Nadal Very Upset With Court Decision To Destroy Blood Bags

Written by: Staff on 6th May 2013

Nadal Very Upset With Court Decision To Destroy Blood Bags

epa03689552 Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal returns the ball during a training session during the Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica tennis center in Madrid, central Spain, 06 May 2013. EPA/CHEMA MOYA |

The decision by the Spanish court to destroy the 211 blood bags found in the laboratory of doping doctor Eufaminio Fuentes has mystified most people in the world of sports but Rafael Nadal has now become the most prominent critic of the decision.

Fuentes, found guilty in Madrid last week after the findings of Operation Puerto were taken to court, received a one-year suspended sentence for endangering public health. He openly worked with cyclists and admitted he’d also treated tennis players as well as track and field athletes, footballers and boxers.

However no names were officially mentioned in court and Fuentes did not say he’d assisted any in blood doping. Such vagueness left too many questions unanswered and Nadal said: “The ruling wasn’t positive for anyone. I’m Spanish and with this behavior the image of my country doesn’t get out fairly.”

“The only ones that benefited were those who cheated. The ones that are hurt are Spanish athletes and sports in general.”

Andy Murray was the first to make a comment from the top flight of men’s tennis but the views of Nadal on a matter that took place in his own country is far more pertinent.

The former world no.1, who has constantly fought against allegations of doping particularly in the French press, said: “The image this transmits to the world isn’t the one we were hoping for.

“I think it is a mistake that the names (of Fuentes’ clients) are not known, but that is what happened. We will keep working so that sports stays clean and this doesn’t happen again in the future.”

Nadal added: “I am not one to judge others in this case. A decision was made and the only thing I can give is my opinion. And my opinion is the resolution is not positive for anyone.”

Meanwhile French Open tournament director Gilbert Ysern has insisted the tradition of seedings at Roland Garros being taken directly off the world rankings will not change this year because Nadal, winner of the title seven times in the last eight years, is currently ranked world no.5.

Speaking to the French sporting newspaper L’Equipe, Ysern said: “Considering what Nadal represents in Paris, (best player in the tournament’s history), it seemed incongruous that he arrives in Paris with the number 4 or 5 bib. But it (improving his seeding) was said to be fiddling.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Andy Murray, blood doping, Eufaminio Fuentes, Mutia Madrid Open, Operation Puerto, Rafael Nadal, Spanish tennis news, Sports, Tennis News