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5 Mexico players test positive
Mexico's hopes of winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup hv been smashed by the news tat no less than 5 of their players hv tested + 4 a banned substance & hv been withdrawn fr their national team's squad.
Francisco Javier Rodriguez, Antonio Naelson, Christian Bermudez, Edgar Duenas & Guillermo Ochoa hv all been found 2 hv Clenbuterol in their systems. The drug treats breathing disorders & is a regularly-used drug by dopers. The Mexican federation state tat that the players consumed chicken tat was tainted with the drug & will request tat the team be allowed 2 field replacement players 4 the rest of the Gold Cup.
The players face being banned 4 a year if they cannot prove tat the substance was taken accidentally. Leading cyclist Alberto Contador is currently mounting a defence against a ban by claiming his + test 4 the same substance resulted fr eating contaminated meat.
Ochoa is Mexico's starting goalkeeper & the Mexican federation hv asked if they can add replacement players 2 their squad.
Guillermo Ochoa is the 1st choice goalkeeper & plays his club soccer @ América in the Primera De Mexico. He is 25 yrs old.
Francisco Javier Rodriguez is a defender & he is 29 yrs old.
No info on Antonio Naelson, Christian Bermudez & Edgar Duenas.
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Mexico chief backs suspended players
Mexico's director of national teams Hector Inaturri has backed the 5 players suspended 4 a doping offence 2 prove their innocence.
The quintet - Antonio Naelson, Christian Bermudez, Edgar Duenas, Francisco Rodriguez & Guillermo Ochoa - tested + 4 clembuterol @ a pre-Gold Cup training camp & were immediately ruled out of the 5-0 win over Cuba.
Inaturri believes contaminated meat may hv be behind the results & he will accompany the players when they travel 2 LA 2day 4 further tests @ UCLA.
He said: ''We will wait 4 all the results & see wat the department of agriculture in Mexico finds in the meat we used. We'll expect the results which I m sure will be negative.''
Team physician Dr Jose Luis Serrano added: ''There is no remote possibility tat tis happened becos of a supplement. I think there is no precedent tat has 5 + tests with only 1 substance in 1 event.''
Mexico hv asked CONCACAF if they can replace the suspended players.
CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer said a meeting of the confederation's national teams committee, which also serves as the organising committee of the Gold Cup, will be convened via conference 2day 2 consider the situation.