Former La Liga Real Sociedad President Inaki Badiola told Spanish news website AS that, before his regime took charge, "the club's players had been subjected to doping practices," according to Rik Sharma of the London DAILY MAIL. Badiola said that the board fired two doctors, Eduardo Escobar and Antxon Gorrotxategi, in '08 because they "discovered payments in the prior six years for products which were classified as banned substances." Badiola added that the club "did not investigate any specific players involved" and had been concerned with the medical staff. Badiola: "We have not gone against the players and we do not know if all were subjected to such practices. No names were mentioned -- our investigation was directed against the physicians" (DAILY MAIL, 2/4). Spanish Professional Football League President (LFP) and Real Sociedad President from '01-05 José Luis Astiazaran published a note on the LFP's website denying the "false accusations" and "assuring that there were never suspicions of doping at Real Sociedad." The note had six bullet points with the main one reading: "During the period of my presidency at Real Sociedad, I never knew of or suspected illegal practices in relation to the medical services, which always worked professionally and ethically. If I had suspected or known anything, I would have acted accordingly" (AS, 2/4).
