THE ARGENTINIAN NATIONAL football team was involved in systematic doping prior to a World Cup qualification match in 1993, according to footballing legend Diego Maradona.

The controversial star was sent home from the USA during the 1994 World Cup following a failed drugs test.

But now, according to a recent interview on Argentinian television, Maradona has claimed that the entire team took banned substances ahead of a make-or-break qualification game against Australia.

On The Football Show, Maradona also said that the head of the Argentinian FA and FIFA Vice-President, Julio Grondona, was aware of the drug usage.

According to the Associated Press’ translation of the interview, El Diego revealed that ”what happened is that to play against Australia we were given a speedy coffee. They put something in the coffee and that’s why we ran more.”

“Why weren’t there any anti-doping controls in the match with Australia if we had them in all the other games?” he asked.

They give you 10 anti-doping controls and only the match that decides whether Argentina will go to the United States or not, there is no anti-doping control. That’s the cheat and Grondona knew about it.

Grondona is yet to respond to the allegations.

Read more of Maradona’s comments in the Associated Press report >