Mexico awaits word on suspended players

Mexico still has its sights set on a Gold Cup title - even if it has just 17 players.

Although "El Tri" won its group with a 4-1 victory over Costa Rica on June 12, the defending tournament champions received harsh news last week when it was revealed five players were suspended for the rest of the tournament for testing positive for a banned substance.

Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa and defender Francisco Rodríguez - starters on last year's World Cup squad - along with reserve defender Edgar Dueñas and midfielders Christian Bermúdez and Antonio Naelson "Sinha" tested positive for clenbuterol, an anabolic agent used to treat breathing problems.

Teams dress only 18 of 23 players for each game during the competition, but Mexico's team was reduced to 17 healthy bodies after defender Ricardo Osorio was sent home with an illness hours before a 5-0 win against Cuba last week.

El Tri plans to hand over information in its investigation to CONCACAF officials on June 13, but it is optimistic tournament officials will allow the five suspended players to be replaced.

"We have to demonstrate [the suspended players] didn't do anything wrong," Mexican team director Héctor González Iñárritu said in a statement. "The more evidence we have, the stronger our defense will be."

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