Mexico blames tainted meat after five failed tests

MEXICO CITY - Five Mexico players suspended from the CONCACAF Gold Cup after failing a doping test had eaten contaminated meat and should be cleared after a second test, a Mexican soccer official said. The Mexican Football Federation on Thursday said the players had all tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol from tests carried out in Mexico on May 21.

Clenbuterol can be used to speed up and increase muscle mass in animals. A number of athletes, including three-time Tour de France champion Alberto Contador, have blamed their positive test results on eating meat adulterated with the steroid.

Hector Gonzalez, Femexfut's director of national teams, said the players had eaten tainted meat at Mexico's High Performance Centre where the team prepared to defend the Gold Cup.