Five North Koreans test positive to banned substance at Women's World Cup

Posted Sunday, July 17, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

The number of North Korea's national team members who have tested positive to banned substance at the 2011 Women's World Cup has risen to five after a further three more players failed drug tests.

North Korea's entire team was targeted for drug testing after the group match against Colombia following failed tests from Song Jong-Sun Song and Jong Pok-Sim.

And now a further three players have tested positive, although FIFA said it wouldn't disclose the players' names nor the banned substance.

A statement read: "As the proceedings are still in progress, FIFA will not disclose the names of the three players whose test results have produced adverse analytical findings, in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code."

FIFA president Sepp Blatter told a news conference he was stunned by the results.

“This is a shock,” Blatter said. “We are confronted with a very, very bad case of doping and it hurts.”

However, North Korea officials are blaming traditional steroid-laced Chinese medicine from musk deer glands which they claim they used treat injuries to players who were alleged to have been hit by a lightning strike.

“The North Korean officials said they didn’t use it to improve performance," FIFA head of medical committee Michel D’Hooghe said.