updated 12:31 p.m. ET Oct. 12, 2011
LAUSANNE, Switzerland - Five Mexican soccer players who tested positive for clenbuterol before the Gold Cup will not face sanctions after FIFA determined the tests were caused by contaminated meat.
The World Anti-Doping Agency said Wednesday it had dropped its appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, where it planned to challenge a Mexico Football Federation decision clearing the players of doping.
WADA said it accepted FIFA's "compelling evidence" from the recent Under-17 World Cup in Mexico that the country has a "serious health problem" with meat contaminated with clenbuterol.
"WADA applauds FIFA for the further research it has initiated," the anti-doping watchdog said in a statement.
FIFA gathered the evidence while working with the government of Mexico.
"The studies conducted by FIFA showed the correctness of the footballers' claim that the positive samples were the result of meat they had ingested at a training camp ahead of the tournament," the governing body of international soccer said.
Mexico won the Gold Cup in June despite the absence of goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, defenders Edgar Duenas and Francisco Rodriguez, and midfielders Antonio Naelson and Christian Bermudez. It beat the United States 4-2 in the final.
WADA said Mexico's government has agreed to address the issue of farmers giving steroids to livestock, which is illegal.
"Already several arrests have been made pursuant to these laws and large amounts of clenbuterol seized. Investigations are to continue," WADA said.
WADA issued a warning to athletes traveling to Mexico to compete at the two-week Pan American Games, which open Friday in Guadalajara.
"If possible, they should eat in cafeterias designated as safe by event organizers and also try to eat in large numbers," WADA advised. "The state government in Guadalajara has taken steps to ensure the meat available to athletes at the Pan American Games will not be contaminated."
The Mexican case is the second time this year that WADA has dropped an appeal after an athlete used a defense of contaminated meat to explain consuming clenbuterol.
German table tennis player Dimitrij Ovtcharov tested positive after competing in China, which also has long-standing issues with illegally feeding steroids to livestock.
Three-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador will use the same argument as part of his defense at CAS next month.
WADA and the International Cycling Union appealed to the sports court after a Spanish cycling federation tribunal accepted Contador's explanation that he inadvertently ate a contaminated steak during his 2010 Tour victory.
Contador's four-day hearing is scheduled to begin Nov. 21.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
advertisement
More newsAnother US soccer setback
Ecuador scored a 1-0 exhibition win over the United States on Tuesday night in?a game new?coach Jurgen Klinsmann can't have been pleased by.
France in Euro '12
Euro roundup: Denmark snatched an automatic spot while France needed a late penalty in a 1-1 draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/44876744/ns/sports-soccer/
guy kawasaki jani lane the exorcism of emily rose the exorcism of emily rose fort knox quarry quarry
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.