Steeplechase champion Dominguez denies doping charges

MADRID - World steeplechase champion Marta Dominguez Wednesday denied that she had supplied other athletes with banned substances, vowing she would compete again.

Dominguez told journalists on leaving a Madrid court following a hearing in front of a judge that she had “never supplied anyone with doping substances,” nor made an economic profit from such activities.

Dominguez was detained with 13 other suspects, including her coach and sports doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, Dec 9.

“A lot of damage has been done to my image, to my family and my loved ones,” said the athlete, who is four months pregnant.

The athlete stressed that police did not seize anything from her home because she never made a profit.

“Obviously it is clear to me that I am innocent, and I will compete again as soon as I recover from the pregnancy,” she added.

Dominguez attributed her implication in the doping affair to telephone tapping, and denied the existence of a video on which she allegedly appeared handling doping substances.

The 35-year-old won the 3,000 metres steeplechase world title 2009 in Berlin and is a European 5,000m champion from 2002 and 2006.

The Spanish Athletics Federation (RFEA) has temporarily suspended Dominguez as its vice-president.