By David Gold
June 9 – Five players from Mexico’s Gold Cup squad have been sent home after testing positive for the banned substance clenbuterol, which the general secretary of their football federation blamed on bad chicken or beef.
Decio de Maria confirmed that goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, defenders Francisco Rodríguez and Edgar Dueñas, and midfielders Antônio Naelson and Christian Bermúdez had all left the squad.
“Last night we received the anti-doping analysis of 14 players of the ‘Tri’ [national team] that were done on May 21 and five players showed positive,” he said.
“The substance for which they were positive is clenbuterol.
“The players will be withdrawn from [the coach] José Manuel de la Torre’s team.
“The cause is believed to be because of [eating] beef or chicken between May 17 and 20 so an investigation will be made with the food suppliers.
“For the time being we don’t see any negligence by anyone, not even theirs.
“We know there is a health alert throughout the country because of food contaminated with clenbuterol and that will be taken into account in the investigation.”
The tests come just two months after Germany’s anti-doping agency advised against athletes eating Mexican produce due to the risk of involuntary positive doping results.
On the pitch, Mexico have won both of their opening Gold Cup games 5-0, against El Salvador and Cuba.
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