Sports minister admits Spain has a bad doping image

Education, Culture and Sports Minister, José Ignacio Wert, on Tuesday told L’Equipe that the Spanish government is planning to improve its international image in the fight against doping. The minister had made a similar statement in the wake of a diplomatic spat after a French television puppet show broadcast skits poking fun at Spain’s supposed leniency in the field.

However, Wert went to lengths to make it clear that there “is a problem with doping” but not “a problem of doping.” The minister explained that the problem “with doping” refers to the lack of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-backed legislation in Spain. Bringing the country up to speed with others had reached the floor of Congress last year but parliament was dissolved for the elections before the bill could be passed. Wert assured that “legislation completely adapted to the requirements of WADA” would be approved “very soon.”

There are as many controls in Spain as there are in other countries and approximately the same number of positive tests,” Wert said. “But we suffer from an international image problem because some cases of high media interest have emerged and this has placed us in the firing line.”

Wert also commented on the Canal + France Les Guignols de l’info show, which reveled in the two-year ban recently handed to Tour de France champion Alberto Contador: “I think I have a sense of humor, but it seemed in bad taste to me. Some athletes have been unfairly treated.”