Hull confirm former Luton target Zambrano suspended after breaching anti-doping rules

Hull City have announced that one-time Luton target, Ecuadorian midfielder Oscar Zambrano, has been suspended until further notice by the South American football confederation Conmebol after breaching anti-doping rules.

The 20-year-old had been on the radar of the Hatters last season, Town sending over a delegation of scouts to Argentina, including head of scouting operations Phil Chapple to watch him and a number of other talented youngsters, when in action for his former club LDU Quito. However a move never materialised and Zambrano, who has played 14 times for his country’s U20 side, moved to Luton’s Championship rivals on a season-long loan in August, with the option to make the transfer permanent.

Since arriving at the MKM Stadium, Zambrano has played eight matches for the Tigers, scoring once, but reportedly tested positive after the second leg of the Recopa Sudamericana, a game that saw LDU lose 2-0 to Fluminense, but remained eligible to play. However, Hull have now confirmed that the youngster has now been suspended from all football with immediate effect.

A club statement said: “Hull City can confirm that, with immediate effect, CONMEBOL, the South American Football Confederation, has suspended Óscar Zambrano for breaching the anti-doping rules set out in Articles 6 and 7 of the CONMEBOL Anti-Doping Regulations. Zambrano and his defence will use their right to appeal this decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The Club is not in a position to provide further information at this time.”