Spanish doctor jailed for 'blood doping' top cyclists

MADRID (AFP) –

Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes arrives at the Madrid courthouse for the start of his trial on January 28, 2013. Fuentes has been found guilty at a court in Madrid of endangering public health by administering blood transfusions to top cyclists and sentenced to a year in prison.

Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes was sentenced to a year in prison by a Madrid court on Tuesday after being found guilty of endangering public health by administering blood transfusions to top cyclists.

A former trainer of the Kelme cycling team, Jose Ignacio Labarta, was also found guilty and handed a four-month jail term. but the three other co-accused in the case — Yolanda Fuentes, Manolo Saiz and Vicente Belda — were cleared.

However, Judge Julia Patricia Santamaria declined to give access to inspect the 211 blood bags seized from Fuentes’ apartments to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) or any other national anti-doping authority.

Fuentes was also given a fine of around 4,500 euros ($5,880, £3,790) at the rate of 15 euros a day for 10 months and banned from practising as a sports doctor for four years. Labarta was also given a four month professional ban.