Doping tests of eight Tunisia national team players yield unexpected results. What's going on?
Jan Novak
Dailysports's expert
A total of eight players from the Tunisia national football team returned atypical doping samples during the 2026 World Cup. According to Daily Mail Sport, the tests revealed traces of clenbuterol—a substance listed as prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
According to the source, the initial results caused concern, but an ensuing investigation indicated that the most likely cause of the substance appearing was the consumption of contaminated meat at the team's training base in Mexico, rather than any deliberate doping.
Clenbuterol is used in medicine to dilate airways, but it's also known as a drug favored by bodybuilders for burning fat while preserving muscle mass. In several countries, including Mexico, the substance is illegally used in livestock farming as a growth stimulant for cattle, which has previously led to cases of food contamination.
The players' clubs have already been notified of the situation. At the same time, according to the source, the likelihood of any disciplinary action against the players is extremely low.
