Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos's shower with a 'voyeur'
Ramos asked to shower before doping control and was allowed if he was watched carefully
Der Spiegel’s revelations about the irregularities during two anti-doping tests on Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos has even a funny side, as unveiled by El Mundo. The Madrid captain could break protocol, showering before carrying out the anti-doping control, with the condition that the person in charge of the test was in front of him at all times and the shower had no curtains.
The German publication reported that this was the case after a match between Malaga and Real Madrid in La Liga in 2017-18, while another instance was the the 2017 Champions League final in Cardiff.
In that instance tests detected the presence of Dexametasone, an illegal corticoid in the competition, which could only be used with therapeutic authorisation. Ramos had it, but the club doctor mistakenly noted on the control form the name of another similar substance, Celestone, prompting the investigation. The medical team of Real Madrid responsibility, per Der Spiegel.
In the Malaga game, April 15, 2018, Ramos was selected to take doping control tests but asked to shower first so as not to delay the team’s return to Madrid. Something considered bad practice, as not following the established protocol. El Mundo said that the doctor from the anti-doping agency allowed him to but with the curtains open and with him watching, so there was no irregularity.
Both instances were taken as protocol failures and the Madrid captain was never sanctioned. After the explanations both Spain’s anti-doping agency and UEFA accepted them.
Madrid published a statement rejecting the idea that Ramos had doped.
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