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Sergio Ramos Says He's 'Vehemently Opposed to Doping' Amid Allegations
November 24, 2018
Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos released a statement on Saturday saying he's "vehemently opposed to doping" following allegations he failed a drugs test:
The Spain international reportedly tested positive for Desametasone after the 2017 UEFA Champions League final win over Juventus but was not punished, according to Football Leaks (h/t Football Italia).
The report states that the drug can be used "as long as UEFA are informed ahead of time." UEFA were said to have accepted an "apology" from Real Madrid and then took no further action.
Real Madrid have also denied the allegations surrounding the centre-back. In a statement on Friday, the club said the defender has "never breached the anti-doping control regulations," per Marca.
Martin Zygler at The Times noted that Real Madrid's team doctor accepted blame for the issue:
Ramos also received support from La Liga president Javier Tebas on Saturday, per EFE (h/t Marca): "I don't have any doubt that Real Madrid and Sergio Ramos have not been involved in doping."
The 32-year-old Ramos has won La Liga and the Champions League four times each with Real Madrid and is one of the most decorated players in the game.
He is known for his aggressive playing style, which often invites controversy. In the 2018 Champions League final, his challenge with Liverpool's Mohamed Salah saw the Egyptian suffer a dislocated shoulder.
The allegations surrounding Ramos are contributing to an increasingly difficult season for Real Madrid. The club fired manager Julen Lopetegui in October after just three months of the season.
Santiago Solari has taken over the Real Madrid hot seat until the end of the season, but he saw his team shocked 3-0 at Eibar on Saturday in their fifth league defeat of the season after only 13 games.