The World Anti-Doping Agency are considering an appeal against a Spanish court’s order to destroy evidence in Operation Puerto.
Doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, the central figure in the cycling doping scandal, was given a one‑year suspended jail sentence yesterday for endangering public health.
Police recovered 211 bags of blood from his laboratory but the decision by Judge Julia Santamari to destroy the evidence ended hopes that other sportsmen and women would be exposed. During the trial, Fuentes, who denied doping, said he had also worked with athletes, footballers, boxers and tennis players.
WADA’s director general David Howman said today: “The decision is particularly disappointing and unsatisfactory for WADA, and the whole anti-doping community.
“Access to this evidence motivated WADA’s involvement. This would ensure appropriate sports sanction processes against the cheats.”
Yesterday, British No1 Andy Murray tweeted: “Case is beyond a joke. Why would court order blood bags to be destroyed? Cover up.”
