Bolivian Flores handed two-year drugs ban

Bolivian midfielder Walter Flores has been handed a two-year ban after testing positive for cocaine, the Bolivian Football Federation (FBF) said Wednesday.

Flores, who plays for Bolivar in the country’s top division, tested positive after a Copa Libertadores — South America’s equivalent of Europe’s Champions League — match between his team and Peruvian outfit Juan Aurich.

Bolivar claimed after the positive test that Flores had drunk an infusion of cocoa leaves before the match, a popular practice in the Andes.

News of his test was first relayed by the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol).

FBF general secretary Pedro Zambrano told AFP: “We received the statement from Conmebol on Tuesday indicating that the player (Flores) has been suspended for all its matches.

“That means he is suspended for international club matches.”