The Spanish government's leading sports authority (CSD) last week called for the head of CELAD, Jose Luis Terreros, to step down because of the "reputational damage" suffered by Spanish sport and the agency in recent weeks. 

The CSD handed a report on the agency to Spanish prosecutors after investigating a complaint alleging "irregularities in the use of public funds and in the control and sanctioning of doping". 

Spanish media outlet Relevo said last week that the country's anti-doping agency had exploited bureaucratic loopholes to cover up positive cases. 

"All this news is untrue and is nothing more than interested and biased speculation, the result of sensationalist interpretations that are far removed from the rules in force and the rights of every athlete," CELAD said in a statement. 

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) also criticised CELAD and said it was carrying out a full investigation, while threatening "significant consequences for Spanish sport" if doping cases were not properly handled.

The Spanish agency said it was "not aware" that WADA had opened an investigation. "CELAD has always worked to defend the clean sport with full transparency, respecting national and international regulations and maintaining honest communication with the World Anti-Doping Agency at all times," it added. 

Terreros told Spanish newspaper El Pais on Wednesday that he would step down, but at his own pace. "Of course I will go, and I will do it with joy, but I will go when I decide, when everyone has heard me," he said. 

"I will go because how can I continue with people who treat me like this? I don't want anyone to think that I'm leaving because of all this false information."