5 North Koreans positive at women's World Cup

[July 16, 2011]  FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) -- A FIFA source says five North Korean players tested positive for steroids at the women's World Cup.

After two players were caught during the tournament, FIFA tested the rest of the North Korean squad and found three more tested positive, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the announcement had yet to be made official.

The events represent soccer's biggest doping scandal in 17 years at a major tournament. The last doping case at the men's World Cup was Diego Maradona, who was kicked out of the 1994 tournament in the United States after testing positive for stimulants.

FIFA has already met with a North Korean delegation, the source said, and heard arguments that the steroids were accidentally taken with traditional Chinese medicines based on musk glands that were used to treat players struck by lightning on June 8 during a training camp.

The case will now be taken up by FIFA's disciplinary committee.

Defenders Song Jong Sun and Jong Pok Sim tested positive for steroids earlier this month after North Korea's first two group games and were suspended for the last match .

The team was eliminated in the first round after losses to the United States and Sweden and a draw with Colombia.

[Associated Press; By RAF CASERT]

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