Eight World Cup players test positive for banned substance in drugs test

Eight Tunisian players had traces of clenbuterol in their drugs test at the World Cup (Getty)

Eight players in Tunisia’s squad have tested positive for a banned substance during their drugs test at the World Cup.

Tunisia are already out of the World Cup after finishing bottom of Group F following heavy defeats to Sweden, Japan and the Netherlands.

The African nation also sacked head coach, Sabri Lamouchi, following the team’s 5-1 loss to Sweden in their opening World Cup game and replaced him with Herve Renard for their remaining two matches.

Every player at the World Cup can be subjected to a random drugs test during the tournament and according to The Times, eight members of Tunisia’s squad had traces of the banned drug clenbuterol in their samples.

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Clenbuterol, which is on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s banned list, is used to treat asthma but can also help an athlete build lean muscle mass and burn body fat.

Despite the adverse findings, the eight Tunisian players have not been named or suspended as officials believe the presence of clenbuterol was due to contaminated meat.

Tunisia’s squad were based in Monterrey, Mexico, for their World Cup campaign (FIFA via Getty)

Tunisia were based in Monterrey for the World Cup and in Mexico, farmers have a history of including clenbuterol in animal feed because it helps reduce fat and increase lean muscle mass.

In 2018, Mexican boxer Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez was handed a six-month ban after testing positive for clenbuterol and he blamed the failed drugs test on eating contaminated beef in his homeland.

‘It was a mistake and nothing more, not educating myself about this problem in Mexico. It was my mistake, and I won’t repeat it,’ Canelo said after his suspension.

Mexican boxer Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez (left) was banned in 2018 after claiming he ate meat which had traces of clenbuterol (FIFA via Getty)

‘After all this happened, I’ve been really careful. I mean, too careful. I think we’ve gone to the extreme of not eating beef.

‘United States beef is different. I can eat it without any risk because there’s more control here. But I’m trying to get used to not eating beef. Because most of the time I’m in Mexico, and I’ve stopped eating beef.’

At the Under 17s World Cup in 2011 which was held in Mexico, 109 out of 208 players who were tested had traces of clenbuterol in their samples, however, no suspensions were issued as the unusually high number of cases was also attributed to contaminated meat.

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