The chairman of one of Turkey's most prominent sports institutions, Fenerbahce, has been formally questioned as part of a significant and ongoing narcotics investigation that has already ensnared numerous high-profile figures from the country's entertainment and media sectors.
Chairman Gives Testimony and Provides Samples
According to reports from the state-run Anadolu news agency, Sadettin Saran was called to give a statement to authorities in Istanbul on Saturday 20 December 2025. The dual Turkish and US citizen, who was born in Denver and only elected as Fenerbahce's chairman in September, complied after returning to Turkey from abroad.
Following his initial testimony, Saran was directed to a forensic medical facility where samples of his hair and blood were taken for analysis. This procedure mirrors that undergone by many other suspects detained in the probe, which is testing for the presence of illegal substances. He later returned to the Caglayan courthouse and was subsequently released under judicial conditions.
Wide-Ranging Investigation Targets High-Profile Figures
The investigation, which is being overseen by the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor's Office, has led to the detention of more than a dozen individuals since the start of December. Those caught up in the sweep include well-known television news anchors, journalists, singers, actors, and social media influencers.
The charges they face are serious, encompassing allegations related to the manufacture and trafficking of drugs as well as facilitating prostitution. Anadolu reported that Saran himself was questioned specifically on suspicion of providing and facilitating the use of narcotic substances.
Historical Legal Troubles for the Club
This is not the first time Fenerbahce, a hugely popular and successful sports franchise based in Istanbul, has found itself entangled in a major legal scandal. The club's former president, Aziz Yildirim, served more than a year in jail in 2012 after being convicted on match-fixing charges.
That conviction was later overturned when a new trial determined the original case had been improperly influenced by corrupt judges, prosecutors, and police officers. Separately, the club remains involved in another ongoing investigation concerning alleged match-fixing across Turkish football, highlighting a period of significant legal scrutiny for the institution.
The current drug probe continues to develop, with the release of Chairman Saran under judicial conditions marking a new chapter in a case that has captivated Turkish public attention.
