Fenerbahce president detained in Istanbul drug investigation after positive narcotics test

Turkish Sports Giant Fenerbahce’s President Detained in Expanding Drug Investigation

Sadettin Saran, the recently elected president of Turkish sports powerhouse Fenerbahce, was taken into custody in Istanbul on Wednesday as part of a widening narcotics investigation that has already ensnared several prominent figures from Turkey’s entertainment and media industries.

According to state broadcaster TRT, Saran, who holds dual Turkish and American citizenship, was detained after forensic tests detected traces of narcotics in hair samples he provided to investigators. The Denver-born businessman had been summoned by prosecutors just last week to testify and undergo testing at a forensic medical facility.

The investigation, overseen by the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office, has gained momentum since early December, with more than a dozen high-profile individuals now in custody. Those detained include television presenters, journalists, singers, actors, and social media personalities facing serious charges ranging from drug production and trafficking to facilitating prostitution.

Fenerbahce quickly issued a statement supporting their president, who was only elected to the position in September 2023. “We have full confidence that our president will overcome this process with the same common sense and fortitude he has always shown,” the club posted on social media platform X. “Our president, Mr. Sadettin Saran, will put these days behind him and continue to work with determination for our club.”

The club also reassured supporters that operations would continue uninterrupted during Saran’s absence, a critical message for an organization with significant business interests and multiple professional teams across several sports.

Prior to his detention, Saran had publicly rejected the test results, maintaining that he had never used the substances in question. In a statement released earlier Wednesday, he pledged to formally request repeat testing to challenge the findings.

This development marks another challenging chapter for Fenerbahce, one of Turkey’s oldest and most decorated sports clubs. Founded in 1907, the Istanbul-based organization has a massive following and fields teams in numerous sports including soccer, basketball, volleyball, athletics, and swimming.

The club is no stranger to legal controversy. In 2012, former Fenerbahce president Aziz Yildirim spent more than a year in jail on match-fixing charges before being acquitted in a subsequent trial. That case was eventually determined to have been influenced by corrupt judges, prosecutors, and police officers.

Adding to the club’s current troubles, Fenerbahce has also been implicated in a separate ongoing investigation into illegal betting and match-fixing within Turkish soccer, further complicating its public image and governance.

The drug investigation that has now reached Saran appears to be part of a broader crackdown on narcotics and related activities among Turkey’s elite. Authorities have been aggressive in pursuing suspected drug offenses, with many high-profile figures subjected to mandatory blood and hair testing for narcotics use.

The detention of such a prominent business and sports figure signals that investigators are willing to pursue suspects regardless of their social standing or influence, potentially indicating a significant shift in how such cases are handled in Turkey.

As the investigation continues to unfold, the impact on both Saran’s personal reputation and the operations of one of Turkey’s most storied sports institutions remains to be seen. For now, Fenerbahce faces the challenge of maintaining stability while its recently elected president confronts serious allegations.