Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos has hit back at claims by Der Spiegel that he broke anti-doping regulations on two occasions – once after the Champions League final against Juventus last year, and again following a La Liga game at Malaga earlier in 2018.
As part of the Football Leaks investigation, Der Spiegel alleged that Ramos had received two injections ahead of the 4-1 win over Juventus in Cardiff and that the treatment – for knee and shoulder problems – that had not been included on the medical report, with the German newspaper going on to claim that the defender also defied doping officials by taking a shower before a drug test after a 2-1 victory at Malaga last season.
But speaking after Madrid’s 3-0 defeat to Eibar in La Liga on Saturday, Ramos said: “It’s a complicated matter. We will go against those who have made those accusations with our legal team.
"Those who have had to talk – Uefa, WADA (the World Anti-Doping Agency) and the club – have done so.
"I have had more than 250 doping controls in my career and I have never committed an irregularity. Ever.”
After the claims were made on Friday, Madrid put out a statement professing the innocence of their player, while Uefa later confirmed there was no infringement of the rules and WADA backed their version in a letter sent to Spanish news agency EFE.
“We know what type of publication it is,” Ramos said of Der Spiegel. “They threatened us a month and a half ago. We had no fear because the truth is on our side. But I will take measures, because they have sought to stain my image and my career.”
And he added: “I’m relaxed, but it hurts me. Dexamethasone is an anti-inflammatory I used for my clavicle problem and information was given.
"And Malaga has been very well explained. I showered because they told me I could.
“The lie can be counted in a thousand ways because it is a lie. I give my all when I’m working and while I'm here, I’ll enjoy it.
"Whoever doesn’t like it, that’s their problem. I'll continue to be professional."
