Spanish court releases ‘Operation Puerto’ blood samples to anti-doping agency
A decade after police broke up a doping ring operated by a Spanish doctor, a Madrid appeals court has ruled evidence from the case must be turned over to anti-doping authorities.
More than 200 coded blood and plasma bags were seized in the 2006 “Operation Puerto” raid, which linked top cyclists to widespread cheating. Sports authorities have long suspected the stored blood could implicate athletes in other sports.
Tuesday’s decision came as something of a surprise, settling a protracted legal battle over whether evidence from the criminal case, which ended years ago, should be destroyed.
“We are dismayed that it took so long to receive the decision but we will now partner with the other parties that have been granted access [to the evidence], to determine our legal options vis-à-vis analyzing the blood and plasma bags,” said David Howman, director general of the World Anti-Doping Agency.
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The “Operation Puerto” criminal proceedings ended with Dr. Eufemiano Fuentes receiving a one-year suspended sentence for endangering public health – a sentence that was subsequently overturned.
Five top cyclists were sanctioned for doping violations.
Numerous, unnamed athletes in other sports have been linked to Fuentes. WADA and other organizations have wanted to examine the evidence to see if they should pursue additional sanctions.
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