Doping drama shocks 2026 World Cup after eight Tunisian players return positive tests: Report

In a vastly shocking development, eight players of Tunisia participating in the 2026 World Cup were reportedly tested positive for clenbuterol, a banned substance, in a doping test on Friday.

The Tunisian football team endured a tough outing at the World Cup, losing all three of their group-stage matches and finishing last in Group F, and the team's head coach, Sabri Lamouchi, was sacked after their 5-1 defeat to Sweden.

Tunisia has now found itself in a much broader conversation regarding doping.

Eight Tunisian players tested positive for doping

According to Daily Mail Sport, eight players of the Tunisian football team were found positive for clenbuterol, a drug used to relax airways in the lungs and is part of the World Anti-Doping Agency's list of banned substances. The players were found positive during routine anti-doping checks conducted during the 2026 World Cup.

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Officials eventually determined that the drug's presence was most likely the result of contamination from meat the players consumed at the team's World Cup base in Monterrey, Mexico and not any attempt at performance enhancement, the report added.

The players’ club were informed regarding the situation, but it is 'highly unlikely' that they would face any further action.

What is Clenbuterol?

Clenbuterol is primarily used as a bronchodilator and decongestant to treat asthma and breathing-related disorders. But athletes and bodybuilders use it for fat loss and to build lean muscle and stamina.

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Meat contamination with Clenbuterol is relatively common among athletes based in some countries, including Mexico, as it is used as a growth promoter in livestock.

One of the most popular cases is Canelo Alvarez, who tested positive for the banned substance in doping tests in March 2018. The Mexican boxer's camp blamed it on the meat Alvarez had consumed, which led to him testing positive.

Alvarez had to serve a six-month suspension, and he significantly altered his diet following the incident. But the case ignited widespread chatter around food-related contamination.