Mexico can replace banned players

Gold Cup organizers say Mexico will be allowed to replace five players who were dropped from the squad after testing positive for the banned substance clenbuterol.

The organizing committee said Sunday that Mexico will be allowed to name five new players ahead of Wednesday's semifinal against Honduras, and those players will also be available for the final if El Tri makes it that far.

The banned players are PSV Eindhoven defender Francisco Rodriguez and locally based Edgar Duenas, Guillermo Ochoa, Christian Bermudez and Antonio Naelson.

The players and the Mexican federation have blamed the positive tests on contaminated meat.