Puerto trial should name names, says Nadal

[CMM]

Rafael Nadal believes that the names of those implicated in the ongoing "Operation Puerto" trial into blood doping must be provided if the image of sportsmen and women in general is to be cleared up.

In an interview with the French sports daily L'Equipe published on Thursday, the Spanish tennis star said he felt his reputation, and that of Spanish sport as a whole, had been tarnished by the trial.

A judge has refused to demand that doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, the suspected mastermind of one of the sporting world's biggest blood doping rackets, provide the names of athletes implicated in the scandal.

The ruling could avert a huge fall-out from the high-profile trial in Madrid but Nadal said that naming names would have been the correct thing to do.

"What is happening in Spain, I don't understand it," he was quoted as saying. "I don't understand why doctor Fuentes is not giving names. And I don't understand why the judge has not asked him to do so.

"I don't understand why we never get to the bottom of these things. We need to clean everything up. I believe this doctor has worked with foreign athletes but because he is Spanish it is Spanish sport that is being prejudiced.

"As an athlete that hurts me. Because of people like (US cyclist Lance) Armstrong, we all have a dubious image."

Nadal, who made his comeback to competitive tennis this week at the Vina del Mar clay-court tournament in Chile, also admitted his relief at being back on the court after a lengthy injury absence.

But he said he did not expect to be back to his best until later in the season.

The former world number one returned after more than seven months out with a knee injury to beat qualifier Federico Delbonis 6-3, 6-2 in the second round.

He said before his return that his troublesome knee was still a source of nagging pain but he added that there was never any fear of a relapse.

"Fear? No. Stress, yes, that's to be expected. Relief and joy, certainly," he told L'Equipe of his feelings after his first singles match since a shock defeat to little-known Czech Lukas Rosol in the second round of Wimbledon last June.

"At the moment it's all about patience. I need to take things one step at a time and accept that I won't be at my maximum level straight away. I'm not scared because I know my knee is in good shape."

The Mallorcan will now face either compatriot Albert Montanes or another Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver in the next round in Vina del Mar.

The tournament is all part of his preparations for the European clay-court season, and his bid for an eighth French Open crown.

"I want to be at 100 percent for Monte Carlo and the European clay season," he said. "Here in Chile, all that matters is how I feel and how my knee reacts. To lose here is not a problem. After so long out losing would be the logical thing."

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/n...mes-says-nadal

[The_Order]

But but but Rafa is a client of Fuentes!!!

How else can you explain the continuous beatings he gives Federer in majors?

[DropShotArtist]

Nadal seems quite confident that his name his not on Fuentes' list. Almost overly confident, wouldn't you say?

[mariecon]

Originally Posted by DropShotArtist

Nadal seems quite confident that his name his not on Fuentes' list. Almost overly confident, wouldn't you say?

well then I guess Uncle Foni got his junk elsewhere.

[DropShotArtist]

Originally Posted by The_Order

Wow here's some nice ******* logic for you:

If he says reveal the names, he's guilty.

If he says nothing, he's guilty.

If he says don't reveal the names, he's guilty.

You sound like one of those who claimed Lance was innocent

[Crisstti]

Originally Posted by The_Order

Wow here's some nice ******* logic for you:

If he says reveal the names, he's guilty.

If he says nothing, he's guilty.

If he says don't reveal the names, he's guilty.

Yep. Makes you wonder whether they're just trolling or just so dumb they can't notice the nonsense they're talking...

[malbaker86]

He's not doping.

[DropShotArtist]

Originally Posted by malbaker86

He's not doping.

Who Lance? You could be right, he's passed all the tests. Oh wait...

[6-1 6-3 6-0]

Federer doesn't seem to be saying anything about it...

[DropShotArtist]

Originally Posted by 6-1 6-3 6-0

Federer doesn't seem to be saying anything about it...

Kinda like the guys who actually get action never talk about it

[Tennis_Hands]

Originally Posted by 6-1 6-3 6-0

Federer doesn't seem to be saying anything about it...

Being ignorant (in this particular case, but also in general) doesn't make you right.

[SLD76]

Well played by rafa.

But then again, there is less than a snowball's chance in hell the names would be released.

[Tennis_Hands]

Originally Posted by SLD76

Well played by rafa.

But then again, there is less than a snowball's chance in hell the names would be released.

Exactly.

But, for the sake of the all-important fairness towards everybody, let us see if he will campaign in Spain for a full disclosure of all the names on the Fuentes List.

[vernonbc]

Originally Posted by Tennis_Hands

Exactly.

But, for the sake of the all-important fairness towards everybody, let us see if he will campaign in Spain for a full disclosure of all the names on the Fuentes List.

The whole Fuentes trial is a big deal in Spain and anything Rafa says gets huge publicity. Most of what you read is a translation of what has already been published in Spain, so yes, Rafa's request for full disclosure would be very widely known.

[Tennis_Hands]

Originally Posted by vernonbc

The whole Fuentes trial is a big deal in Spain and anything Rafa says gets huge publicity. Most of what you read is a translation of what has already been published in Spain, so yes, Rafa's request for full disclosure would be very widely known.

I have a hard time imagining Nadal going publicly against dopers in Spain.

After the support he gave to his fellow contryman, and, at the time, ALREADY convicted doper Señor Contador.

[YouCantBeSerious]

Originally Posted by Tennis_Hands

I have a hard time imagining Nadal going publicly against dopers in Spain.

After the support he gave to his fellow contryman, and, at the time, ALREADY convicted doper Señor Contador.

Why do people have to be so jaded? The easy explanation is that Nadal didn't know Contador had "doped". By the way, Contador's conviction is a joke. Many people (even doping authorities) believe the meat tainting theory to be plausible. And the levels of Clembuterol in Contador's blood were negligible.

[slal1984]

He knows that the names will not be released, and even if they are the Spanish federation will do its best to hide his.....so he is speaking out without any fear like he is innocent.

[estigma2001]

and this is a never ending story if people believes that he´s guilty he is so...........they don´t need proof, they just labeled him so.... and there´s way to change that.
Or Is there a way? just asking...

[estigma2001]

Originally Posted by estigma2001

and this is a never ending story if people believes that he´s guilty he is so...........they don´t need proof, they just labeled him so.... and there´s no way to change that.
Or Is there a way? just asking...

i missed a word

[ivan_the_terrible]

Good interview from Rafa - he's confident his name isn't on the list. His fans were right all along.

The doping allegations surrounding him since he burst on the scene have now been proven to be drummed up by *******s worldwide.