2026 World Cup: Eight players return positive results in doping tests

Tunisia’s poor outing at the 2026 World Cup took a fresh twist, after several of players – including some who ply their trade in the UK – showed traces of a banned drug in doping tests.

Daily Mail Sport reports that at least eight players in the Carthage Eagles squad returned atypical findings for clenbuterol.

Clenbuterol is a drug which relaxes airways in the lungs and has been included in the World Anti-Doping Agency’s forbidden list.

However, the doping officials have determined that the presence of the drug is very likely due to contamination rather than performance-enhancing reasons.

The source of the clenbuterol is believed to be from the meat the Tunisian squad ate while staying in their Mexico base.

The players’ clubs have been informed, but those involved are highly unlikely to face further action.

Tunisia endured a miserable tournament, losing 5-1 to Sweden, 4-0 to Japan and 3-1 to the Netherlands.