FIFA threw the book at North Korea after five women's national team players tested positive for steroids from traditional musk deer gland therapy at the 2011 Women's World Cup in Germany.

North Korea was banned from the 2015 Women’s World Cup, stripped of the $400,000 it won as prize money at the 2011 tournament, and FIFA imposed bans of up to 18 months on all five players and banned team doctor Nam Jong Ae for six years. North Korean officials said the players were treated with traditional therapy after being struck by lightning at a pre-tournament training camp.

The doping scandal was the most serious at a major FIFA tournament in 17 years.