Former Genoa striker Giuseppe Rossi insists he's clean after a failed drugs test.

Rossi tested positive for dorzolamide, an anti-glaucoma substance usually found in eye drops, but which has been used as a masking agent to cover other drugs.

This test was taken after Genoa's game with Benevento on May 12, but the player is now a free agent.

The anti-doping authorities have requested up to a one-year ban and he'll have a hearing in October.

“I have always been clean and this is an evident case that needs to be shelved," wrote Rossi and agent Andrea Pastorello in a statement to news agency Ansa.

“The positivity was reasonably achieved by an involuntary contamination. The substance was present at the minimum levels of 1ng/ml.

“This substance is exclusively found in eyedrops to reduce the intraocular pressure and its use in the eyes is not considered relevant for doping, but could be seen as a diuretic or masking agent only with systemic use.

“The clarification we gave to the inquest excluded any intentional use aimed at doping, as confirmed by the Antidoping Investigators, as the test he had a week earlier was negative.

“Giuseppe Rossi is a clear figure who has never been disciplined for anything other than an accumulation of yellow cards. He therefore hoped that the reasonable assumption this was involuntary contamination would lead to the case being dropped.

“He is extremely upset at finding himself in this situation, but gave all possible information to the investigators, confirming he cannot reasonably know which food and/or drink the substance could've been contained in during the days before the Benevento game."