OPERACION PUERTO AND FOOTBALL?

[john68]

DOCTOR EUFEMIANO FUENTES, his sister YOLANDA, MANOLO SAIZ, JOSE IGNACIO LABARTA and VICENTE BELDA, may mean little to most of us but on Monday, their trial got underway in Madrid. It is the culmination of OPERACION PUERTO, a police operation and investigation that began in 2006, into a major drugs and blood doping clinic in Valencia for major sportsmen.

Document were found, originally naming around 39 cyclists, some of whom were top stars in the sport, alongside thousands of doses of anabolic steroids, more than a hundred packs of blood and transfusion equipment. Though ostensibly a cycling issue, especially as it comes on the back of the current open sore that is the Lance Armstrong scandal, during the investigation there were reported links and statements to football.

In 2006, Dr Fuentes openly stated that he also worked with footballers and in the same year, Jesus Manzano (who's statements in 2004 started this affair) stated that he had seen famous footballers at the clinic.
Also in 2006,Le Monde said it had documents relating to the pre-season preparations of both Barcelona and Real Madrid but did not specify any players and later lost a court case because they offered no proof.
In 2007, Sepp Blatter stated he wanted to see the Operacion Puerto documents.

Supposition and speculation are not my favourite bed mates but when added to the fact that both FIFA and our own FA have refused to sign up to some of the testing requirements of WADA and only recently in the Four Four Two survey of pro footballers, drug taking (recreational and performance enhancing) were mentioned as a worry by those who actually play the game.

Houston..."Do we have a problem?

[Cocacolajojo1]

DOCTOR EUFEMIANO FUENTES, his sister YOLANDA, MANOLO SAIZ, JOSE IGNACIO LABARTA and VICENTE BELDA, may mean little to most of us but on Monday, their trial got underway in Madrid. It is the culmination of OPERACION PUERTO, a police operation and investigation that began in 2006, into a major drugs and blood doping clinic in Valencia for major sportsmen.

Document were found, originally naming around 39 cyclists, some of whom were top stars in the sport, alongside thousands of doses of anabolic steroids, more than a hundred packs of blood and transfusion equipment. Though ostensibly a cycling issue, especially as it comes on the back of the current open sore that is the Lance Armstrong scandal, during the investigation there were reported links and statements to football.

In 2006, Dr Fuentes openly stated that he also worked with footballers and in the same year, Jesus Manzano (who's statements in 2004 started this affair) stated that he had seen famous footballers at the clinic.
Also in 2006,Le Monde said it had documents relating to the pre-season preparations of both Barcelona and Real Madrid but did not specify any players and later lost a court case because they offered no proof.
In 2007, Sepp Blatter stated he wanted to see the Operacion Puerto documents.

Supposition and speculation are not my favourite bed mates but when added to the fact that both FIFA and our own FA have refused to sign up to some of the testing requirements of WADA and only recently in the Four Four Two survey of pro footballers, drug taking (recreational and performance enhancing) were mentioned as a worry by those who actually play the game.

Houston..."Do we have a problem?

I asked this is the 4-4-2 thread as well but I at least never saw an answer from anyone: Does anyone know how and how often and under what circumstances professional footballers are tested for doping?

[Swales4ever]

The proximity to dr. Fuentes is the reason why thousands of tennis fans, particularly those in love with Roger Federer, have been talking most on Rafa Nadal and his "very powered" and quite unnatural skills of play.
For many years it has been stressed that the Spanish Sporting Bodies have appeared to move heaven and hell to support their professional excellences, from allowing an almost "Fiscal Heaven" level of taxation over the income of professional players up to closing one and a half eye on this much talked, borderline doctor.

[Moonchesteri]

I have no doubt in my mind whatsoever that use of doping is very common within footballers in Europe.

[Slim]

DOCTOR EUFEMIANO FUENTES, his sister YOLANDA, MANOLO SAIZ, JOSE IGNACIO LABARTA and VICENTE BELDA, may mean little to most of us but on Monday, their trial got underway in Madrid. It is the culmination of OPERACION PUERTO, a police operation and investigation that began in 2006, into a major drugs and blood doping clinic in Valencia for major sportsmen.

Document were found, originally naming around 39 cyclists, some of whom were top stars in the sport, alongside thousands of doses of anabolic steroids, more than a hundred packs of blood and transfusion equipment. Though ostensibly a cycling issue, especially as it comes on the back of the current open sore that is the Lance Armstrong scandal, during the investigation there were reported links and statements to football.

In 2006, Dr Fuentes openly stated that he also worked with footballers and in the same year, Jesus Manzano (who's statements in 2004 started this affair) stated that he had seen famous footballers at the clinic.
Also in 2006,Le Monde said it had documents relating to the pre-season preparations of both Barcelona and Real Madrid but did not specify any players and later lost a court case because they offered no proof.
In 2007, Sepp Blatter stated he wanted to see the Operacion Puerto documents.

Supposition and speculation are not my favourite bed mates but when added to the fact that both FIFA and our own FA have refused to sign up to some of the testing requirements of WADA and only recently in the Four Four Two survey of pro footballers, drug taking (recreational and performance enhancing) were mentioned as a worry by those who actually play the game.

Houston..."Do we have a problem?

Kolo might. Diet pill junkie.

[john68]

I have read bits and bobs on football drug testing procedures which have left me with the concept that the whole thing is not that thorough considering the size and importance of the sport. There would seem to be sizeable gaps in the some procedures compared to some other sports.
Unfortunately at this point, I am unable to give you much in the way of details Mate.

What I do find scandalous is that our sports and mainstream media do seem to be keeping very quiet on this subject.

Something I was shocked by whilst trolling round cycling sites was that figures, based on wattages/power ratios/distance etc (that I don't fully understand and which are far too scientifically and maths based for me to take on board) have convinced many passionate cyclists and fans that a new breed of undetectable drugs have merely replaced the old ones within the sport. How true? Who knows?

It was even rumoured (can I stress RUMOURED) in some quarters that our own successful British cycling team had been fuelled by something from China called EPOX (I think).

If you are interested, try looking up AICAR...that one's even scarier as it occurs naturally in the body so and its levels vary, making it almost impossible to prove it has been taken as a sports enhancer.

Once again,I stress rumour, speculation and conjecture...maybe we'll get the truth one day if the governing bodies decide to act and the media decide to investigate and report.

[bigblue]

Wouldn't be surprised but would feel let down. There are doping scandals in every other professional athletic activity and it would almost be strange if the most popular sport in the world was somehow immune.

[bigblue]

If you are interested, try looking up AICAR...that one's even scarier as it occurs naturally in the body so and its levels vary, making it almost impossible to prove it has been taken as a sports enhancer.

Here ya go, fresh from the labs:

http://www.tocris.com/dispprod.php?ItemId=5334

Just shoot it in your bum 2x a day and you'll be like Lance in no time... I think

[Cocacolajojo1]

I have read bits and bobs on football drug testing procedures which have left me with the concept that the whole thing is not that thorough considering the size and importance of the sport. There would seem to be sizeable gaps in the some procedures compared to some other sports.
Unfortunately at this point, I am unable to give you much in the way of details Mate.

What I do find scandalous is that our sports and mainstream media do seem to be keeping very quiet on this subject.

Something I was shocked by whilst trolling round cycling sites was that figures, based on wattages/power ratios/distance etc (that I don't fully understand and which are far too scientifically and maths based for me to take on board) have convinced many passionate cyclists and fans that a new breed of undetectable drugs have merely replaced the old ones within the sport. How true? Who knows?

It was even rumoured (can I stress RUMOURED) in some quarters that our own successful British cycling team had been fuelled by something from China called EPOX (I think).

If you are interested, try looking up AICAR...that one's even scarier as it occurs naturally in the body so and its levels vary, making it almost impossible to prove it has been taken as a sports enhancer.

Once again,I stress rumour, speculation and conjecture...maybe we'll get the truth one day if the governing bodies decide to act and the media decide to investigate and report.

Yeah yeah it's all conjecture. The fact is that I've several times been impressed with the tenacity and vigour displayed by real and Barcelona. El classico could leave a brother feeling stressed out, so high is the tempo. For all that's been said about Barcelona and real Madrid and their amount of goals, their triumph is a defensive one. They are remarkably good at hounding down the opposition ball holder. It'd be a shame if this ability was in any way founded on illegal chemicals.

I'll check out the links. Thx.

[john68]

Wouldn't be surprised but would feel let down. There are doping scandals in every other professional athletic activity and it would almost be strange if the most popular sport in the world was somehow immune.

Personally, I would be absolutely gutted BB. Like most of us, I have bought into the sport emotionally over a number of years. To even think it was drugs fuelled is enough. If it were proven.....I shudder to think!

I agree with what you say though.

[Florida Blue]

Stateside we have several baseball players and NFL football players banned for 1/4 of a season for first offense, 1/2 or more for a second, a lot of them for things similar to Kolo...and in the case of NFL player Stanley Wilson (a running back for Cincinncati) he was banned for life after his 3rd offense for cocaine possession (the same would happen today for steroids).

It is very topical here, PEDs have really tarnished the reputation of some of the games greatests players of the 1990s. Arguably the greatest baseball player ever not named Babe Ruth will never get into the Hall of Fame because of the accusations of using PEDs, and he was never caught doing them and suspended. Baseball's labor agreement allows for random testing a couple times a year for all players and even more for those who have been caught.

The NBA has banned 4 players for life, but again for non-PEDs, but cocaine and the like.

Ironically, the National Hockey League has had only one or two suspensions ever for steroids.

[Arjan Van Schotte]

the cycling governing body UCI chose not to see the widespread doping for years, to protect their on reputation (or finances....). I don't think there's any evidence of widespread doping in football, as there was in cycling.

what i have found slightly hilarious is the testing itself. i remember a rugby league player getting a ban for cannabis, and there are currently 4 uk sportsmen serving a ban for weed, including an ice hockey player, and a basketball player serving a 2 year ban!

I'm not sure that weed will enhance your performance at any sport? lolz

[Nigels Tackle]

without the growth hormones he took when he was young, would messi have been the player the he is now?

[mr_nool]

the cycling governing body UCI chose not to see the widespread doping for years, to protect their on reputation (or finances....). I don't think there's any evidence of widespread doping in football, as there was in cycling.

what i have found slightly hilarious is the testing itself. i remember a rugby league player getting a ban for cannabis, and there are currently 4 uk sportsmen serving a ban for weed, including an ice hockey player, and a basketball player serving a 2 year ban!

I'm not sure that weed will enhance your performance at any sport? lolz

Perhaps darts if you use it very moderately. It takes the edge off.

[Dameerto]

without the growth hormones he took when he was young, would messi have been the player the he is now?

He's be half the player he is now - literally.

[Dameerto]

I nearly posted something about this the other day when Guardiola moved to Bayern - Guardiola himself failed two tests for Nadralone while in Italy as a player.
The Fuentes connection is supposed to link a lot of Spanish sports people to doping with allegations that Barca are involved, as well as Nadal, but the decision was made to limit the investigation to cycling.

[Nigels Tackle]

without the growth hormones he took when he was young, would messi have been the player the he is now?

He's be half the player he is now - literally.

(sports) science vs doping

pile of shite. imho.

[Dameerto]

without the growth hormones he took when he was young, would messi have been the player the he is now?

He's be half the player he is now - literally.

(sports) science vs doping

pile of shite. imho.

I was talking about his height.

[Nigels Tackle]

without the growth hormones he took when he was young, would messi have been the player the he is now?

He's be half the player he is now - literally.

(sports) science vs doping

pile of shite. imho.

I was talking about his height.

no shit sherlock

at 3 ft 8, i doubt he'd have won world player of player of the year 4 times in a row...

[Cocacolajojo1]

without the growth hormones he took when he was young, would messi have been the player the he is now?

He's be half the player he is now - literally.

(sports) science vs doping

pile of shite. imho.

I was talking about his height.

no shit sherlock

at 3 ft 8, i doubt he'd have won world player of player of the year 4 times in a row...

But you can't be sure, that's where science comes in!