Operacion Puerto

[The Cube]

A Spanish judge has today re-opened the Operacion Puerto doping investigation. This related to blood doping and administering of EPO up to May 2006 by a Doctor Eufemiano Fuentes in Spain. To date, only cyclists have been named as being involved, and only one of those has received a suspension (although others have retired. died or simply failed to find an employer).

However, Fuentes has said that he had over 200 clients of which only 30% were cyclists. The others are footballers and tennis players, none of whom have been named. Le Monde has said that both Barcelona and Real Madrid dealt with Fuentes, implying systematic doping organised by the clubs rather than by individuals. One of the cyclists named has said that he saw high profile footballers at the clinic.

The question is whether the Spanish authorities will take action against any footballing clients, or continue to bow down under legal pressure from the clubs concerned.


In other, completely unconnected news, Barcelona beat Arsenal in the 2006 Champions League final.