A group of 78 Spanish athletes have issued a statement today in which they express their “strongest and absolute rejection of CELAD’s latest actions”, in reference to State Agency Spanish Commission for the Fight against Doping in Sports.
The athletes, led by the walker Alvaro Martindouble world champion, insists that the latest news has crossed “certain limits” and caused “distrust, uncertainty and anger in our leaders” in the fight against doping.
Signatories, including those recently suspended Mohamed Katirrecognize the difficulty of ending doping, which they define as “a scourge that spreads and destroys sport”, reject “any practice that represents a violation of anti-doping matters” and demand that leaders act “with honesty and transparency”.
The statement maintains that “all Spanish athletes may be victims of the distrust of our society and our colleagues from other countries due to the latest news that has come out,” and confirms that “we may be facing at the tip of the iceberg.”
“This lack of trust can affect us, not only the discredit on the part of others, but its possible consequences in terms of sponsorship, awards and a long etcetera,” the statement notes.
“When an athlete does doping, the first person affected is himself because of the health damage that occurs and, the second, is his teammates/rivals, technical team, family and friends around him”
“That now there are rumors of 5 or 6 cases filed in a drawer is not allowed in a country like Spain. Those present here demand the initiation of various disciplinary proceedings, their sanction and disclosure to Sanciona2.”
The statement is also responsible for remembering the Organic Law 11/2021 of the fight against doping in sport, establishing that “The Agency will have a body for participation, coordination and monitoring in which the athletes will be represented.” According to the athletes, the Anti-Doping Coordination Commission does not include “any athlete in any CELAD participation body”, which contradicts the regulations.
“We encourage the sports authorities to respect the same law because of the relevance of the presence of professional athletes in the highest body against the fight against doping (sic).”
The athletes also complain of being relegated “to the background when we are the main actors and the people who suffer the most from the consequences of this unprecedented crisis in the history of the fight against doping in Spain.”
Finally, the Government of Spain, the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports and the Higher Sports Council are required to take “necessary and urgent measures that restore confidence to athletes and our society that doping is something that fights and destroys all sectors.”
Among the signed athletes are the names of Roberto Alaíz, María Forero, Marta García, Águeda Marqués, Ignacio Fontes, Mohamed Attaoui, Ibrahim Chakir, Andreu Blanes, Carlos Mayo, Daniel Arce, Mario García Romo, Sebastián Martos, Jorge Blanco, Yago Rojo, Fátima Diamé, Mohamed Katir, José Ignacio Pérez, María Pérez and Tariku NovalesBesides others.
Source: La Verdad
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