Eight Tunisia players have tested positive for traces of clenbuterol, a banned substance, during the World Cup. The findings are considered atypical, and officials suspect the presence of the drug is due to contaminated meat consumed by the squad in their Mexico base, rather than intentional use for performance enhancement.
Clenbuterol is a drug used to relax airways and is listed on the World Anti-Doping Agency's forbidden list. It is also used by bodybuilders to reduce fat while preserving lean muscle. In some countries, including Mexico, it is used as a growth promoter in farm animals.
This is not the first time athletes have faced issues with clenbuterol contamination in Mexico. At the 2011 Gold Cup, five Mexican players tested positive and were cleared after an investigation found contamination was to blame. Similarly, in the 2011 Under 17s World Cup held in Mexico, 109 players tested positive for clenbuterol, but FIFA and WADA did not prosecute cases due to evidence pointing to contamination.
Tunisia's World Cup campaign was marked by a poor performance, including losses to Sweden, Japan, and the Netherlands. Following their defeat to Sweden, the team sacked their head coach, Sabri Lamouchi, becoming the first country in World Cup history to do so after only one game.
The World Anti-Doping Agency's guidelines state that the detection of clenbuterol below a certain threshold (less than 5 ng/mL in urine) is reported as an Atypical Finding. An investigation is then conducted to determine if the presence is due to contaminated meat. If contamination is confirmed, no further action is taken.
The clubs of the affected players have been notified, but further action is considered unlikely. England is scheduled to play co-hosts Mexico in Mexico City for their last-16 match. The English Football Association ensures food safety by bringing its own chefs to tournaments and carefully vetting all food consumed by the team.