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The number of players tested positive for steroids in Mexico?s national soccer team dumbfounded sports officials. The Mexican Soccer Federation officials have no other recourse but to send 5 of their players home for failing the steroid test. This will definitely affect their second bid for championship in the Gold Cup.
What hurts the entire team is the fact that most of the suspended players were star players of the team. On the top of the list is goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa. Other players who failed the pre-competition test were defenders Francisco Rodriguez and Edgar Duenas, and midfielders Antonio Naelson and Christian Bermudez.
The Culprit- Steroid Clenbuterol
As usual, players contend that they did not commit any wrongdoing and the positive test for clenbuterol may be caused by inadvertently ingesting contaminated meat. While many people would not buy these arguments, the Mexican Federation supported these claims. General Secretary Decio de Maria told the AP that he believed the players ingested tainted chicken or meat. ?Everything points to it being an accident, very unfortunate,? De Maria said.
Ochoa told the AP that they did nothing wrong. ?We have nothing to hide. Our conscience is clean because we haven?t done a bad thing,? the El Tri?s goalkeeper said. The Mexican star player is still hoping that they will be able to clear their names. ?These are things that could happen in any restaurant in any location, and it happened to us when we were together in training. It is bad luck. We know this is going to be cleared up, and we?re facing the situation,? Ochoa said.
Players Facing 2 Year Ban
The football?s governing body in the region, CONCACAF, is still investigating the incident. They will meet Mexican officials and conduct further testing on the samples before making the final decision. Aside from the suspension from the Gold Cup, the 5 players could face up to 2 years suspension from the sports.
De Maria acknowledged that this problem will affect their team but they have to accept responsibility. ?Now comes the tough part, taking the players off the squad and opening an investigation. Meanwhile, it is a disagreeable moment to take this kind of decision, but we have to take responsibility,? he said.
Mexican Government Issued Conflicting Statements
Mexican President Felipe Calderon sided with the soccer federation?s claim that the several positive test for steroid clenbuterol could be due to tainted meat. ?I believe it?s a matter of tainted food. Indeed, many (ranchers) put who-knows-what kind of substances so that their cattle weigh a few kilos more,? Calderon said in a recent trip to California.
However, the Health authority of Mexico issued a different statement. News agencies quoted health officials saying that the incidence of beef contamination in Mexico is less than one in a million. ?Consumption of Meat in Mexico is safe,? health and agriculture officials said in a joint statement to allay fears that the Mexican steroid clenbuterol is massively used in cattle production.
The Gold Cup is participated by North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Mexico is a favorite early in the round because of their 5-0 goals in the first two match-ups. However, CONCACAF will decide what will be the fate of Mexico?s El Tri in this year?s competition.
What hurts the entire team is the fact that most of the suspended players were star players of the team. On the top of the list is goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa. Other players who failed the pre-competition test were defenders Francisco Rodriguez and Edgar Duenas, and midfielders Antonio Naelson and Christian Bermudez.
The Culprit- Steroid Clenbuterol
As usual, players contend that they did not commit any wrongdoing and the positive test for clenbuterol may be caused by inadvertently ingesting contaminated meat. While many people would not buy these arguments, the Mexican Federation supported these claims. General Secretary Decio de Maria told the AP that he believed the players ingested tainted chicken or meat. ?Everything points to it being an accident, very unfortunate,? De Maria said.
Ochoa told the AP that they did nothing wrong. ?We have nothing to hide. Our conscience is clean because we haven?t done a bad thing,? the El Tri?s goalkeeper said. The Mexican star player is still hoping that they will be able to clear their names. ?These are things that could happen in any restaurant in any location, and it happened to us when we were together in training. It is bad luck. We know this is going to be cleared up, and we?re facing the situation,? Ochoa said.
Players Facing 2 Year Ban
The football?s governing body in the region, CONCACAF, is still investigating the incident. They will meet Mexican officials and conduct further testing on the samples before making the final decision. Aside from the suspension from the Gold Cup, the 5 players could face up to 2 years suspension from the sports.
De Maria acknowledged that this problem will affect their team but they have to accept responsibility. ?Now comes the tough part, taking the players off the squad and opening an investigation. Meanwhile, it is a disagreeable moment to take this kind of decision, but we have to take responsibility,? he said.
Mexican Government Issued Conflicting Statements
Mexican President Felipe Calderon sided with the soccer federation?s claim that the several positive test for steroid clenbuterol could be due to tainted meat. ?I believe it?s a matter of tainted food. Indeed, many (ranchers) put who-knows-what kind of substances so that their cattle weigh a few kilos more,? Calderon said in a recent trip to California.
However, the Health authority of Mexico issued a different statement. News agencies quoted health officials saying that the incidence of beef contamination in Mexico is less than one in a million. ?Consumption of Meat in Mexico is safe,? health and agriculture officials said in a joint statement to allay fears that the Mexican steroid clenbuterol is massively used in cattle production.
The Gold Cup is participated by North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Mexico is a favorite early in the round because of their 5-0 goals in the first two match-ups. However, CONCACAF will decide what will be the fate of Mexico?s El Tri in this year?s competition.
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