Jamaican national team player fails dope test

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July 26 – Football may not be considered to have a drugs problem but in the same week as track and field was embroiled in a fresh doping scandal, it has been revealed that a Jamaican player failed a test following a World Cup qualifier against Honduras on June 11.

Neither the player nor the substance have been revealed but the Jamaican Football Federation confirmed it had been informed by FIFA that “a member of the Jamaican squad returned an adverse analytical finding on his urine sample” .

The news represents a further blow to sport in the country after sprinters Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson both tested positive for a banned stimulant last month.

Jamaica lost the qualifier 2-0 in Honduras and authorities have launched an internal investigation into what will be perceived as a setback to Caribbean football after strenuous efforts to clean up the region’s credibility following a number of off-the-field scandals.

“The player has been informed and we await further information from FIFA,” the Jamaican federation said in a statement. “The JFF has taken this matter very seriously and a thorough investigation has already started by the chairman of the JFF Medical Committee.”

Although footballing doping cases are rare, Peru midfielder Joel Sánchez was provisionally suspended when testing positive for the stimulant methylhexaneamine after a 1-1 draw in Bolivia last October.

Two years ago, five Mexican players tested positive for clenbuterol in the build-up to the Gold Cup but avoided sanctions after FIFA determined the problem was caused by contaminated meat at the Under-17 World Cup which Mexico hosted.

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