Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Chairman of fenerbahceOne of Türkiye’s leading sports clubs taken into custody istanbul State media reported on Wednesday as part of a wider drug investigation that has implicated major entertainment and media personalities.
Sadettin Saran, a dual citizen of Turkey and the US, was detained just hours after forensic testing found traces of drugs in his hair samples, according to the state broadcaster. TRT,
He was summoned last week to testify before prosecutors and was sent to a forensic medical facility to provide hair and blood samples.
Since the beginning of December, more than a dozen people have been detained as part of an investigation overseen by the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office.
These include television presenters, journalists, singers, actors and social media personalities. The charges against them range from drug production and trafficking to promoting prostitution. Many have undergone blood and hair tests for drug use.
Denver-born Saran, who was elected Fenerbahce president in September, was questioned last week on suspicion of enabling the supply and use of narcotics.
Fenerbahce issued a statement expressing its support for Saran and assured fans that the club’s operations would continue uninterrupted.
“We are confident that our chairman will navigate this process with the same common sense and patience he has always shown,” the club said on Twitter.
Earlier on Wednesday, Saran issued a statement rejecting the test results, insisting he had never used the drug in question and promising to formally request a re-test.
Istanbul-based Fenerbahce is one of Türkiye’s most popular and successful sports franchises. Former club president Aziz Yildirim, who spent more than a year in prison in 2012 on match-fixing charges, was acquitted after a new trial found the previous case was influenced by corrupt judges, prosecutors and police officers.
The club has also found itself embroiled in a separate investigation into illegal betting and match-fixing in Turkish football. Fenerbahce also has teams that compete in other sports, including basketball, volleyball, athletics and swimming.