According to international media, at least 8 Tunisian players, including some players playing in England, had abnormal test results with clenbuterol - a substance on the banned list of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Through initial investigation, anti-doping experts believe that it is very likely that the players accidentally absorbed clenbuterol through food sources at the team's base in Mexico. This substance was once detected in livestock meat in some areas due to its use as a growth stimulant in animal husbandry, although it has been banned in many countries.
According to sources, the managing clubs of the related players have been notified of the test results. However, it is likely that FIFA will not impose a penalty because the incident is assessed to originate from contaminated food sources, rather than intentional use of banned substances.
This is not the first time clenbuterol has caused controversy at tournaments held in Mexico. At the 2011 Gold Cup, 5 Mexican players tested positive for this substance before being exonerated after an investigation by WADA and the Mexican Football Federation, when the cause was determined to be from meat contaminated with clenbuterol.
Also in 2011, at the U17 World Cup held in Mexico, up to 109 players showed traces of clenbuterol in test samples. After a comprehensive review, FIFA and WADA both decided not to discipline any cases because they concluded that athletes were unintentionally contaminated with banned substances.
By 2022, WADA issued new technical guidelines on clenbuterol. Accordingly, if the concentration of this substance in the urine sample is below 5 ng/mL, the results will be classified as "abnormal results" for further investigation instead of defaulting to doping regulations. If the origin from contaminated food can be proven, the athlete will not be penalized.
In that context, many teams have proactively strengthened food control measures when competing in Mexico. Daily Mail said that the England team brought their own chefs and strictly controlled the entire food supply to limit the risk of clenbuterol contamination.
Regarding the case of Tunisia, FIFA has not yet made an official comment, while the Tunisian Football Federation has not yet responded to the incident.
The above incident made the 2026 World Cup of the African representative even more forgettable. Tunisia was eliminated right from the group stage after three consecutive defeats against Sweden (1-5), Japan (0-4) and the Netherlands (1-3). After the defeat in the opening match, coach Sabri Lamouchi was also sacked, making Tunisia the first team to replace the "hot seat" right during the tournament.
