Police uncover doping ring in Andorra

Police working together in Spain and Andorra have uncovered an alleged doping ring that involved up to 42 cyclists, 11 athletes, eight triathletes and even some kayakers and motorcycle drivers. Authorities identified most of the alleged clients as professional athletes.

According to a report on the Spanish wire service EFE, authorities cooperating from three police units across Spain and the principality of Andorra discovered a pharmacist based in Andorra was providing doping products illegally through the internet, dating to 2003.

Police said the network distributed DHEA, Testex, Andriol, Eprex, Synachten, Efedrina and Trigon as well as other doping products. Authorities said they have revealed the names of the alleged clients to the Spanish sports federation, but none have been released to the media. Officials said the sporting figures are cooperating with police and said no legal charges will likely be filed against alleged clients. The alleged ring-leader and other collaborators, six in total, could face charges of distributing doping products and endangering public health.

Within the past year, police said that more than 500 packets of doping products have been mailed to clients across Spain, generating an estimated 100,000 euros in profits. One official said that the athletes were acting on their own, without the collaboration of doctors, trainers or other intermediaries.

According to police, the pharmacist would transport the doping products out of Andorra by car to nearby communities in Spain, such as Jaca and La Seu d’Urgell, where family members would help mail packets to addresses to alleged clients within Spain.

Police also confirmed this is the same alleged network that recently-deceased Xavier Tondo helped identify when he was approached last winter. Tondo, who died in a tragic domestic accident in a garage last month, tipped off police when he said someone approached him about purchasing doping products illegally online. That information helped police zero in on and uncover Spain’s latest doping ring.