adminLONDON. — Arsenal, Chelsea and English Premier League soccer leaders Leicester City yesterday rejected claims made by a British newspaper that a doctor who prescribed performance-enhancing drugs treated their players.
The three teams were cited in a Sunday Times report in which British doctor Mark Bonar was secretly filmed talking about providing professional athletes with banned substances.
All three clubs strongly denied the allegations.
“Leicester City Football Club is extremely disappointed that the Sunday Times has published unsubstantiated allegations referring to players from clubs including Leicester City when, on its own admission, it has insufficient evidence to support the claims,” said a statement from Leicester.
“Leicester City follows robust and comprehensive anti-doping protocols to ensure its full compliance and that of its players with all anti-doping rules and regulations.”
The Sunday Times also claimed that Rob Brinded, a former Chelsea fitness coach, had “collaborated” with Bonar, but Brinded denied the claim.
Chelsea, last season’s Premier League champions, said: “The claims The Sunday Times put to us are false and entirely without foundation.
“Chelsea Football Club has never used the services of Dr Bonar and has no knowledge or record of any of our players having been treated by him or using his services.
“We take the issue of performance-enhancing drugs in sport extremely seriously and comply fully with all anti-doping rules and regulations. Chelsea FC players are regularly and rigorously tested by the relevant authorities.”
Arsenal also reacted angrily.
“Arsenal Football Club is extremely disappointed by the publication of these false claims which are without foundation,” they said in a statement.
“The club takes its responsibilities in this area very seriously and our players are well aware of what is expected.
“We strictly adhere to all guidelines set by the World Anti-Doping Agency and our first-team players participate in approximately 50 random drugs tests during each football season.
“None of our players has ever failed such a test.”
It was earlier reported yesterday that English Premier League footballers were among 150 sports stars prescribed banned performance-enhancing drugs, a London doctor claimed in an expose by The Sunday Times.
The newspaper, which has been at the heart of several doping exposes involving international athletics over the last 12 months, conducted an undercover operation on London-based anti-ageing doctor Bonar.
The 38-year-old medic claims to have had a network of “secret clients” which included footballers from Arsenal, Chelsea and Leicester City.
And UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) said it was “deeply concerned and shocked” by a Sunday Times report in which Bonar alleged he had prescribed banned performance-enhancing drugs to 150 sportsmen including several Premier League footballers. — AFP.
Online Reporter