible sanction”.
Reports state that Montero’s lawyers are working on the case but no official statement has been made regarding the incident.
He is said to have tested positive after a match against Independiente Medellin in the semi-finals of the Colombian league last year. His lawyers are reportedly working to show that he was not seeking to gain an unsporting advantage by using the drug.
Isometheptene causes the constriction of blood vessels, therefore decreasing the flow of blood and helping retain body heat or increase vascular resistance, as well as helping treat migraines.
The case is reportedly in the hands of the Disciplinary Commission of the Major Division of Colombian Professional Football (DIMAYOR), the organisation responsible for operating professional football leagues and tournaments in Colombia.
The goalkeeper made his Colombia debut on 3rd June as a 77th-minute substitute in a friendly against Panama ahead of the Copa America.
Colombian radio station Caracol report that Montero faces a sanction of between six months and four years if found guilty, with a decision expected in November or December.
He is expected to be allowed to play in the Copa America, where he is battling Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina and Deportivo Cali stopper Camilo Vargas for a starting place.
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Story By: Alex Cope, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder,Agency: Golder’s News And Sport
