River Plate are embroiled in a scandal as three players test positive for Hydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic drug banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Players tested positive after Copa Libertadores

There is a discrepancy regarding the number of players implicated. The South American Football Federation (CONMEBOL) announced that at least three players tested positive, while an official announcement from River Plate cites two players. Argentine newspaper La Nación stated on Thursday that as many as seven players could have tested positive.

The two players that River Plate have named are Argentine Lucas Martínez Quarta, and Uruguayan Camilo Mayada. Martínez Quarta, a talented 21-year-old centre half, tested positive on 10 May following 1-1 draw with Emelec in the Copa Libertadores. Mayada, a 26-year-old midfielder, tested positive in Peru on 18 May, following a 3-2 victory over Melgar. Mayada scored one goal and provided another assist in that Copa Libertadores clash.

21-year-old starlet Sebastián Driussi is the third player to be named by CONMEBOL, although the federation has not disclosed after which match he tested positive.

Full screen River Plate rocked as three players test positive for doping Natacha Pisarenko (AP)

River Plate offer explanation

In an official announcement on the club website, River Plate only referred to the cases of Martínez Quarta and Mayada.

The Buenos Aires giant proposed an explanation for the positive test results.

“[River Plate] vehemently reinforces the supposition that supplementary products used by the club on a regular basis were contaminated.”