By David Gold
August 30 – FIFA has banned North Korea from competing in the next Women’s World Cup, due to be staged in Canada in 2015, after five players failed drugs test in Germany last month.
Of those who tested positive for steroids from a traditional musk deer gland therapy, Pok Sim Jong, Myong Hui Hong, Un Byol Ho and Un Hyang Ri have been suspended for 18 months, while Jong Sun Song is out for 14 months.
North Korea say that the players were given the treatment after being struck by lightning at a training camp.
The country’s doctor has been banned from being involved in football for six years, and the national football association hit with a $400,000 (£244,000/€278,000) fine, which is the same amount they received in prize money for their performance at the World Cup.
North Korea finished third in a group, which included Sweden, Colombia and the eventual losing finalists United States, failing to score a single goal.
They took just a point from a 0-0 draw with Colombia, and one of their players, Yineth Varon, has also been suspended for two years after also being found guilty of violating FIFA’s anti-doping regulations.
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