AS.com

Spain's state Anti-Doping Agency has "started proceedings" into claims made by Iñaki Badiola, ex-Real Sociedad president, regarding a link between that club and the doctor at the centre of the Operation Puerto doping case, Eufemiano Fuentes. Sources from the Agency confirmed to this newspaper that the organisation had already begun proceedings, with the Agency's head, Ana Muñoz, contacting Badiola directly. Badiola alleged that there had been off-the-record payments, over the course of six years, for performance enhancing drugs. Spanish newspaper El País published further information today, relating the supposed payments by the club, then run by Astiazarán, to records labelled "Cuentas Asti" by Fuentes, the doctor currently being investigated for alleged doping as part of the Operation Puerto case. Astiazarán, now President of the Spanish league, denied all the allegations.

There is a possibility that the investigation may be extended to cover players from Real from the periods mentioned by Badiola, as well as six footballers still on the payroll at the club: Bravo, Estrada, Mikel González, Elustondo, Ansotegi and current captain Xabi Prieto. Prieto spoke today to deny any such illegal practices.