A Madrid appeals court has until the end of this month to make a ruling on the appeals in the Operación Puerto scandal.

The court must decide if the 200 bags of blood and plasma that have been in storage since they were seized in 2006 can finally be opened and analysed or if they should be destroyed.

In April 2013, a judge had ordered the blood-bags to be destroyed which sparked controversy.

The case revolves around Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, who was given a one-year suspended sentence for breaking public health laws, in an anti-doping investigation which saw 200 bags found following a raid of his offices in 2006.

While cyclists were implicated, there are claims that athletes from other sports were also tied to the doctor, with Fuentes having said that he also worked with sportspeople in other disciplines.