Spanish authorities have denied there was anything unusual about the request for Lionel Messi to provide two samples for drug testing on Monday.
The Spanish Agency for Health Protection in Sport (AEPSAD), has hit back at criticism from Lionel Messi, and insisted that the Barcelona star is being treated in the same way as any other player, according to Goal.
Along with Jordi Alba, Claudio Bravo, Ivan Rakitic and Andres Iniesta, Messi was given a drugs test on Monday. However, unlike his teammates, who were only asked to provide urine samples, Messi was told to provide blood samples too.
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The Argentine then said he thought it was a “bit strange” that he had been singled out for more thorough testing than his team-mates, but AEPSAD have responded that it is perfectly normal.
“Messi passed his urine tests and blood tests as is normal every week for athletes in Spain… the procedure is normal. It selects one of five players to take blood samples. So it is usual in every way.”
Clearly the process is unusual enough that Messi noticed and complained about it. If a teammate was giving blood along with his urine every week, it seems unlikely the superstar would mention it.
Barcelona paid for the 27-year-old to receive growth hormone treatment as a youngster, a fact which, along with the incredible statistics generated by the striker; has always kept conspiracy theorists suspicious about the South American.