Nadal Very Upset With Court Decision To Destroy Blood Bags

Written by: on 6th May 2013
Tennis Madrid Open
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: , , , , , , , ,








10sBalls Top Stories

In Case You Missed It

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA thumbnail

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA

Tennis Canada announced on Wednesday that Eugenie Bouchard is the winner of the 2018 Excellence Awards in the Female Player of the Year and Singles Player of the Year categories.
TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE

Time to get tickets to watch! Surly you have heard about The Largest Open Tennis Event in America!
TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER

According to Uncle Toni, Rafael Nadal was supposed to be back at practice on either Dec. 4 or 5. Well, better late than never!
Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife thumbnail

Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife

Española y checa ya trabajaron juntas durante el pasado Open de Estados Unidos
ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS thumbnail

ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS

Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia hits a forehand to Kaia Kanepi of Estonia during her second round match at the Nature Valley International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, Great Britain, on Tuesday, June 26, 2018.