Spain’s National Organ Transplant Organisation (ONT) said the liver transplant for Barcelona sporting director Eric Abidal was completely lawful following a report the organ was illegally purchased. El Confidencial reported earlier this month that former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell trafficked a liver for Abidal, who was diagnosed with cancer when he played for the club in 2012.
Barca, Abidal and Rosell denied the story, and the ONT did so as well on Tuesday, releasing a statement outlining its review of how the transplant complied with international legislation. “Abidal was on the waiting list for a deceased donor transplant, but as his illness advanced, medical experts began to seek a live donor, which in no case excluded the possibility of a deceased donor if the opportunity presented itself,” the ONT said. “The relationship between the donor [Abidal’s cousin, Gerard] and the recipient was clear from the start and the necessary documentation was produced [to prove the relationship].”
The ONT also verified, with help from the clinic where the transplant took place and the Catalan Organisation of Transplants, that every step “was carried out in accordance with current legislation and good practice.” Claims that the organ was obtained improperly surfaced after police overheard several phone calls by Rosell in which he “implicitly admitted illegally buying a liver” for Abidal, according to court documents.