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 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.
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.
Contador’s four-day hearing is scheduled to begin Nov. 21.