The credibility of the State Anti-Doping Agency (CELAD) is at a minimum after the President of the Higher Sports Council (CSD), José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes, decided to send to the Public Prosecutor's Office a detailed report from the Ministry of Education and Sports about the bad practices and possible misuse of public funds in the agency led by José Luis Terreros. One of the first companies to speak out after the facts emerged was the Trinidad Alfonso Valencia Marathon organization, which has decided “not to enter into any new anti-doping testing contracts with CELAD pending the completion of investigations into alleged irregularities.” clarified in a reliable manner. This will be carried out by the international anti-doping organization WADA at the administrative level and by the Attorney General's Office at the judicial level,” said a statement published on Thursday morning.
This is how the organization of one of the marathons that has grown the most in Spain in recent years – it has grown from about 3,000 runners to more than 33,000 participants in just a decade – explains that “as long as the situation is okay.” Directorate ” The task of anti-doping controls for the Half Marathon and Valencia Marathon will be entrusted directly to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) teams “to ensure impartiality, rigor and zero tolerance towards cheaters”.
“Although the cases that have emerged in the media are not related to the half-time controls or the Valencia Marathon, there is a loss of confidence in the highest Spanish anti-doping authority, which we had previously trusted, and in the… “Companies authorized to carry out the tests,” explains Juan Manuel Botella, general director of the marathon. And he adds, referring to the statements made by Rodríguez Uribes in EL PAÍS: “If the president of the CSD himself has publicly stated that there are criminal signs and has referred them to the prosecutor's office, the situation is very serious, therefore we can “Not that.” you stand next to it. Get upset or pretend nothing is happening.”
“Like all major races, Valencia has suffered in the past from the deception of some runners and for this reason, because it has cost us money and dashed our hope of crowning the true champions, our commitment is to challenge the liars of the sport “To identify and eliminate “is and remains unbreakable,” emphasizes Botella. Valencia was the first World Athletics Championships organization in history to make a voluntary contribution of $50,000 for surprise inspections in 2018, and like other internationally prestigious events, it does not field athletes who have been severely sanctioned for serious misconduct. against doping, regardless of whether you have already served your sanction. Annually, more than 35,000 euros are allocated directly to anti-doping tests and room conditioning for their correct implementation at the Valencia Marathon and Half Marathon.
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