Spanish journalist Kiko Matamoros accused Barcelona star Lamine Yamal of doping, claiming that it was the reason for the 18-year-old’s remarkable physical development and his successes during his last season with the Catalan club.
Press reports indicated that Yamal has grown by more than 10 cm over the past two years, reaching 181 cm, and that the young player has gained 20 kg of muscle in the same period.
This angered Matamoros, who wrote on his X account, “The stupidest sports doctor in the world knows exactly what treatment this kid is receiving. What happened to Lance Armstrong is just a joke compared to this.”
He added, “The anti-doping system in Spain is just a joke.”
He concluded, “Everything that falls under the umbrella of the Central Anti-Doping Commission is a joke, but football fans are naive and don’t know the secrets of sports medicine.”
Some Catalan newspapers denied reports that Yamal had gained weight and height, asserting that since his first appearance with Barcelona, he had been 178 cm tall, and therefore, his 3 cm gain is neither significant nor surprising given his age.
It’s worth noting that Barcelona just renewed Yamal’s contract until the summer of 2031, making him one of the highest-paid players at the Catalan club. He also wears the number 10 shirt, previously worn by Barça legends, most notably Lionel Messi.
