Tunisia’s disastrous World Cup campaign suffered another blow, following the revelation that several players tested positive for traces of a banned substance in doping tests.

According to the “Daily Mail Sport,” at least eight players on the North African team—which had already replaced its coach after its very first game— tested positive for “abnormal findings” of clenbuterol, a substance used to relax the airways in the lungs and listed as a banned substance by WADA.

However, officials concluded that the presence of the substance was most likely due to contamination from meat consumed by the team at its base in Mexico, and not to performance-enhancing use.

The players’ associations have already been informed of the case, though it is considered extremely unlikely that further sanctions will be imposed.

Tunisia had a very poor showing in the tournament, suffering heavy defeats—5-1 to Sweden, 4-0 to Japan on June 21, and 3-1 to the Netherlands on June 26. The results of the tests, which were conducted throughout the tournament, may also have had an impact.

Clenbuterol has been used by bodybuilders to reduce body fat while maintaining muscle mass. In some countries, including Mexico, it is used as a growth promoter in livestock, primarily to increase weight in cattle.

In fact, there have been cases of athletes in Mexico testing positive after unknowingly consuming contaminated meat. At the 2011 Gold Cup, five Mexican players tested positive and were immediately withdrawn from the tournament. Following an investigation, the Mexican Football Federation and WADA acknowledged that the cases were due to contamination, and the players were cleared of all liability.

At the 2011 U-17 World Cup, which was also held in Mexico, a total of 109 players tested positive for clenbuterol. FIFA and WADA decided not to pursue disciplinary action, as the evidence indicated that contamination was the cause.

Mexico, which won that tournament, had been considered clean, as the team had switched to a diet of fish and vegetables before the start of the tournament.

In 2022, WADA issued a technical guideline stating that the detection of clenbuterol below 5 ng/mL in urine is recorded as an “atypical finding” rather than an immediate violation. In such cases, an investigation is conducted to determine whether the substance was ingested through food; if this is confirmed, no sanctions are imposed.

*photo source: AP