In a statement on Wednesday, Spain’s Anti-Doping Agency (CELAD) denied the accusations of cheating and said the criticism was “biased speculation”.
Spain’s main sports authority (CSD) last week called for the resignation of CELAD chief José Luis Terreros, citing the “reputational damage” suffered by Spanish sport and the agency in recent weeks.
The CSD submitted a report on the agency to Spanish prosecutors after investigating a complaint alleging “misconduct in the use of public funds and in the control and sanctioning of doping.”
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Spanish media outlet Relevo reported last week that the country’s anti-doping agency exploited bureaucratic loopholes to cover up positive cases.
CELAD said in a statement: “All these news are false and are nothing more than curiosity and biased speculation resulting from sensationalist interpretations that are far removed from the current regulations and the rights of all athletes.” .
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) also criticized CELAD, saying it was carrying out a comprehensive investigation, threatening “serious consequences for Spanish sport” if the doping scandal was not properly addressed.
Spanish authorities said they were “not aware” that WADA had opened any investigation.
“CELAD has always championed clean sport with full transparency, respected national and international regulations, and maintained honest communication with the World Anti-Doping Agency,” the statement continued.
Terreros told Spanish newspaper El Pais on Wednesday that he would resign but would do so at his own pace.
“Of course I’m going to leave and I’m happy to leave, but when I make my decision and when everyone listens to me, I’m going to leave,” he said.
“I’m quitting because how can I continue with people who treat me like this… I don’t want anyone to think I’m quitting because of all this misinformation It is.”