The Spanish sports council (CSD) has confirmed that it has issued a two-year ban to Spanish steeplechaser Ángel Mullera for refusing an out-of-competition drug test. “We can confirm that Ángel Mullera has been penalised, losing his status as an elite athlete for two years, because he refused to take part in a drug test during an out-of-competition period”, a CSD spokesperson told the Sports Integrity Initiative.

In 2012, Mullera (pictured, left) won his appeal against his exclusion from the Spanish Olympic team at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Mullera was initially selected for the London 2012 Olympic team, however was removed after a newspaper published emails alleging that they constituted evidence of doping. In the case before the CAS, Mullera claimed that the emails had been manipulated by the newspaper, but did not deny that he had discussed specific doping protocols with a trainer.

‘Notwithstanding the fact that the Panel is allowing the application filed by Mr Mullera, the Panel wishes to express in clear terms that it does not intend to condone Mr Mullera’s inappropriate behaviour and that it fully understands the position of sports bodies which genuinely wish to fight against doping and, therefore, take appropriate measures in cases where one of their athletes behaves inappropriately’, reads the CAS’s full judgment. ‘The Applicant’s exchange of emails asking how to dope and how to escape anti-doping controls strikes at the very heart of the fight against doping […] Many will consider Mr. Mullera to be extremely fortunate to be the beneficiary of the RFEA’s improper procedural course and of the lacuna in the RFEA’s selection criteria. However, under the current rules and considering the explanation given by the RFEA, the RFEA may not exclude Mr. Mullera from the Spanish team for the London Olympic Games.’