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Spain's Dr Eufemiano Fuentes on trial for cyclists' doping Spain's Dr Eufemiano Fuentes on trial for cyclists' doping
(35 minutes later)
A Spanish doctor is due to go on trial accused of running one of the world's largest sports doping rings.A Spanish doctor is due to go on trial accused of running one of the world's largest sports doping rings.
Dr Eufemiano Fuentes's trial in Madrid comes nearly seven years after police raided his offices and seized some 200 bags of blood which were linked to a number of top cyclists.Dr Eufemiano Fuentes's trial in Madrid comes nearly seven years after police raided his offices and seized some 200 bags of blood which were linked to a number of top cyclists.
Dozens of cyclists have been called to testify as witnesses in the trial.Dozens of cyclists have been called to testify as witnesses in the trial.
Dr Fuentes, his sister and three former cycling coaches are charged with breaking public health laws.Dr Fuentes, his sister and three former cycling coaches are charged with breaking public health laws.
They could not be charged with doping-related crimes because Spain had no anti-doping law at the time of their arrest.They could not be charged with doping-related crimes because Spain had no anti-doping law at the time of their arrest.
Prosecutors must prove that the defendants' actions put the lives of the athletes at risk - something the defence is expected to deny.Prosecutors must prove that the defendants' actions put the lives of the athletes at risk - something the defence is expected to deny.
The case comes days after former seven times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong finally admitted to using banned drugs and blood doping during his cycling career.The case comes days after former seven times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong finally admitted to using banned drugs and blood doping during his cycling career.
Code-namesCode-names
Spanish police carried out a series of raids on offices, laboratories and flats in Madrid, Zaragoza and El Escorial in May 2006 as part of an investigation known as Operation Puerto.Spanish police carried out a series of raids on offices, laboratories and flats in Madrid, Zaragoza and El Escorial in May 2006 as part of an investigation known as Operation Puerto.
In the words of the chief prosecutor in the case, the court will consider the names of those athletes (alleged clients of Dr Fuentes) who could be identified from the code names on the bags of blood found in Dr Fuentes's home and office.
A suspicion that some evidence seized during the raids has been held back will therefore persist.
However, Spain's anti-doping agency says it has seen no evidence to back up that suspicion.
The BBC has spoken to a Spanish long-distance runner who claimed that he was encouraged to dope via Dr Fuentes's alleged network.
I asked Dr Fuentes's lawyer, Julian Perez, if the doctor had clients who were not cyclists. "I do not know", was his response.
They found around 200 bags of blood or frozen plasma with labels that were believed to be code-names for Dr Fuentes's clients - athletes who were allegedly benefiting from a highly-sophisticated doping programme.They found around 200 bags of blood or frozen plasma with labels that were believed to be code-names for Dr Fuentes's clients - athletes who were allegedly benefiting from a highly-sophisticated doping programme.
Dozens of cyclists were allegedly implicated in the scandal, including former Tour de France winner Alberto Contador, who is expected to give evidence in the trial.Dozens of cyclists were allegedly implicated in the scandal, including former Tour de France winner Alberto Contador, who is expected to give evidence in the trial.
The World Anti-Doping Agency has said that it was told, at the time of the raids, that the bags of blood also related to athletes from several sports, including football and tennis.The World Anti-Doping Agency has said that it was told, at the time of the raids, that the bags of blood also related to athletes from several sports, including football and tennis.
But Monday's trial will focus only on cyclists who, according to the chief prosecutor in the case, are the only athletes that could be identified from the bags of blood seized.But Monday's trial will focus only on cyclists who, according to the chief prosecutor in the case, are the only athletes that could be identified from the bags of blood seized.
Spain's anti-doping agency has said there is no evidence to back up the claim that some of the evidence gathered during the raids has been held back, the BBC's Tom Burridge reports from Madrid. The trial is expected to last until mid-March.
The trial is expected to last until mid-March and if found guilty, the defendants could face up to two years in prison and a two year professional ban. If found guilty, the defendants could face up to two years in prison and a two-year professional ban.