Uefa deemed a positive doping test by Sergio Ramos after the Champions League final in 2017 to be an “administrative mistake” after the Real Madrid team doctor did not disclose a pre-match injection of a banned substance, Der Spiegel have reported.
In the latest story released by the German publication as part of their Football Leaks series, it is alleged that Ramos tested positive for dexamethasone, a glucocorticoid drug that is only permitted if a medical doctor reports its administration.
Ramos’ paperwork made no mention of dexamethasone, instead detailing that the Spanish international had received an injection of celestone chronodose – better known as betamethasone – in both his shoulder and knee. Betamethasone is also on the list of substances banned by Wada if not declared by a doctor.
After Uefa investigated the incident and asked the club and player for expectations, it was the doctor who would take the blame – claiming “human error”.
Internal Uefa emails seen by Football Leaks concluded that the doctor had committed “an administrative mistake.”
Real Madrid defended Ramos, saying in a statement: “In relation to the information published by Der Spiegel referring to our captain Sergio Ramos, the club states the following:
1. Sergio Ramos has never breached the anti-doping control regulations.
2. UEFA requested timely information and closed the matter immediately, as is usual in these cases, after verification by the experts themselves of the World Anti-Doping Agency, AMA, and of UEFA itself.
3. Regarding the rest of the content of the aforementioned publication, the club does not pronounce itself before the evidence of its insubstantial nature.”
The German publication also reports that the club interfered with a random doping test of 10 players in February 2017. Clubs are committed to ensuring that doping control officers are able to do their jobs independently and without interference but Uefa reported internally that Madrid’s medical staff took the samples for some of the tests. Those same doping officers say they accepted this only “due to the situation of tension” created when Cristiano Ronaldo had kicked up a fuss about being tested.
Der Spiegel have made a further allegation that Sergio Ramos ignored instructions from an anti-doping officer to give a sample before showering. Obstructing the doping control process is an offence that can be punished by up to a four-year ban.
