Armstrong investigated for criminal charges in Spain?

[Race Radio]

From some friends at ARD. ABC News will have more on this tonight

as a lot of you have asked me to email you once we are airing anything interesting in our dedicated field of sports politics, just wanted to inform you that yesterday we have aired on "sport inside" a follow-up story on our coverage over the last years concerning the trial against Eufemiano Fuentes and Spain's effort against doping.

This is the link for the German version:

http://www.wdr.de/tv/sport_inside/sendungsbeitraege/2013/0325/antidoping_spanien.jsp


The director of the Spanish Anti-doping Agency (AEA), Ana Munoz, did say in her first TV interview: "On the day the trial ends me personally, I will go and ask the judge to give me all the documents, proves, as well as all the blood bags. And then, we will undertake every action to find and identify the athletes and sports involved in the Fuentes case."

Apart from the Fuentes case, based on our research for "sport inside" two doctors involved in doping allegations are still actively working as doctors in Valencia.

Walter Viru, a friend of Fuentes, was reportedly the team doctor of Kelme next to Eufemiano Fuentes. He was also the main suspect in the doping "operacion grial" in 2009. Nevertheless, he is still working for a public institute in Valencia, paid by the state.

Furthermore, Luis Garcia del Moral, banned world-wide as a main suspect in the Armstrong doping case is still working within one of Valencia's biggest sports medicine institutes. He gets paid by public money as well. The World Anti-Doping Agency as well as the Spanish Anti-Doping Agency have been investigating this as well.

Asked for a statement concerning del Moral, Ana Munoz indicated that there are investigations going on in Spain as an outcome of the Lance Armstrong case. "What I can you so far is that we are following up the Armstrong case. Not only because we were involved in the investigations back then but also because we are really interested that every person - Spanish or not - who has committed a crime in our country is gonna be prosecuted."

Sport inside is also analyzing the new anti-doping law in Spain. We are critizising that the new law doesn't change much and doesn't include a right to penalize the athlete in criminal law.

Concerning the new anti-doping law in Spain, Gonzalo Camarero of the office of the Spanish attorney general tells "sport inside" openly: "In general, the new law doesn't include many changes to the letter one. The new law is only adapting the World Anti-Doping Code. Of course, the interest to host Olympic Games in Spain does play a role in this as well."

Ignacio Arroyo, lawyer of the national Olympic comitee of Italy (CONI) in the Fuentes case, critizes the law: "Spain can do more. Every judge in Spain has the right to make propositions to improve laws. The Fuentes trial is a good chance to improve the law and to penalize the athlete, like in France or Italy."

 

[D-Queued]

From some friends at ARD. ABC News will have more on this tonight

Definitely a good news day, today.

we are really interested that every person - Spanish or not - who has committed a crime in our country is gonna be prosecuted

Dave.

 

[Race Radio]

http://deportes.elpais.com/deportes/2012/10/11/actualidad/1349985527_888095.html

From last year

"but from what I've seen so far I think so that there is reason to at least investigate the behavior of Pedro Celaya, Luis Garcia del Moral and José Martí "

.

Now it is clear they will go after foreigners as well

 

[DirtyWorks]

Maybe not.

Some of you may not be aware Spain is bidding for another Olympic Games. We know Hein is very involved at the IOC, so a Wonderboy investigation could go away to keep Spain's IOC Games bid in the running.

If the evidence is tranferred directly from the judicial case to Spain's anti-doping agency, there could be some problems for the Fuentes customers. I don't think it will happen for procedural reasons. Spain's anti-doping agency is not a judicial/law enforcement agency.

This is by design... See how well it works to keep the doping controversy quiet?

As usual, I will be happy to be wrong. Really happy.

 

[Cloxxki]

http://deportes.elpais.com/deportes/2012/10/11/actualidad/1349985527_888095.html

From last year

.

Now it is clear they will go after foreigners as well

I must have missed the part about foreigners. Is the name in the title not a tiny bit of a stretch?
First let's see if they really go after fellow countrymen, or it's just a fake show to get everyone silent.

 

[ElChingon]

It all sound great on paper, but if the USA is still dragging this out Spain will have to wait till who knows how long, then how are they to even get him over there.

I also like this part:

The director of the Spanish Anti-doping Agency (AEA), Ana Munoz, did say in her first TV interview: "On the day the trial ends me personally, I will go and ask the judge to give me all the documents, proves, as well as all the blood bags. And then, we will undertake every action to find and identify the athletes and sports involved in the Fuentes case."

Like she expects someone will actually hand over the blood bags.

 

[ChrisE]

Hooray! The most PED using country in multiple sports, with lax attitude towards doping in the past and blatant corruption in their whole anti-doping stance, has finally found the balls to go after 'foreigners'.

This merits a thread in the clinic titled "Armstrong investigated for criminal charges in Spain". RR orgasms. How fitting.

 

[gooner]

Now up on ABC:

Spanish law does not make it a crime for an athlete to use performance enhancing drugs for personal use. In certain cases, athletes can be fined and have their licenses suspended.

However, if investigators can prove "trafficking, distribution and commercialization of doping drugs," that is a criminal offense carrying as many as two years in prison and fines of as much as 400,000 euros.

The investigation is described as being in a "very active and sensitive" phase.

http://abcnews.go.com/International...nal-case-spain/story?id=18818239#.UVI0TS6vnIU

 

[Oldman]

Hooray! The most PED using country in multiple sports, with lax attitude towards doping in the past and blatant corruption in their whole anti-doping stance, has finally found the balls to go after 'foreigners'.

This merits a thread in the clinic titled "Armstrong investigated for criminal charges in Spain". . . .(sic - redacted) How fitting.

If Spain doesn't find him interesting it's likely an Interpol savvy prosecutor in another country will....said it then and sayin' it again. Smuggle and launder...

 

[Fortyninefourteen]

Now up on ABC:



http://abcnews.go.com/International...nal-case-spain/story?id=18818239#.UVI0TS6vnIU

I cry.........

 

[Briant_Gumble]

This merits a thread in the clinic.

The ABC article vindicates the thread and title.

 

[thehog]

You really would feel stiffed about getting banged up in Spain on PED charges.

It's a supermarket!

 

[peterst6906]

You really would feel stiffed about getting banged up in Spain on PED charges.

It's a supermarket!

From the reading it's not the PEDs per se, it's the trafficking in them that could have him in trouble.

So no problem being a customer of the supermarket. Just don't be the owner.

 

[RobbieCanuck]

From some friends at ARD. ABC News will have more on this tonight. From some friends at ARD. ABC News will have more on this tonight

Quote: The director of the Spanish Anti-doping Agency (AEA), Ana Munoz, did say in her first TV interview: "What I can you so far is that we are following up the Armstrong case. Not only because we were involved in the investigations back then but also because we are really interested that every person - Spanish or not - who has committed a crime in our country is gonna be prosecuted."

While Race Radio has good intentions with this thread, it is very premature to suggest there is a criminal investigation under way in Spain into Lance Armstrong. Ms. Munoz's comments are not untypical of a politician on the hot seat in the wake of Operacion Puerto, that has further blemished Spain's questionable history of pursuing doping.

Let us first see if the authorities in Spain actually do commence an investigation and what if anything comes of it before we assume there is in fact a criminal investigation.

 

[thehog]

While Race Radio has good intentions with this thread, it is very premature to suggest there is a criminal investigation under way in Spain into Lance Armstrong. Ms. Munoz's comments are not untypical of a politician on the hot seat in the wake of Operacion Puerto, that has further blemished Spain's questionable history of pursuing doping.

Let us first see if the authorities in Spain actually do commence an investigation and what if anything comes of it before we assume there is in fact a criminal investigation.

I would agree. It's mud slinging.

Maybe he could comment on Sky? Rather than beat up the guy who's already beat up.

 

[Race Radio]

While Race Radio has good intentions with this thread, it is very premature to suggest there is a criminal investigation under way in Spain into Lance Armstrong. Ms. Munoz's comments are not untypical of a politician on the hot seat in the wake of Operacion Puerto, that has further blemished Spain's questionable history of pursuing doping.

Let us first see if the authorities in Spain actually do commence an investigation and what if anything comes of it before we assume there is in fact a criminal investigation.

There is an ongoing investigation. It is real. As ABC reported

The investigation is described as being in a "very active and sensitive" phase.

regardless I think Armstrong's exposure is minimal. Brunyeel, Ferrari, and the Spainish doctors....it will not be easy for them

 

[86TDFWinner]

If anyone deserves it, Fraudstrong does.

 

[RobbieCanuck]

There is an ongoing investigation. It is real. As ABC reported regardless I think Armstrong's exposure is minimal. Brunyeel, Ferrari, and the Spainish doctors....it will not be easy for them

Two points

1. I did not intend to suggest Ms. Munoz was a politician, just talking like one.

2. The ABC report does not identify its sources

" Spanish sources believe crimes may have been committed in Spain and they are currently investigating to decide if charges should be brought against Armstrong and Spanish associates who worked with him on the U.S. Postal Service cycling team, the sources told ABC News."

A source(s) "... believing that a crime may have been committed..." is really just someone's speculation, and is a pretty specious basis on which to suggest an active criminal investigation is taking place.

This is not to say such an investigation would not be welcome!

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

That is actually standard language when opening or running any investigation. A crime may have occurred, and the investigation is being conducted to determine whether it has occurred or not.

 

[Benotti69]

Anything that makes the USPS/Tailwinds lives harder is good in my book. Armstrong will have to be careful with his travel destinations in future.

What other nations might open investigations into Armstrong? France and Italy. The more the merrier.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

What other nations might open investigations into Armstrong? France and Italy. The more the merrier.

... Sky's the limit

 

[Descender]

I would regard this as nothing short of a miracle.

 

[BillytheKid]

There is an ongoing investigation. It is real. As ABC reported



regardless I think Armstrong's exposure is minimal. Brunyeel, Ferrari, and the Spainish doctors....it will not be easy for them

Your licking your lips no doubt. The concept of mercy is beyond you. It's all about the money as it's always been though out time.

ABC ignores the more important news with a scapegoat. Sideshow Bob journalism. The day is not too far when Armstrong will tell all I hope, and those who made him, as he did himself, will be revealed.

"Take the straight path. Turn neither to the left or the right."

 

[Race Radio]

Your licking your lips no doubt. The concept of mercy is beyond you. It's all about the money as it's always been though out time.

ABC ignores the more important news with a scapegoat. Sideshow Bob journalism. The day is not too far when Armstrong will tell all I hope, and those who made him, as he did himself, will be revealed.

"Take the straight path. Turn neither to the left or the right."

Mercy for Bruyneel? del Moral? Why? Are you calling for all drug dealers to get a pass or just the ones who enabled the myth?

 

[hrotha]

Your licking your lips no doubt. The concept of mercy is beyond you. It's all about the money as it's always been though out time.

ABC ignores the more important news with a scapegoat. Sideshow Bob journalism. The day is not too far when Armstrong will tell all I hope, and those who made him, as he did himself, will be revealed.

"Take the straight path. Turn neither to the left or the right."

Mercy without repentance?