Footballers and athletes from tennis, swimming and track and field - and not only cyclists - are involved in the Spanish doping probe centring on doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, according to world cycling supremo Pat McQuaid, dpa reported.
McQuaid told German ARD television in a report to be broadcast later Sunday that he was told in a 2006 meeting with Spanish sports minister Jaime Lissavetzky and investigators that the 200 athletes linked with illegal practices were not all cyclists.
McQuaid said that only 50-60 were cyclists while athletes in alleged contact with Fuentes were from the sport of football, athletics, swimming and tennis.
But ARD also reported that it was told by Europe's football body UEFA that Spanish authorities told UEFA that no footballers were mentioned.
There has been speculation about other sports and athletes apart from cycling in the scheme which rocked the sports scene in May 2006. But other sports were never officially mentioned.
