Arsenal and Chelsea Players Took Banned Drugs: Doctor's Report

Dr. Mark Bonar

A British doctor, Dr. Mark Bonar has claimed in an expose by The Sunday Times newspaper that English Premier League footballers were among 150 sports stars prescribed banned performance-enhancing drugs.

The 38-year-old doctor claims to have had a network of "secret clients" which included footballers from Arsenal, Chelsea and Leicester City.

Dr Bonar, who was filmed covertly, is heard telling reporters he had also worked with an England cricketer, British Tour de France cyclists, a British boxing champion, tennis players and martial arts competitors.

"In the past six years he has treated more than 150 sports people from the UK and abroad variously with banned substances such as erythropoietin (EPO), steroids and human growth hormone, and the sports performance improvements were phenomenal," the report said.

Dr Bonar told the reporters athletes knew about his services through word of mouth.

Britain's sports minister John Whittingdale said he was "shocked and deeply concerned" by the allegations aired in the newspaper report and has demanded an urgent probe.

"Sports fans are entitled to be sure that what they are watching is true and fair with all athletes competing on a level playing field," the Culture, Media and Sport Secretary said in a statement.

"I have asked for there to be an urgent independent investigation into what action was taken when these allegations were first received and what more needs to be done to ensure that British sport remains clean.

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