Four Mexican players in new drug test probe

Another controversy surrounds El Tri ahead of the Copa America.

Jul 1, 2011 5:24:00 PM

More On :  Mexico
Mexico, Gold Cup (Getty Images)
Mexico, Gold Cup (Getty Images)

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According to FIFA's chief medical officer Jiri Dvorak, four more Mexican players have failed drug tests after results taken during the CONCACAF Gold Cup contained traces of clenbuterol.

"Five players tested positive for a relatively high concentration of clenbuterol (and) we have four others with traces of the same substance," Dvorak told Mexican broadcaster Televisa without revealing which players were concerned.

Five Mexican players were suspended after El Tri's Gold Cup opener three weeks ago following positive results from a test taken prior to the tournament.

Despite the high number of players who had traces of the substance in their system, Dvorak doesn't believe it was done intentionally.

"No, it is difficult for me to imagine that practically an entire team from a developing country such as Mexico (would do that)," he said. "We have no evidence that there is systematic doping in Mexico."

The most recent four who were found to have it in their blood didn't test positive for the substance but there were traces - just not enough to yield a positive result.

"Those (four tests) were negative, let's be clear about that," Dvorak said.

It remains to be seen what action, if any, will be taken against the Mexican National team. The team will begin its Copa America tournament against Chile on July 4.

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