© EuroFootball.com
The influential French newspaper "Le Monde" on Thursday, December 7, reported a new doping scandal that could involve top Spanish football clubs Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Sevilla.
According to French journalists, these clubs allegedly used the services of the doctor Eufemiano Fuentes. The activities of this doctor are already being investigated in the so-called "Operation Puerto” - it is suspected that E. Fuentes supplied doping and provided instructions on how to use it in major cycling competitions. During raids this spring at the doctor's clinic, banned substances and packages of frozen plasma for blood transfusions before competitions were found. More importantly, lists were found in the doctor's safe with clients' names and "medical histories" - descriptions of procedures performed on them.
The scandal erupted just before the "Tour de France," and due to doping suspicions, the most prominent riders Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso did not participate. Until last week, the doping scandal only affected cycling.
However, "Le Monde" claims that they obtained secret documents from the raids at Dr. Fuentes' office. Some of them include the "Real" and "Barcelona" preparation plans for the 2005-06 season. They were written by the doctor himself on A4 paper. The documents contain encrypted information about players and prescriptions for substances containing doping.
"Le Monde" journalists assert that the Spanish police and investigating authorities were unaware of these documents.
As soon as the first rumors about the "Fuentes documents" and the mention of the "Barcelona" club and its players emerged, the club's management immediately issued an official statement on the club's website:
"We categorically deny the information published by 'Le Monde.' The club never used the services of Dr. Eufemio Fuentes. The club did not need his consultations or any other support during the preparation process of the 2005-06 season. 'Barcelona' reserves the right to take legal action to protect the club's interests from defamation."
"Real Betis" also denied having any contact with E. Fuentes. The club's doctor, Tomas Calero, firmly stated: "Neither I nor the club had any contact with Dr. Fuentes without my knowledge. I also doubt that any of the 'Real Betis' footballers could have interacted with the mentioned doctor on their own initiative and risk without my or the club's management's knowledge."
A representative of Valencia for public relations also denied the rumors: "We declare with full responsibility that the club had no contact with Dr. Eufemiano Fuentes."
So far, there has been no reaction from the side of the "Real Madrid" club.
