World Cup qualifying scandal: possible doping suspects emerge in Bolivia during game against Colombia

New doping cases are rocking the Bolivian national team and the 2026 World Cup qualifiers . Two players reportedly tested positive after the match against Colombia . This adds to a number of recent, already known cases, raising alarms at Conmebol and FIFA.

This match took place at El Alto Stadium on October 10, 2024, when Néstor Lorenzo 's team suffered a narrow defeat.

Journalist Adrián Magnoli provided details of what allegedly happened. "I spoke with someone important in the Colombian national team's coaching staff, and he gave me two pieces of news about the Bolivian national team. That's what he (the foreign journalist) said. Listen to him."

At that moment, a professional is shown discussing the alleged doping case. "Bolivian soccer player Boris Céspedes , currently playing in the Swiss league, acknowledged that he tested positive in a test conducted after the qualifying match between the 'Verde' and Uruguay on March 25 in Villa Ingenio," the video clip shows.

"In the match against Colombia, the two Bolivian players who underwent drug testing tested positive. FIFA is very lax, very flexible with this; it allows for a counter-test (...) So, absolutely nothing can be done at the moment. It doesn't take away points; it sanctions players. It takes away points when there are more players, but since there are two, it doesn't take away points," Magnoli added.

He also announced that: "apparently, they also tested positive against Chile and Uruguay," which is why the Colombian national team would be closely monitoring what might happen with this alleged doping case within the Bolivian team.

According to unofficial reports from the international press, the situation is undergoing an investigation that could take several months. Bolivia will face Colombia in the next FIFA matchday. The Colombian team is very close to securing its spot in the World Cup.

Last May, Bolívar midfielder Ramiro Vaca , one of the Copa Libertadores' top scorers, tested positive in an anti-doping test and CONMEBOL notified the club, which suspended him.

Bolívar explained that CONMEBOL notified him of the provisional suspension of player Ramiro Vaca Ponce for an alleged violation of anti-doping regulations.

Speaking to DSports, Bolivia coach Óscar Villegas provided details on Ramiro Vaca 's situation: "The information I have on Ramiro, because they are all specific, personal cases, what has come out with Ramiro has been with his club in the Copa Libertadores. They have found a contaminating substance, which is minimal, and in any case, these are precisely the key days for the resolution to be issued," said the Bolivian coach.

“The national team is taking all necessary precautions to ensure our players avoid any type of situation. In fact, in the last few matches, when we've had to travel abroad, which we don't normally do, we're sending a lot of advanced personnel and our own equipment. This can be interpreted in different ways. Ours is that they might want to harm us, and that's why we're being very careful,” said the coach.

Colombia is sixth in the qualifying round with 22 points, while Bolivia is eighth with 17, with two matches remaining.