Sadettin Saran released under judicial control in drug probe

WISE NEWS PRESS / ISTANBUL, TÜRKIYE — DEC. 21, 2025

Fenerbahçe Sports Club President Sadettin Saran was released under judicial control on Saturday following a 2.5-hour testimony at the Istanbul Çağlayan Courthouse. The investigation, led by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, involves allegations of "using narcotic substances," "providing narcotics," and "facilitating drug use." Saran, who also underwent forensic testing for blood and hair samples, faces a ban on traveling abroad as part of his release conditions.

During his statement, Saran categorically denied the charges, asserting that his "only addiction in life is sports." He addressed specific evidence presented by the prosecution, including messages with imprisoned news anchor Ela Rümeysa Cebeci and substances found during searches of his residences in Istanbul and Assos. Saran characterized his interactions with Cebeci as professional and described their text exchanges as metaphors and jokes regarding movies they had previously watched.

Defense Regarding Physical Evidence

Addressing the substances seized during police searches, Saran explained that the residues in a glass jar at his Istanbul home were likely dust from his daughter's legal medications. Regarding findings at his villa in Assos, he stated the remains were the result of burning organic materials like lavender, sage, and coffee to repel insects during a large gathering for the women's basketball team.

"We host many guests at the Assos villa; most recently, over 400 people attended my daughter's wedding on August 21," Saran testified. He requested a fingerprint analysis on the seized items, suggesting that if any illicit substances were found in the garden areas, they might have been left by a guest without his knowledge.

Statements from Saran and Fenerbahçe SK

Following his release, Saran attended the Eyüpspor-Fenerbahçe match at Atatürk Olympic Stadium. In a post-match statement, he emphasized his willingness to cooperate with the state, saying, "I have no accounts that cannot be settled. Unlike others, we do not avoid the authorities when called."

Fenerbahçe Sports Club issued a formal statement confirming the legal proceedings and warned of legal action against individuals or institutions spreading "misleading disinformation" that violates the confidentiality of the investigation. The probe has already seen the arrests of high-profile media figures, including Habertürk TV Editor-in-Chief Mehmet Akif Ersoy and news anchor Ela Rümeysa Cebeci, on charges related to facilitating drug use.

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