Mexico uphold doping ban, deny World Cup to two players

Reuters - Two Mexico players banned for doping will not be going to the World Cup after an appeal for a reduction in their suspension was rejected by the Mexican Football Federation (FMF).

First division club Cruz Azul had appealed against the length of the one-year suspension imposed in July 2005 on defenders Salvador Carmona and Aaron Galindo, who tested positive for a derivative of the banned steroid nandrolone.

"Cruz Azul asked us for a reduction of the punishment and we can't do that," FMF president Alberto de la Torre said on Wednesday.

"The players took prohibited substances, quite simply they did not respect the rules," he told reporters.

Galindo and Carmona were sent home early by Mexico during the Confederations Cup in Germany when the doping test results became public.

Mexico are in Group D with Portugal, Iran and Angola at the World Cup starting on June 9.