Eight Tunisian players test positive for clenbuterol at World Cup, contaminated meat suspected
Eight Tunisian footballers tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol during the 2026 World Cup, with investigators suspecting accidental contamination from meat consumed at the team's base in Monterrey, Mexico.
Doping revelation
Eight Tunisian national team players have tested positive for clenbuterol, a substance banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The positive results were first reported by the Daily Mail on 3 July, and later confirmed by other outlets including The Times. The tests were conducted approximately two weeks before Tunisia's final group match against the Netherlands on 26 June, while the team was still at its base in Monterrey, Mexico. The players were not suspended, as the levels detected were below the threshold and likely due to accidental ingestion. None of the players' names have been disclosed.
Clenbuterol and contamination
Clenbuterol is a bronchodilator used to treat respiratory conditions like asthma, but it is also known for its performance-enhancing effects, including fat reduction while preserving muscle mass. WADA has listed it as a prohibited substance because of these properties. Investigators believe the positive tests resulted from eating contaminated meat at the team's base camp in Monterrey. In Mexico, clenbuterol is sometimes used illegally in livestock farming to accelerate growth, leading to meat contamination. The substance can remain in the meat and be ingested unknowingly.
Past precedents in Mexico
This is not the first time Mexican meat has caused doping alarms. During the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup, five Mexican players tested positive for clenbuterol and were withdrawn from the tournament, but were later cleared after an investigation confirmed contamination. Similarly, at the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Mexico, 109 players from various national teams tested positive, and WADA decided not to impose sanctions because the substance came from food. These precedents make sanctions against the Tunisian players unlikely, provided the contamination theory is upheld.
Tunisia's troubled campaign
Tunisia's World Cup ended in disappointment even before the doping news. The team lost all three group-stage matches, conceding 12 goals and scoring only 2, in a group with the Netherlands, Japan, and Sweden. After a heavy defeat to Sweden in the opening match, the Tunisian federation replaced the coach with Hervé Renard mid-tournament, but results did not improve. The doping tests were taken during the group stage, while the team was still in contention. Some of the players involved are based at clubs in England, according to Italian reports.
What happens next
The investigation is ongoing, but early indications point to accidental contamination rather than intentional doping. If that conclusion holds, the players are expected to avoid suspensions. The Tunisian football federation has not yet issued an official statement. The case highlights the persistent risk of clenbuterol contamination in Mexican meat and its impact on international sports.
