Marta Domínguez: "I've Never Dealt Drugs."

By LetsRun.com
December 13, 2010

Headline: Marta Domínguez: "I've never dealt drugs."

In response to an EFE questionnaire, the star athlete claims that last Thursday she went from being a witness in the investigation to being accused of a crime, despite the fact that no banned substances were found in her house.

Marta Domínguez, an alleged key figure in Operation Galgo's doping investigation, denies that federal police found any banned substances in her house in Palencia last Thursday. Marta Domínguez, the current world champion and European silver medalist in the 3000 meter steeplechase, says that she can't wait to testify before the the judge presiding over Madrid's Circuit Court Number 24 so that the facts of case can be analyzed objectively.

Question: What do you have to say about your involvement in Operation Galgo and your alleged role as a distributor of banned substances to other athletes?

Marta Dominguez: Who honestly believes that I've been dealing drugs? I've absolutely never been involved in any sort of distribution of illegal substances. You can't just ruin my reputation throwing out these unfounded accusations about me. As of now no one has told me what evidence they even have against me. On Thursday morning, after an eight month-long investigation, the Federal Police said that I was just a witness in this investigation. How was it that I went from being a witness to being accused of a crime, when in my house there was not a single banned substance? Right now the only thing I can do is have faith that the judge will analyze all of the evidence objectively and put an end to this.

Q: Is it true that the federal police found doping equipment in your house?

Marta Domínguez: I'd like to categorically deny that any banned substance was found in my house. When the police came and searched my home, I was completely cooperative. Over the course of more than four hours, many federal agents searched my house and found no trace of drugs or doping equipment. All of the news in the press indicating otherwise is completely false.

Q: What do you think about the charges against your coach?

Marta Domínguez: I don't know the specifics but I'm confident he'll be able to prove he's innocent.

Q: What do you think about the Spanish Federation's decision to temporarily suspend you from your position as vice president?

Marta Domínguez: That's what the Federation decided so I have to respect their decision. In any event what I care most about right now is that the judge hears me out so I can prove that I've never been involved in any sort of illegal substance distribution.

Q: What do you think about the fact that the Federation is considering stripping you of your titles and times? Do you understand that this scandal calls into question whether or not you've been clean throughout your entire career?

Marta Domínguez: Right now I'm hearing everything but nothing makes sense. They're not just accusing me of doping, but rather of something much worse, which is distributing drugs, risking the health of my teammates, and putting the lives of my teammates at risk by selling them these drugs. They're accusing me of getting rich at the expense of the teammates' health. Is there any accusation more serious than that for a person whose entire life has been track and field? Before they do anything what I think they ought to do is let me defend myself and hear my version of the facts. But the first person who needs to hear the truth is the judge.

Q: Since last Thursday, have you had any contact with other Federation managers or with any other track and field organizations? Do you plan to call José María Odriozola and explain your side of the story?

Marta Domínguez: Right now the first person I need to explain things to is the judge. I need to explain my side of the story in court because in the end, that will be the best way for the world to know the truth.

Q: How do you feel physically and emotionally?

Marta Domínguez: I've always been a fighter and I'm going to keep on fighting. But I don't understand it when I read some of the things people are saying. Some people even think that the reason I haven't left my house is because I'm in hiding or something. The real reason is that I'm under doctor's orders to rest completely for five days after having some tests related to my pregnancy done on Friday.

Q: Would you like to say anything to all the people who have been defending you these past few days?

Marta Domínguez: I'd like to thank everyone who is defending me and supporting me, especially my neighbors, my family, and my teammates. Everyone who knows me knows that I have never dealt drugs and because of this they're standing by me. You should know that everyone who really knows me is standing by me.

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