Tunisian soccer players failed doping tests en masse
Eight players from the Tunisian national soccer team tested positive for doping during the 2026 World Cup. Clenbuterol was detected in their samples, but a preliminary investigation suggests that the banned substance may have entered their systems through meat the team consumed while in Mexico.
According to the Daily Mail, there is currently no evidence of intentional doping. For this reason, the players will most likely avoid suspension, although the investigation is still ongoing.
One of the tournament’s most high-profile doping scandals erupted at the 2026 World Cup. Eight players from the Tunisian national team, which has already been eliminated from the World Cup, tested positive for doping. Clenbuterol—a substance on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) list of banned substances—was detected in the players’ samples.
However, preliminary findings suggest that the cause may not have been doping in the traditional sense. According to the Daily Mail, clenbuterol most likely entered the athletes’ systems through contaminated meat they consumed while in Mexico. This is currently the leading theory.
The clubs of all eight soccer players have already been informed of the incident. At the same time, the publication’s sources note that disciplinary sanctions against the players are unlikely. The fact is that there is currently no evidence that the players knowingly used banned substances.
Why this might have happened
Clenbuterol is on the list of substances banned by WADA during athletic competitions. However, in some countries, particularly Mexico, it is sometimes used in animal husbandry for raising livestock. This is precisely why there have been cases in recent years where athletes tested positive for doping after consuming meat.
Therefore, in such situations, WADA does not make a decision automatically. Experts conduct a detailed investigation to determine exactly how the banned substance entered the athlete’s system. If it is confirmed that the cause was accidental dietary contamination rather than intentional doping, penalties are usually not imposed. This is precisely the outcome that the Tunisian national team is currently hoping for.
A Disappointing Tournament for Tunisia
The tournament itself turned out extremely poorly for the Tunisian team. The national team failed to advance past the group stage and lost all three of its matches. First, Tunisia lost to Sweden 1–5. Then they lost to Japan 0–4.
In their final match, the team lost to the Netherlands 1–3. After the very first game, the federation’s leadership decided to replace the head coach. Sabri Lamouchi stepped down, and Hervé Renard took over as head coach. However, the coaching change did not help the team improve its results.
Now, attention is focused not on the team’s performance on the field, but on a doping investigation. So far, no official sanctions against the players have been announced. A final decision will be made after all tests are completed and the exact source of clenbuterol in the athletes’ systems is determined, according to the Daily Mail.
In Toronto, World Cup match broadcasts were canceled due to extreme heat.
In Spain, 1,028 deaths directly linked to extreme weather conditions were recorded in June.
In Ukraine, the heat continues, with rain and thunderstorms possible in some areas.
