Spanish Football Teams & Doping Problem

[Rasputin]

Spanish football powerhouses Real Madrid and Barcelona allegedly used the services of a physician suspected of running a vast blood doping operation for athletes, the French daily Le Monde reported on Thursday.

The newspaper based its story on what it described as "confidential documents" that it said detailed the programme of preparation for the 2005-2006 season of the two clubs with the doctor, Eufemiano Fuentes.

The documents contained coded inscriptions that, according to a report by Spanish police, represented doping products, Le Monde said.

Two other Spanish Primera Liga teams, Valencia and Betis Sevilla, figured in the documents as well, the newspaper reported.

The affair broke in May 2006 when Spanish police seized a number of blood doping substances at a Fuentes laboratory that allegedly bore the coded names of several star cyclists, including former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich of Germany and Italian Ivan Basso.

Both riders were among a number of high-profile cyclists excluded from the 2006 Tour de France on the basis of these discoveries. In addition, Fuentes was arrested.

French daily Le Monde has accused the four clubs, and in particular players such as Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto'o, Roberto Carlos, Raul, Deco and David Beckham, of having benefited from the services of Eufemiano Fuentes.

Fuentes was the one in charge of allegedly administering banned substances to cyclists in what has become famous as Operation Puerto since it was uncovered in June.

Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso - along with a few others - were banned from the Tour de France after they were linked with Fuentes, but there have since been unestablished claims that lots of other sportsmen have been under the care of Fuentes.

Tennis player Rafael Nadal had been linked with Fuentes in August, and French daily Le Monde has now claimed that Barcelona, Real Madrid, Valencia and Real Betis have all used the services of the maligned doctor, who allegedly supplied banned substances through the medical teams of the respective clubs.

The report is based upon some of Fuentes' notes mentioning the clubs using his services in the build-up to the 2005-06 season.

However, the good doctor clammed up when pressed by Le Monde for more specifics over his link to football clubs.

"I can't tell, I have received death threats," said Fuentes. "I was told that if I told certain things, my family and myself could have serious problems."


But Fuentes did say, "I worked with Spanish first and second division clubs. I worked with several clubs at the same time, sometimes directly with the players, sometimes by sharing my knowledge with the clubs' doctors."

[Rasputin]

[Rasputin]

SPANISH GIANTS RESPOND TO REPORTS


Real Madrid and Barcelona have both moved to deny any suggestion that they have worked with controversial Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes.

The doctor, who is being investigated in a judicial inquiry into doping in cycling, claims he has worked with unnamed Primera Liga football clubs.

Barcelona and Real both deny any kind of link with Fuentes.

Real on Thursday put a statement on their club website.

It read: "Real Madrid want to deny in a forthright way any link, direct or indirect, of the club's medical services with Dr Eufemiano Fuentes."

The club went on to say that it considered its record exemplary in its 104-year history while reserving the right to take legal action.

Barcelona posted a statement on their official wbsite saying: "FC Barcelona categorically deny the information published by the French paper Le Monde in relation to a supposed and non-existent use of the services of the Dr Eufemiano Fuentes with the club and a supposed and non-existing specific link with the club's preparation plans last season.

"Furthermore, Barcelona reserves legal means it considers convenient in the defence of the club's interests."

Fuentes did not name the clubs he has worked with in an interview with Le Monde.

Fuentes had told the paper: "I have worked with Primera Liga and Segunda Division Spanish clubs.

"I have worked with several clubs at the same time, sometimes directly with the footballers themselves, sometimes sharing my knowledge with the club doctors."

Asked directly by Le Monde if he had worked with Real Madrid and Barcelona, Fuentes replied: "I cannot reply. I have been threatened with death.

"I have been told if I say certain things myself or my family could have severe problems.

"I have been threatened three times and I am not going to be threatened a fourth time."

Fuentes also revealed he had had an offer from abroad, saying: "I was given an offer by an Italian club but I rejected it."


Valencia also denied having any involvement with Fuentes.



"Valencia CF emphatically assure that they have never had any relations with Doctor Eufemiano Fuentes," said Valencia director of communication Jordi Bruixola.



"The organisation has been and is an example of a sport club which has never had any relation with the subject of doping, which it always has been and always will be totally against.



"We cannot permit that they use the name of Valencia in this way."

[Rasputin]

Real Madrid CF received a registered fax today from Dr. Eufemiano Fuentes Rodríguez. The letter dated 14 December contained the following text which we have published in its entirety:

In regard to the report published on 7 December 2006 by French daily LE MONDE, I would like to clarify that neither in the interview I granted to the journalist of said newspaper, Stephane Mandard –whose entire recorded text I am in possession of and make available to you-, nor in any conversation maintained with said Mr. Mandard or any other national or foreign journalist, have I declared to having a professional relationship with Real Madrid Football Club or any of its players, nor of course that I keep manuscripts of mine related to said nonexistent relationships.
D. Eufemiano Fuentes
Mem. nº 41075
The Honourable Madrid Medical Association

In regard to above letter, it is reminded that Real Madrid Football Club sent a fax to the Director of Le Monde newspaper on 11 December, which "in reference to the article published in the Internet edition of your newspaper on 7 December, authored by Mr. Stéphane Mandard, regarding Real Madrid and other clubs, we would like to report that the information relayed, insofar as it concerns Real Madrid, is completely false," requests that all the information previously identified as false be rectified as soon as possible.



In the same letter, Real Madrid informed the Director of Le Monde that it would file the appropriate lawsuit against the newspaper and the person or persons directly or indirectly responsible for the fabrication and publication of said false and untrue reports and that "we eagerly await your urgent response regarding the rectification and apologies that we demand."

Le Monde has informed Real Madrid Football Club that said rectification will be emitted in the upcoming days, in the same manner -size, font, and medium- as the illicit published article. Once said promise is fulfilled, Real Madrid will proceed to inform all their supporters.