The president of Turkish football giants Fenerbahce has been taken into custody in Istanbul, marking a dramatic escalation in a sweeping narcotics investigation that has already implicated numerous high-profile media and entertainment figures.
President Detained Following Forensic Test Results
Sadettin Saran, a dual Turkish-American citizen, was detained on Wednesday 24 December 2025. His detention came just hours after state broadcaster TRT reported that forensic analysis had detected traces of illegal drugs in his hair samples. Saran had been summoned to give testimony to prosecutors the previous week and was directed to a forensic medical facility to provide both blood and hair samples for testing.
In a statement issued earlier on Wednesday, Saran firmly rejected the test findings. He insisted he had never used the substance in question and pledged to formally request a repeat examination.
A Widening Net Catches Media and Entertainment Elite
This case is part of a far-reaching probe overseen by the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor's Office, which has been active since early December. To date, more than a dozen individuals have been taken into custody.
The investigation has ensnared a who's who of Turkish public life, including:
- Television presenters and journalists
- Singers and actors
- Prominent social media personalities
Those detained face serious charges, which range from drug production and trafficking to facilitating prostitution. Many have undergone compulsory blood and hair testing to determine narcotics use. Saran himself was questioned last week on suspicion of supplying and enabling the use of illegal substances.
Club's Response and Historical Context of Scandal
Following the detention, Fenerbahce moved quickly to issue a statement of support for its chairman. Posted on the social media platform X, the club expressed "full confidence that our president will overcome this process with the same common sense and fortitude he has always shown."
The statement assured supporters that club operations would continue without interruption and that Saran would "put these days behind him and continue to work with determination for our club." Saran, who was born in Denver, USA, was only elected as the club's chairman in September 2025.
This is not the first time Fenerbahce has been embroiled in a major legal scandal. The club's former president, Aziz Yildirim, spent over a year in jail in 2012 on match-fixing charges. He was later acquitted after a new trial found the original case had been influenced by corrupt judges, prosecutors, and police officers.
Separately, Fenerbahce is also involved in another ongoing investigation concerning illegal betting and match-fixing across Turkish football. The Istanbul-based club is one of the nation's most popular and successful sports institutions, with teams competing in basketball, volleyball, athletics, and swimming, in addition to its famed football side.
