Collingwood players Lachie Keeffe and Josh Thomas have been suspended by the AFL after testing positive to the banned substance clenbuterol.

The AFL announced on Monday that ASADA had informed the league of the positive tests.

Clenbuterol is the same drug that cost Spanish cycling star Alberto Contador the 2010 Tour de France title in the long-running Spanish beef saga.

Australian cyclist Michael Rogers was also cleared on appeal last year in a landmark doping verdict after originally testing positive to clenbuterol.

The two Collingwood positive tests come only three days before the start of the AFL season and one day before the league’s anti-doping tribunal hands down verdicts on 34 current and past Essendon players.

“The AFL notes that only the A sample has been tested and the players have the right to request an analysis of their B sample.

“The analysis of the B sample is currently scheduled for 14 April 2015. Under the code, players have consented to release of this statement.”

Cycling’s world governing body the UCI accepted Rogers’ defence that the positive test was due to meat he ate in late 2013 while racing in China.

Contador also blamed his positive test on contaminated meat, but after several hearings he lost the 2010 Tour title.