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