Eight Tunisian Players Test Positive for Banned Substance Linked to Contaminated Meat at World Cup

Eight players from the Tunisian national football team tested positive for traces of clenbuterol, a banned substance used for respiratory treatment and body fat reduction, during the 2026 World Cup in Mexico. The positive tests emerged amid Tunisia's disastrous tournament performance, which included heavy losses to Sweden (5-1), Japan (4-0), and the Netherlands (3-1). Tunisia also made history by firing their head coach, Sabri Lamouchi, after just one match.

The source of the banned substance is believed to be contaminated meat consumed by the team at their base in Mexico, a country known for occasional clenbuterol contamination in livestock. Officials from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and football authorities have indicated the presence of clenbuterol likely resulted from food contamination rather than intentional doping. The players' clubs have been informed, but disciplinary actions against the athletes are considered unlikely.

This is not the first time clenbuterol contamination has affected football players in Mexico. In 2011, five Mexican national team players tested positive during the Gold Cup but were cleared after investigations attributed the results to tainted meat. Similarly, 109 players tested positive during the 2011 U-17 World Cup in Mexico, with no sanctions imposed due to evidence of food contamination. Tunisia's case continues this pattern of inadvertent doping linked to local meat consumption during international tournaments held in Mexico.