As McQuaid says : Only in Spain.

[Andynonomous]

Link fixed

the link doesn't work.

Link fixed.

 

[Benotti69]

I wonder is the Spanish government keeping a lid on doping, albeit not very well as who believes they are not a doping nation, while the economy is in the mire to prevent the Spanish people from protesting about the economy. A sort of feel good factor propaganda.

I hope other federations start targeting Spanish athletes where and when possible to balance it out like CONI did with Valverde.

 

[Mrs John Murphy]

I wonder is the Spanish government keeping a lid on doping, albeit not very well as who believes they are not a doping nation, while the economy is in the mire to prevent the Spanish people from protesting about the economy. A sort of feel good factor propaganda.

I hope other federations start targeting Spanish athletes where and when possible to balance it out like CONI did with Valverde.

The point is that a lot of these dopers are very closely linked to the politicians and a lot of the politicians are very closely linked to the judiciary. If they blow the lid then it could bring in a lot more than just cyclists.

As you point out - while the economy is tanking, Spanish athletes are in something of a golden age.

 

[hrotha]

The point is that a lot of these dopers are very closely linked to the politicians and a lot of the politicians are very closely linked to the judiciary. If they blow the lid then it could bring in a lot more than just cyclists.

As you point out - while the economy is tanking, Spanish athletes are in something of a golden age.

The economy thing is a red herring. This all started on the road to Barcelona '92.

The political link however is spot on. Marta Domínguez, for example, is a card-carrying member of the PP, one of the two main political parties in Spain.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

I'm changing my name to Heraldo, moving to Spain, getting juiced up to the max and win the Vuelta.

Great line.

...and great thread title.

 

[el_peras]

http://www.marca.com/2011/04/25/atl...e644f9c5cc4fe14f63a2ea363399d23c&t=1303753443

The article explains why the Galgo judge freed Marta Dominguez. It says that her tests where negative at the Madrid lab, so CSD sent her samples to the Colonia lab, without the juge permission. The tests where also negative at Colonia, so the judge freed Dominguez.

Now there are political consecuences since Marta Dominguez is a prominent member of Partido Popular, which is in the opposition to the government.

 

[hrotha]

http://www.marca.com/2011/04/25/atl...e644f9c5cc4fe14f63a2ea363399d23c&t=1303753443

The article explains why the Galgo judge freed Marta Dominguez. It says that her tests where negative at the Madrid lab, so CSD sent her samples to the Colonia lab, without the juge permission. The tests where also negative at Colonia, so the judge freed Dominguez.

Now there are political consecuences since Marta Dominguez is a prominent member of Partido Popular, which is in the opposition to the government.

It's not that the judge freed Marta Domínguez because the tests were negative, but because the chain of custody for the evidence was breached by sending the samples to Cologne without permission. Once again a procedural "error" invalidates the case. How convenient.

On the other hand, the implication that the samples were negative therefore they had nothing against her is clearly being suggested by Marca. That's ridiculous. A one-week stay at the Clinic would do them good.

 

[D-Queued]

It's not that the judge freed Marta Domínguez because the tests were negative, but because the chain of custody for the evidence was breached by sending the samples to Cologne without permission. Once again a procedural "error" invalidates the case. How convenient.

On the other hand, the implication that the samples were negative therefore they had nothing against her is clearly being suggested by Marca. That's ridiculous. A one-week stay at the Clinic would do them good.

Convenience has its virtues.

Now, was this:
1. A singular, legitimate, but very stupid, error?
2. Somehow symptomatic of a broader pattern of Spanish judicial system competence?
3. The kind of convenience that can be arranged (for high profile figures)?

Dave.

 

[roundabout]

So is this it for Dominguez or are there other charges?

 

[Andynonomous]

Bezebeh gets banned.

Bezebeh gets banned by Spain's "High Council of Sport".

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2011-06-10-835033293_x.htm

 

[D-Queued]

Bezebeh gets banned by Spain's "High Council of Sport".

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2011-06-10-835033293_x.htm

"B" for Bezebeh.

Any chance they will progress to the "C"s?

Dave.

 

[movingtarget]

Contador stated previously "that the Spanish Federation is doing more than most other cycling bodies to fight doping..............obviously.

 

[Paco_P]

One of the "Operation Galgo" principals was let off by Spain.

Big Surprise ?

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011%5C03%5C30%5Cstory_30-3-2011_pg2_9

Let's be more careful about how we use the word "Spain". Now Bezabeh has been suspended 2 years and fined 3000 euros:

http://www.elpais.com/articulo/deportes/anos/castigo/Bezabeh/elpepidep/20110611elpepidep_6/Tes

The Athletics Federation had let him off, a decision appealed by the relevant government ministry. The Spanish Sports Discipline Comittee has now sanctioned him.

What these different institutions do and what "Spain" does should not be conflated excessively, except in the support of unjustifiable bigotry.

 

[khardung la]

Let's be more careful about how we use the word "Spain". Now Bezabeh has been suspended 2 years and fined 3000 euros:

http://www.elpais.com/articulo/deportes/anos/castigo/Bezabeh/elpepidep/20110611elpepidep_6/Tes

The Athletics Federation had let him off, a decision appealed by the relevant government ministry. The Spanish Sports Discipline Comittee has now sanctioned him.

What these different institutions do and what "Spain" does should not be conflated excessively, except in the support of unjustifiable bigotry.

+10

IMO Spain condemned Bezabeh now (a Spanish public institution called the Spanish Sports Discipline Comittee), BUT Spain did not released him from charges some weeks ago, because the Spanish Athletism Federation is a private association (check http://www.rfea.es/normas/estatutosRFEA.pdf)

The same applies to the cycling federation (http://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2010/08/07/pdfs/BOE-A-2010-12748.pdf). This is not to discharge Spain for its responsibility in not doing enough against doping, but it is wrong to mix pears and apples.

 

[BillytheKid]

No ****.
I seriously think there are people pulling strings from higher up in Spain. The cover-up is too obvious. Perhaps there is some betting-maffia involved in all this.

I still read comments on the web saying that it is all one big French conspiracy against Aldirto.
Guess we got that rumor out of the way now that boith WADA and UCI are both appealing.

I think its the sport's governing bodies, they don't want any more bad press which could also effect the betting-mafia. Juice makes for grand performances!

 

[sniper]

...Only in Spain (and America, of course)...

The Spaniards believe French criticism of Contador is a result of the French being sick of Spanish success on French soil (Nadal & Contador).

...Only in Spain (and America, of course)...

Opina: ¿Crees que los franceses están cansados de los éxitos del deporte español en su país?

http://es.eurosport.yahoo.com/15062011/47/tour-france-francia-prefiere-tour-contador.html

 

[Paco_P]

The Spaniards believe French criticism of Contador is a result of the French being sick of Spanish success on French soil (Nadal & Contador).

...Only in Spain (and America, of course)...



http://es.eurosport.yahoo.com/15062011/47/tour-france-francia-prefiere-tour-contador.html

"The Spaniards" aren't even aware of "French criticism of Contador". Very few Spaniards read the French press or watch French tv. One stupid article doesn't demonstrate any such claim.

 

[hrotha]

"The Spaniards" aren't even aware of "French criticism of Contador". Very few Spaniards read the French press or watch French tv. One stupid article doesn't demonstrate any such claim.

It's not scientific proof, but I'm afraid it's a good representation of what the average casual sports fan thinks. Anti-French feelings run deep.

As for it being a case of "only in Spain", that's a bit silly, considering LA's "French conspiracy" is brought up and mocked here on a regular basis.

 

[sniper]

"The Spaniards" aren't even aware of "French criticism of Contador". Very few Spaniards read the French press or watch French tv. One stupid article doesn't demonstrate any such claim.

here's your second stupid article:

http://es.eurosport.yahoo.com/16062011/47/tour-france-policia-francesa-toma-contador.html

smells like a French conspiracy against Contador.

 

[sniper]

It's not scientific proof, but I'm afraid it's a good representation of what the average casual sports fan thinks. Anti-French feelings run deep.

As for it being a case of "only in Spain", that's a bit silly, considering LA's "French conspiracy" is brought up and mocked here on a regular basis.

of course. I said that in my post, by the way.

...Only in Spain (and America, of course)...

 

[hrotha]

of course. I said that in my post, by the way.

Maybe we can't read in Spain, did you ever consider that? Huh?

 

[sniper]

Maybe we can't read in Spain, did you ever consider that? Huh?

no, i didn't.
i was just responding to you suggesting that i suggested that the french-conspiracy theories run only in spain.

The fact that, credit to LA, French-anti-non-French-Tour-winning-conspiracy theories came into existence by the late 1990s already makes the current French-anti-AC conspiracy theory look sadder still.

 

[hrotha]

It was a joke to acknowledge I missed that bit of your post.

 

[sniper]

It was a joke to acknowledge I missed that bit of your post.

I had considered that possibility, but wasn't sure. my bad.

 

[sniper]

UCI asks for more respect for AC:

http://es.eurosport.yahoo.com/16062011/47/tour-france-uci-pide-respeto-alberto-cntador.html

one comment in the commentry box struck me as typical:

En tiempos de Franco decían que no nos querían por la* dictadura. Ahora por Zapatero. ¿ Y nuestros pepinos,* hortalizas y frutas qué culpa tienen?. Hasta los* alemanes que parecían amigos nos han defraudado.* Mientras tanto, por Europa la corrupción y los caciques* mandan y ordenan a su gusto.No queiren a Nadal ni a* Contador ni a nada que huela a España. Cada día me* siento más orgulloso de ser español y me avergüenzo un* poco más de haber entrado en la CE.

it's getting pretty serious.