Doping Trial May Reach Far Beyond Spain, And Cycling
A famous doctor is on trial in Spain, accused of masterminding one of the world's biggest sports doping rings. His clients are believed to include at least one former teammate of disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong and dozens of other cyclists who raced against him.
Nearly seven years ago, Spanish police raided the office Dr. Eufemiano Fuentes in Madrid and seized more than 200 bags of frozen blood. The bags had been labeled with cryptic codes. Since then, investigators have been trying to decipher the code and reveal the names of Fuentes' clients.
Fuentes is a top hematologist who developed a way to increase oxygen flow in the blood, by using drugs and blood transfusions. The method is especially useful for professional cyclists. But in court, Fuentes told a judge that he treated all sorts of athletes.
"Cyclists, soccer players, whole soccer teams — even boxers. I treated them all," he said.
Europe is frantic over which famous sports stars might have been involved. So far, the doctor has refused to name names.
Fuentes and three other suspects are charged with endangering public health, rather than doping. Spain didn't have an anti-doping law back in 2006, when they were arrested. It does now.
The doctor claims what he did was perfectly legal at the time.
"He admits the blood transfusions," says Christophe Lehousse, a French journalist covering the trial. "He says it wasn't any danger for cyclists. On the contrary, it was good for their health."