ANKARA – In a significant development in Turkey’s ongoing drug investigation, Sadettin Saran, the president of Fenerbahce, one of the country’s premier sports clubs, was apprehended in Istanbul on Wednesday. This investigation has already implicated several well-known figures in the entertainment and media sectors, as reported by state media.
Saran, who holds dual citizenship in Turkey and the United States, was detained following forensic analysis that revealed the presence of narcotics in his hair. This information was disclosed by the state-run broadcaster, TRT.
The development comes after Saran was called last week to provide testimony to prosecutors. During this process, he was required to submit hair and blood samples at a forensic medical center.
Since the early days of December, the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office has been leading an expansive investigation that has resulted in the detainment of over a dozen individuals.
The investigation has cast a wide net, bringing in television hosts, journalists, musicians, actors, and social media influencers. Those involved are facing serious charges, including drug production, trafficking, and promoting prostitution. Many of the suspects have been subjected to tests for narcotics.
Saran, originally from Denver and appointed as Fenerbahce’s chairman in September, was interrogated last week under suspicions related to the distribution and facilitation of narcotic substances.
Fenerbahce released a statement expressing its support to Saran and assuring fans that the club’s operations would continue uninterrupted.
“We have full confidence that our president will overcome this process with the same common sense and fortitude he has always shown,” the club said on X. “Our president, Mr. Sadettin Saran, will put these days behind him and continue to work with determination for our club.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Saran issued a statement rejecting the test result, insisting that he had never used the drug in question and pledging to formally request a repeat examination.
Istanbul-based Fenerbahce is one of Turkey’s most popular and successful sports franchises. The club’s former president, Aziz Yildirim, spent more than a year in jail in 2012 on match-fixing charges, before being acquitted when a new trial found the earlier case had been influenced by corrupt judges, prosecutors and police officers.
The club has also found itself caught up in a separate investigation into illegal betting and match-fixing across Turkish soccer. Fenerbahce also has teams that compete in basketball, volleyball, athletics and swimming, among other sports.
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