Arrivederci Alejandro

Kléber

Looks formal now, the Italian authorities are to press for a two year ban for Valverde:
http://www.gazzetta.it/Ciclismo/Primo_P ... erde.shtml

Yet again one of the sport's biggest names gets taken down. All this is the fall out from the Puerto investigation. Ideally the whole matter should have been pursued in 2006 but the cases fell in the cracks between Spanish law, WADA codes and more. It's ironic that it is taking the Italian authorities to tidy this up.

finchy

And for those who don't read Italian, here's the story in French (God, we cyclists are a sophisticated lot )

http://www.lequipe.fr/Cyclisme/breves20 ... -gros.html

blazing_saddles

If, for some strange reason, you prefer, English.
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/01042009/ ... fence.html
They aren't quick on many things, but doping is something else.

frenchfighter

The ban will only be applicable in Italy? I have never heard of country-specific bans. So he could ride the TdF but not the Giro - seems a bit odd...

Kléber

I'm sure the UCI will extend any ban to a worldwide one, in accordance with the WADA code. This happened recently with Schumacher, banned by the AFLD and this was then "upgraded" by the UCI into a total ban.

What a Piti but this has been coming for some time. What is unsatisfying is that other names linked to Puerto will probably never get banned because they were lucky not to have any blood stored in Madrid, it would be nice if all riders involved in this scam got an appropriate treatment.

blazing_saddles

I suppose they have two options.
1) To act upon what they know, unilaterally and hope the French (probably) and the Spanish (unlikely) follow their lead. UCI need to act.
2) Ignore their findings and do nothing.

It will fuel the debate as to how complicit the Spanish authorities have been in an OP "cover-up".
So far, everyone named and pursued, have been found to be guilty.
Valverde will be the first from the Country of origin to be officially sanction, by anyone.
A whole raft of Spanish riders got a walk from their fed.
The geo-lottery. It stinks.

frenchfighter

I think he is a quality rider, full of panache and excitement. Really stylish rider. This is such a shame but I guess not a surprise, although I would like to see detailed documentation that led CONI to thier decision.

Imagine if all Valverde's wins were to be awarded to those who came second! He had a ridiculous amount.

andyp

The UCI have already said they'd extend any ban handed down by the Italian authorities to a worldwide one.

If this isn't done before the Tour he'd still have to pull out mid-race as there is a section on Stage 16 in Italy.

drenkrom

Does this put a smile on my face or what! From now on, whatever legal trickery he could possibly use to wiggle out of sanctions, Valverde can not ever deny his involvement seriously. Lawyers lie, DNA doesn't. The truth is out, now to see what the cycling community will do with it...

Judge Serrano will never take another vacation in his life!

iainf72

So, bye bye another sponsor? They've got a clause, haven't they?

And Caisse have taken some heavy losses recently....

kickerbri

Shame to see such a class rider involved in all this but if he cheats then he must be banned. Is it likely that riders like Contador will now be chased up? Did he ever have blood bags linked or just documents?

disgruntledgoat

Whilst I always like to see cheats get theirs, it would be a shame if Caisse pulled out. Not only cos I have one of their jeserys but they also have some other riders I like... Portal, Sanchez, Peireiro, Lastras

Kléber

kickerbri wrote:

Is it likely that riders like Contador will now be chased up? Did he ever have blood bags linked or just documents?

No, just documents suggesting an extensive doping programme of EPO, IGF-1, HGH and more. But a DNA match is evidence to convict Valverde, mere documents by Fuentes are not solid proof, Contador could always claim he knew nothing, that Fuentes was just doodling some crazy ideas etc.

frenchfighter

He has close to 50 1st place finishes.

kickerbri

Kléber wrote:

kickerbri wrote:

Is it likely that riders like Contador will now be chased up? Did he ever have blood bags linked or just documents?

No, just documents suggesting an extensive doping programme of EPO, IGF-1, HGH and more. But a DNA match is evidence to convict Valverde, mere documents by Fuentes are not solid proof, Contador could always claim he knew nothing, that Fuentes was just doodling some crazy ideas etc.

I see. Thanks for clearing that up.

Are there any other riders caught up in this? Luis Leon Sanchez, Samuel Sanchez etc?

frenchfighter

Btw, does anyone know what 'Luis Leon' stands for?

Kléber

iainf72 wrote:

So, bye bye another sponsor? They've got a clause, haven't they?

This could happen, it would be a shame in some ways as they have some interesting young riders.

But at the same time, senior team management have invited this upon themselves by planting their heads in the sand and just denying all the rumours with the hope the storm would pass one day. There were no attempts to collect Valverde's DNA, their press conferences ducked the issue and staff frequently said these were mere rumours. Swim in de Nile and the crocs eat you eventually.

If convicted, Valverde will have to shoulder a significant amount of personal blame for his deception and denial, he's been riding scott-free, claiming to be "calm" and ducking the issue for years whilst others sat at home slapped with a two year ban. He's earned millions and won races partly because potential rivals were eliminated.

It's a shame that it took Judge Serrano to go on holiday for the Italians to get the DNA. In other words, random events conspired to bring justice rather than due process, this says a lot about the weak attempts to investigate this matter.

iainf72

LL Sanchez, yes

Kléber

Dirty Sanchez

afx237vi

frenchfighter wrote:

He has close to 50 1st place finishes.

It doesn't matter. He'll keep them all. They can only strip you of a victory if you fail a test in-competition.

Vino never lost his Vuelta, Basso never lost his Giro.

bobtbuilder

Shame to see such a class rider involved in all this

I don't think a rider powered by EPO rocket fuel deserves the term of "classy rider". Making other riders appear ordinary by illegal means isn't too classy in my book.

stagehopper

Are then any other documents pinning suspicions on LL and AC apart from that Fuentes individualizacion note?

As far as I can tell it reads for LL and AC "nothing or the same as JJ".

kickerbri

bobtbuilder wrote:

Shame to see such a class rider involved in all this

I don't think a rider powered by EPO rocket fuel deserves the term of "classy rider". Making other riders appear ordinary by illegal means isn't too classy in my book.

Sorry I mean a rider who seemingly had class as a rider and ability to always pick the right breaks. In hindsight the things that single him out were perhaps not actually him.

iainf72

I love Valverde's statement. He doesn't say anything...

"CONI claims competence in judging evidence, which does not belong to it, and makes lamentable arguments, from a legal and logical point of view," read a statement from Valverde. "Thus CONI presents arguments which are completely erroneous, and it acts in an illegal way, disobeying the orders of the Spanish courts and violating the basic rights of riders."

micron

The Spanish are now claiming only they have jurisdiction over Valverde - is this an effort to put the lid on OP again before it gets beyond their control and several other Spanish sports stars are revealed to be cheating wotsits?

Kléber

I think the cyclists have been caught because they appear to be the only ones storing blood with Fuentes. Thanks to DNA, this provides strong evidence of doping.

But other cyclists are named in the investigation but did not bank blood in Madrid. For example some paperwork mentions Contador, LL Sanchez and Davis. But this is just documentation and as evidence, less solid. Perhaps paperwork exists for tennis players or footballers? Even if it did, again this is not such hard evidence, even if would create a stink. But just as Contador doesn't get slapped with ban, it's like other sportsmen will escape.

In other words, maybe it's not cyclists against other sportsmen, it's the method that discriminates: store blood and you cop a ban, be linked to EPO, CERA etc and you don't.

Valverde is fighting back this morning but I've read the team's press release and it's weak. There's little denial of the facts, rather he's trying to suggest the procedures were wrong and that he's been denied his rights. Risky stuff.

squired

I can imagine the ASO is preparing to ban him from all of their races. The procedures may be "illegal", but if the DNA matches it still proves he was cheating. I hope he goes and never comes back. I also hope that every result of his from the last couple of years is scratched from the record books.

calvjones

squired wrote:

I can imagine the ASO is preparing to ban him from all of their races. The procedures may be "illegal", but if the DNA matches it still proves he was cheating. I hope he goes and never comes back. I also hope that every result of his from the last couple of years is scratched from the record books.

Yeah, cos he must have pipped Schumacher to a couple of deserved wins :roll:

mattsy666

to be honest they should have it that if you appeal any ban the ban does not start until the day after the ban was upheld ... even if you have taken yourself out of/or have been denied competition ...

if you take your medicine then it should be 2 years from the day after the final (non-appeal) hearing ...

that'd stop them wasting months/years on appeals only to lose with most of the ban having passed anyway ... they'd think twice then ...

blazing_saddles

Pinched from FVP:-
http://newcyclingpathways.blogspot.com/ ... -able.html
Thoughts?

joeyhalloran

hamilton never lost his gold medal.