Doping cases that have rocked Mexican football

It's an unfortunate fact that Mexican soccer is no stranger to doping cases; numerous  players have tested positive for illegal substances and in which many cases they have received a severe punishment. The latest player to test positive in a doping control is former  Pachuca midfielder, Víctor Guzmán, who returned yesterday to Mexico City in an attempt to explain himself. There are plenty of examples like his, we've listed the the major offenders.

Players test positive for banned drug clenbuterol

During the 2011 Gold Cup, five players from the Mexico national team tested positive for the banned drug clenbuterol. The players who had to abandon the competition were: Sinha, Guillermo Ochoa, Edgar Dueñas, Francisco Rodríguez and Christián Bermúdez. Later, it emerged that meat eaten by members of the squad had been contaminated and none of the players were suspended.

Salvador Carmona and Aaron Galindo

During the 2005 Confederations Cup, Salvador Carmona and Aaron Galindo tested positive for banned drugs and were suspended for a whole year. At first, the Mexican Football Federation announced that both players would never play again for the national team because they had breached FMF rules; some time later, it was revealed that Carmona and Galindo had been cast out because they had tested positive for banned substances.

Omar 'The Cat' Ortiz

Omar Ortiz was Monterrey’s goalkeeper and when he tested positive for banned steroids oxymetholone and masteron after a top flight game on 6 March 2010. After his provisional suspension ended, he was arrested after being involved in a kidnapping incident.

Claudio Suárez

During the 1997 Confederations Cup, Claudio Suárez ‘The Emperor’ was accused of using banned substances but he always denied those allegations. Suárez had the support of the Mexican Football Federation and it was only years later that FIFA clarified that it was their fault for not performing the tests properly.

Raúl Rodrigo Lara and Paulo César Chavez

Both players tested positive during a random control during the 1999 Copa América. The two Mexican players had taken drugs to increase their body mass and were suspended from participating in Conmebol competitions for six months.

Julio Nava

During the 2014 Apertura, the Mexican championship witnessed another case of doping when Chiapas player Julio Nava was given an eight-month suspension after testing positive for Betamethasone.

Liga MX

In 2016, Enrique Bonilla, the current Liga MX president revealed that several years ago, there were 29 doping cases in the Mexican league. All of them were related to clenbuterol and none of the players involved were suspended nor were their identities revealed.

Víctor Guzmán

The latest doping case in the Liga MX. Guzmán signed for Chivas in December 2019 but was foced to return to Pachuca after it was revealed he tested positive for a banned drug in August of last year. The case is still open. The midfielder declared his innocence on his Instagram account and promised to take another test to prove it. Until his case is resolved, he is banned from playing in the Liga MX.