The NFL Wants Players to Stay Away from Mexican and Chinese Meat

Protein is crucial part of any athlete's diet. The nutrients found in meat help repair muscle tissue caused by exercise-induced damage after brutal workouts.

But some meats are a little too good at beefing up athletes and manage to blur the line between fuel and performance-enhancing drug.

Houston Texans left tackle Duane Brown found this out the hard way after he tested positive for clenbuterol, a non-steroidal drug that's prescribed to treat asthma. Clenbuterol can also be used as a muscle-building and weight-loss stimulant, and its use has been banned by the NFL. It's also illegal in most countries but is still used by many farmers to help with the growth of their livestock.

Brown denied any wrongdoing and cleared his name in April after he was able to prove that the presence of the drug was actually caused by the consumption of steaks and burgers in Mexico, according to ESPN. By doing so, Brown was able to dodge the ten-game suspension he was looking at.

Now, the Duane Brown saga has taken another strange turn, with the NFL warning its players to minimize their intake of meats from Mexico and China, both of which have been known to use clenbuterol in their livestock. Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson recently posted a memo he received from the league informing players that they have to be ready to take responsibility if they overindulge in Mexican and Chinese meats.

"Players are warned to be aware of this issue when traveling to Mexico and China," the memo read. "Please take caution if you decide to consume meat, and understand that you do so at your own risk." To which Peterson added, "This can't be real life!" Real talk.

This can't be real life! #SMH #GottaGoVeganOnVacation ? pic.twitter.com/HmWNpi4cAj

— Patrick Peterson /P2 (@RealPeterson21) May 3, 2016

But this isn't the first time that the performance-enhancing drug has been linked to Mexican meat. In 2011, five players on Mexico's national soccer team tested positive for clenbuterol. The same year, the majority of soccer players who were participating at the U-17 World Cup in Mexico were found to have trace amounts of clenbuterol in their system.

Brown may be off the hook, but he'll still be known as the player who was almost suspended for eating too many steaks and burgers.