MEXICO CITY — The Mexican Soccer Federation revealed Thursday that five players in the country’s CONCACAF Gold Cup squad have failed drugs tests.
Decio de Maria, general secretary of the federation, said the quintet had tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol, resulting in their immediate suspension from the team.
De Maria named the players as goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, defenders Francisco Rodriguez and Edgar Duenas, and midfielders Antonio Naelson ‘Sinha’ and Christian Bermudez.
“Last night we received the anti-doping analysis of 14 players of the [national team] that were done on May 21 and five players showed positive,” De Maria told a news conference.
“The players will be withdrawn from [coach] Jose Manuel de la Torre’s team,” De Maria added. “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.”
De Maria said the federation had informed FIFA and the Gold Cup organizers to open an investigation.
“We know there is a health alert throughout the country because of food contaminated with clenbuterol and that will be taken into account for the investigation,” De Maria said.
Ochoa and PSV Eindhoven defender Rodriguez both featured in Mexico’s opening Gold Cup game, a 5-0 thrashing of El Salvador on Sunday.
News of the failed tests surfaced just hours ahead of the team’s second group game against Cuba at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.
Clenbuterol is the same substance Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador tested positive for at the 2010 Tour de France.
The three-time Tour champion blamed contaminated beef for the failed test. A hearing in his case has been postponed until August.
