FC Barcelona and Real Madrid denied having any links to a Spanish doctor at the centre of a major doping scandal.
Both Spanish teams said Thursday they reserved the right to take legal action to defend their interests after an allegation in French newspaper Le Monde that Eufemiano Fuentes had treated some of their players.
``Real Madrid wishes to energetically deny any link, direct or indirect, between the club's medical services and Doctor Eufemiano Fuentes,'' Madrid said on its website.
Madrid striker Ronaldo said he had never heard of Fuentes.
``We have little to hide here because we don't do anything,'' the Brazil striker said. ``We're available for all checks, and also the surprise ones from the federation, UEFA or anyone that wishes to come. We take medicine when we're ill or when we have an injury but nothing which improves our physical condition.''
Fuentes faces preliminary charges in Spain of crimes against public health. He was arrested in May as part of an investigation into doping in cycling, but has not been formally indicted.
Le Monde claimed that it has seen notes, handwritten by Fuentes on A4 paper, in which the doctor laid out what the newspaper described as ``preparation plans'' for the two clubs.
The newspaper did not print the supposed notes, nor did it say how it got access to them or specify whether the doctor ever turned over the notes to the clubs. The newspaper said the notes did not name any individual players. It said Spanish police have not seized the notes.
Le Monde alleged that annotations on the notes referred to banned doping products or procedures.
Le Monde said Fuentes and the teams had no written contract. But, without citing sources, the newspaper claimed that Fuentes transmitted treatment instructions to team doctors and that some players visited him.
In an interview with Le Monde, Fuentes said he could not answer a question about whether he worked with Madrid and Barcelona.
``I have received death threats. I have been told that if I said certain things, me or my family could have serious problems. I have been threatened three times. And nobody is going to threaten me a fourth time,'' Fuentes said.
© The Canadian Press, 2007
