Barcelona deny link to banned doctor

[the count]

Barcelona deny link to banned doctor Luis García del Moral who worked with Lance Armstrong and US Postal

Barcelona have said that a Spanish doctor who has been banned for life for his role in the Lance Armstrong affair has “never been on the staff payroll” at the Catalan club.

No links: FC Barcelona have insisted that banned doctor Luis García del Moral was never on staff at the club Photo: GETTY IMAGES

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By Matt Scott​

11:59PM BST 09 Oct 2012​

On the official website of the sports and medical centre at which Dr Luis García del Moral has been based, it is claimed that as well as working with Armstrong, Del Moral had also been a “medical adviser” toBarcelona and Valencia football clubs.​

Del Moral, who is based in Valencia, was, like Armstrong, given a lifetime ban from sport by US anti-doping officials over his role in systematic doping at the US Postal cycling team during the period Armstrong won a record number of Tour de France titles. Like Armstong, Del Moral has chosen not to fight the ban.​

Telegraph Sport asked Barçelona if the claims on the website, which are believed to relate to the 2003-04 season, could be corroborated. The four-times European champions responded by stating that they had searched employment records and could confirm that Del Moral was “never on the staff payroll”.​

However, Barça said they could not guarantee that Del Moral had not been engaged on an ad hoc basis by the medical department during that period, or been used by individual players. They added that there has since been an overhaul of the club’s medical system and personnel.​

When asked who ran the club’s medical affairs at the time, Barcelona did not respond. Valencia did not answer calls and did not respond to two emails requesting a response to the unverified suggestion of a connection between the club and Del Moral.​

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A bit of a nothing article but considering the huge money involved it would hardly be surprising if doping isn't endemic in many areas of football. I know there have been lots of rumours about Juve and other Italian teams but surely this just isn't confined to Italy​

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[Rosco]

This is relevant to my interests.

It definitely goes on, no doubt about it. There's plenty of stories about Juve alright, and I've always thought Milan was likely given how many players had careers into their late thirties, as well as how Shevchenkos career fell off a cliff when he left. He immediately looked weaker and slower.

 

[Athens]

Is there a drug which makes a footballer pass the ball better?

 

[Markeh]

I always wondered why Ronaldinho turned to shit in what should have been the peak age of his career. Also Messi is a midget growth hormoned to a normalish height.

Wouldn't surprise me

 

[Rosco]

Is there a drug which makes a footballer pass the ball better?

It's too late for Momo

 

[Rosco]

I always wondered why Ronaldinho turned to shit in what should have been the peak age of his career. Also Messi is a midget growth hormoned to a normalish height.

Wouldn't surprise me

I think that's because Brazilian AM's peak earlier than people would expect rather than a drugs related thing.

Eg Kaka, Robinho, Diego etc etc

 

[LeTallecWiz]

I think that's because Brazilian AM's peak earlier than people would expect rather than a drugs related thing.

Eg Kaka, Robinho, Diego etc etc

Interesting ... Valid reason I guess. Maybe all the partying when they're 12 catches up to them then? 😉

A lot of Milan's older players are playing fine now though - and I don't think Sheva's drop was due to anything 'illegal' (He still performed well for the Ukraine, no?)

 

[Rosco]

Robbie Keane still scores for Ireland, but couldn't get a decent offer from a European club. I wouldn't rely on international football to judge anyone.

The partying is definitely an issue with some of them - Adriano and Ronaldo for a start

 

[keniget]

The whole Brazilian thing is weird. Kaka has had his injury problems, which may account for his demise (and Real was in hindsight a bad move for him).

In general perhaps it's an issue of psychology. So much is focused on "making it" and all that entails (money) that perhaps when they do the football becomes less important. Perhaps Brazilians aren't as devoted to football as they portray.

 

[gkmacca]

Yes, and Roberto Carlos was looking a bit odd last night. I think he's addicted to those dairy cream aerosols.

 

[the count]

Haven't FIFA, EUFA and other footballing bodies all refused to come under the umbrella of the World anti doping agency?

 

[Markeh]

I think that's because Brazilian AM's peak earlier than people would expect rather than a drugs related thing.

Eg Kaka, Robinho, Diego etc etc

True but everyone likes a good scandal 😀

I still wonder about Messi though and how he will turn out in a few years time, can he keep this level up in his late twenties? and when exactly will he sign for Liverpool?

 

[Rosco]

Haven't FIFA, EUFA and other footballing bodies all refused to come under the umbrella of the World anti doping agency?

I thought they did generally follow the WADA rules ? I know they protested about some of them like out of season testing - don't know how that was resolve mind you

 

[the count]

I thought they did generally follow the WADA rules ? I know they protested about some of them like out of season testing - don't know how that was resolve mind you

Alright.
I thought that they were doing their own thing when it came to dope testing and the rest.
Obviously not.

 

[Rosco]

They might be, I don't really know.

 

[tony]

Rosco what do you know about the alleged blood transfusions at AC Milan in the 90s - was this a rumour or fact. Could they have been pioneers of EPO use do you think? Deep in the recesses of my mind I think I read that Dr Ferrari was contracted by them although I might well be wrong, but I do know Juventus were proven in a prosecution of another italian doctor to have used EPO on some players from '94 to '98

 

[red_maradona]

football is such a multifaced sport, i can't see drugs giving players a comparative advantage,

 

[Athens]

If half of your team is taking performance enhancing drugs I reckon it would make a hell of a difference in the last 20 minutes of a match.

 

[Ijg]

I personally think football is hiding tons of scandals but i'd prefer to just turn a blind eye.

 

[Rouge Penguin]

What ever happened to billion dollar denilson. He must have been a test beagle

 

[Y1]

Skill will not be enhanced but stamina and strength will be. So look for the bulky energizer rabbit type?

Our Kuyt? Gulp.

 

[StevieM]

Some of our performances over the last few seasons probably required drugs to be handed out to the poor bastards in the stands watching the fuckers struggle to string 2 passes together.