Five Mexico players test positiveJune 9, 2011
By ESPNsoccernet staff
Mexico's hopes of winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup have been smashed by the news that no less than five of their players have tested positive for a banned substance and have been withdrawn from their national team's squad.
Francisco Javier Rodriguez, Antonio Naelson, Christian Bermudez, Edgar Duenas, and Guillermo Ochoa have all been found to have Clenbuterol in their systems. The drug treats breathing disorders and is a regularly-used drug by dopers. The Mexican federation state that that the players consumed chicken that was tainted with the drug and will request that the team be allowed to field replacement players for the rest of the Gold Cup.
The players face being banned for a year if they cannot prove that the substance was taken accidentally. Leading cyclist Alberto Contador is currently mounting a defence against a ban by claiming his positive test for the same substance resulted from eating contaminated meat.
Ochoa is Mexico's starting goalkeeper and the Mexican federation have asked if they can add replacement players to their squad.