Eight Tunisian Players Test Positive for Clenbuterol in 2026 World Cup

The Tunisian national football team is facing a new crisis at the 2026 World Cup following a series of disastrous results.

Reliable media reports revealed that several Tunisian players returned positive doping tests during the tournament, with suspicions that the cause may be linked to food contamination rather than deliberate use of banned substances.

According to the British newspaper Daily Mail on Friday, at least eight players from the Tunisia squad tested positive for traces of clenbuterol, a substance prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Clenbuterol is medically used to dilate airways but is banned in competitive sports.

Initial investigations suggest that the positive results stem from the consumption of contaminated meat during the team’s stay in Mexico, rather than from performance-enhancing drug use.

The report added that the relevant football federations and clubs of the affected players have been notified of the findings. It is expected that no punitive measures will be taken against the players once the likelihood of food contamination is established.

This development follows Tunisia’s poor performance at the 2026 World Cup, where the team suffered heavy defeats against Sweden (5-1), Japan (4-0), and the Netherlands (3-1). The coach was dismissed after the first match, marking an unprecedented event in World Cup history.

The incident recalls previous cases in Mexico where international tournaments recorded collective positive tests for clenbuterol due to contaminated meat. These incidents, which included continental competitions and youth categories, were confirmed by investigations to be caused by widespread food contamination.

So far, the Tunisian Football Federation has not issued an official statement, and FIFA has chosen not to comment on the matter at this time.