Official Alberto Contador hearing thread

[roundabout]

I like how people keep finding reasons to gloss over a potential bribe.

Becca may not be the right person to point it out, but credit to him for having the balls to do so.

 

[LaFlorecita]

If Becca is really trying to influence the outcome by putting pressure on the Israeli judge, that's not only really low of him, but it's also incredibly stupid, as the outcome has already been decided on and the CAS panel is only still busy with writing the resolution, if I'm correct.

 

[spalco]

I really want Contador banned, but this connection Becca draws there seems very weak to me. I actually trust the CAS to be fair and impartial, and I'll accept whatever they decide.

 

[LaFlorecita]

No confirmation until the end of next week, a Reuters cycling correspondent reports.

(So I'll have to keep on worrying for almost two weeks.)

 

[The Hitch]

I like how people keep finding reasons to gloss over a potential bribe.
.

Who "keeps finding reasons".

Keep finding reasons would suggest a habitual action, yet its my first comment on Becca.

Also its not glossing over a potential bribe but hating on someone who guilty of extreme hypocrisy.

Becca may not be the right person to point it out, but credit to him for having the balls to do so

You act as if hes doing it from the good of his heart and from his brain.

Its from neither. Becca knows jack **** about the case and he is only trying to stir controversy in a very cheap attempt to get his favourite rider (who also happens to be the antichrist of cycling) an easier path to the title.

Moreover he is openly trying to get an opponent banned for the same practise which he is himself funding for his rider.

Its one thing to cheat. Its another to cheat and then cry wolf.

Becca cant have any balls, he doesnt even have a character.

 

[pig pen]

I never understood how anyone could be angry at Contador, when he has never been found guilty. Anyone can be poisoned by a hormone or steroid, while eating meat, in any country.

 

[robertocarlos]

just like you can miss a test.

 

[Cimber]

CAS setting Becca straight (in Danish)

http://www.sporten.dk/cykling/cas-afviser-beskyldning-mod-riis

 

[sniper]

CAS setting Becca straight (in Danish)

http://www.sporten.dk/cykling/cas-afviser-beskyldning-mod-riis

The CAS will set Becca straight only if they ban contador.

unfortunately, becca's reasoning was merely plausible.
why a training camp in Israel?

 

[Papparrazzi]

The CAS will set Becca straight only if they ban contador.

unfortunately, becca's reasoning was merely plausible.
why a training camp in Israel?

Exactly!
This is a 100% done deal. It stinks!

 

[Cimber]

The CAS will set Becca straight only if they ban contador.

unfortunately, becca's reasoning was merely plausible.
why a training camp in Israel?

So if they had made a training camp in Scwitzerland og Germany (which they wouldnt do to weather ofc) u would say the exact same regarding Riis trying to influence the other judges. I think the speculation is a tad farfetched. And farfetched speculations shouldnt be mentioned as an accusation by a guy like Becca or any other public person.

Even if Riis did the trainingcamp with the intent to influence I am sure CAS and its judges wouldnt be influenced by this at all, and its low by Becca to try to damage CAS's credability by insinuating that they can by bribed like that.

My bet is taht he signed Magliot for the same reason he signed the Japanese rider: to find sponsors in the Israeli (and Japanese markets). Same might be the reason behind the training camp + the israeli might have paid for the camp to attract such a big team to its country. Also, I remember reading that it was Magliot who was telling Riis about how perfect the conditiones are for a winter training camp in Israel.

to summarize: dont start a whole conspiracy theory alongthe lines "they never walked the moon" or "it was aliens who killed Kennedy".

I trust CAS and will accept any ruling they come out with. It would be such a damn pity if ppl find CAS just untrustworthy as RFEC, cos thats what Becca is trying to do. He is trying to insure that ppl will still find Berto tainted even if he will be aquitted by CAS. That he is also trying to taint CAS is just collateral damage to him (but a collateral damage that will go beyong the Bertie-case if he succeeds in making it stick in the general public)

 

[spalco]

why a training camp in Israel?

Why not? Excellent weather, good roads, first-world infrastructure and there are even some decent hills I think. Without the whole political/security baggage Israel would be as good a place for a winter camp as any other imo.

 

[hrotha]

Why not? Excellent weather, good roads, first-world infrastructure and there are even some decent hills I think. Without the whole political/security baggage Israel would be as good a place for a winter camp as any other imo.

And coincidentally, Saxo is the first team to realize.

I don't think it's a simple bribe, but Riis could be creating links within the Israeli cycling and sports scenes, and those contacts might in turn try to influence the Israeli judge. It's a possibility, and the whole thing is rather weird.

 

[Benotti69]

Riis is obviously worried and doing his utmost to try an get his star off the hook otherwise it might mean the end for Riis and his Team/Career.

I for one think that he is wasting his time or more than likely shot himself in the foot. The CAS judge from Israel will more than likely vote against Contador in order not to show bias based on Riis taking a training camp to Israel.

 

[Papparrazzi]

Look at it this way then - In most legal processes, an accused would deliberately not have any 'relationship' with those deliberating on the charge, for fear of accusations of jury knobbling. So why go there? Just go to another country, and, don't hire the first ever Israeli in the pro peleton, then you're exempt from any accusation, simples.

 

[doolols]

I never understood how anyone could be angry at Contador, when he has never been found guilty. Anyone can be poisoned by a hormone or steroid, while eating meat, in any country.

Yep. Only it's a case of likelihood and probabilities. And in Bertie's case, it's far more likely to come from doping than the miniscule chance of infected European beef. He failed the test, and by the rules, he is guilty. It is up to him and his expensive legal team to prove that it was infected beef. Which they cannot do. Therefore, he's guilty.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

Exactly!
This is a 100% done deal. It stinks!

Whats a done deal?

Or is it, if Contador gets off its because there was a guy from Israel on the panel and thats why.
Or, because Becca said something it exposes this deceit and now CAS have to find Contador guilty?

I like a good conspiracy - Beccas is not a good conspiracy.
There are 2 other members to the panel - one nominated by Contador the other by UCI & WADA and the CAS nominated the Chairman.

 

[Cimber]

Yep. Only it's a case of likelihood and probabilities. And in Bertie's case, it's far more likely to come from doping than the miniscule chance of infected European beef. He failed the test, and by the rules, he is guilty. It is up to him and his expensive legal team to prove that it was infected beef. Which they cannot do. Therefore, he's guilty.

If CAS find him guilty u are right, if they dont u are wrong. Quite simple

 

[Cimber]

Look at it this way then - In most legal processes, an accused would deliberately not have any 'relationship' with those deliberating on the charge, for fear of accusations of jury knobbling. So why go there? Just go to another country, and, don't hire the first ever Israeli in the pro peleton, then you're exempt from any accusation, simples.

So let me get this right. In your opinion you are having a relationship with the judge if u are in his country?? Thats a bit...hm.. farfetched in the lack of a better word. I guess Riss shouldnt go to Germany or Schwitzerland either to avoid getting accused of tryingto influence the judges

 

[The Hitch]

The CAS will set Becca straight only if they ban contador.

unfortunately, becca's reasoning was merely plausible.
why a training camp in Israel?

And give Beccas rider the title.

Yeah, that will set Becca straight. Teach him not to dope his riders and complain when others do it.

Oh wait.

 

[L'arriviste]

Whats a done deal?

Or is it, if Contador gets off its because there was a guy from Israel on the panel and thats why.
Or, because Becca said something it exposes this deceit and now CAS have to find Contador guilty?

I like a good conspiracy - Beccas is not a good conspiracy.
There are 2 other members to the panel - one nominated by Contador the other by UCI & WADA and the CAS nominated the Chairman.

Reeb says "Normally I would not comment on such allegations" [source] but he does anyway. I am starting to wonder how impartial CAS-TAS can be when it inhabits, at least in Spanish terms, a very small world.

Lucas Ferrer, CAS president in 2007, said last November that he thought that WADA's position on Contador was weakened by the other clenbuterol cases [source].

In a sidebar to that interview, he goes on to say that chairman of the Contador case Efraim Barak is a meticulous type, has doping experience and, most importantly, will act without prejudice [source].

Ferrer should probably know. He's an Associate Lawyer at Barcelona law firm Pinto Ruiz Del Valle, one of Spain's biggest law firms.

One of the senior partners at PRDV is José Juan Pintó Sala, also a CAS arbitrator.

PRDV is part of the Pannone Law Group, an association of regional law firms throughout the world whose Israeli associate is Mirkin & Co. That "Co." consists of, among others, a certain Efraim Barak. In addition to his work as a CAS arbitrator, Barak seems to be a very busy man.

The Instituto Superior de Derecho y Economía (ISDE) in Madrid is a private law school. The Vice-Chancellor and a Director of the ISDE share the familiar family name "Pintó Sala", while the Chancellor himself is one José Juan Pinto Ruiz, who is also on the Advisory Board. He's the 'PR' in PRDV. Efraim Barak is a Professor on ISDE's Masters programme in International Sports Law.

That same Advisory Board also counts lawyers from the Barcelona law firm Roca Junyent. Roca Junyent is the law firm of Jean-Louis Dupont, who currently represents Alberto Contador.

There are also two people on the ISDE Advisory Board from the firm legal and tax firm Garrigues, Spain's biggest law firm. Garrigues' "Special Representative of International Relations" is José Maria Alonso Puig, who is also a CAS arbitrator.

A little organisation called Rex Sport Asociación de Asesores del Deporte, a sports tax advisory organisation based in Barcelona, is listed either as a shareholder of, or 'having an agreement' with Garrigues.

Rex Sport is affiliated with ISDE and its president is José Juan Pinto Ruiz. Founded in 2002 as a non-profit org by PRDV, Rex Sport's goal is "promoting and improving the current Sports Law and its diffusion among young lawyers." Hence the ISDE partnership it has in the concrete form of maintaining Barak's degree programme. Barak is of course a member of Rex Sport.

Of course, none of this amounts to a hill of beans, but CAS and Spanish-Israel legal worlds are certainly very small indeed.

 

[sniper]

And give Beccas rider the title.

Yeah, that will set Becca straight. Teach him not to dope his riders and complain when others do it.

Oh wait.

I'm not saying Becca aint a huge hypocrit.
but one way or the other, the Israel training camp looks bad with the CAS decision pending.
Also, albeit indirectly, his criticism constitutes a small crack in the omerta-wall, which we should all encourage.

 

[Race Radio]

Supposedly the decision comes this week or next, correct?

 

[Benotti69]

Reeb says "Normally I would not comment on such allegations" [source] but he does anyway. I am starting to wonder how impartial CAS-TAS can be when it inhabits, at least in Spanish terms, a very small world.

Lucas Ferrer, CAS president in 2007, said last November that he thought that WADA's position on Contador was weakened by the other clenbuterol cases [source].

In a sidebar to that interview, he goes on to say that chairman of the Contador case Efraim Barak is a meticulous type, has doping experience and, most importantly, will act without prejudice [source].

Ferrer should probably know. He's an Associate Lawyer at Barcelona law firm Pinto Ruiz Del Valle, one of Spain's biggest law firms.

One of the senior partners at PRDV is José Juan Pintó Sala, also a CAS arbitrator.

PRDV is part of the Pannone Law Group, an association of regional law firms throughout the world whose Israeli associate is Mirkin & Co. That "Co." consists of, among others, a certain Efraim Barak. In addition to his work as a CAS arbitrator, Barak seems to be a very busy man.

The Instituto Superior de Derecho y Economía (ISDE) in Madrid is a private law school. The Vice-Chancellor and a Director of the ISDE share the familiar family name "Pintó Sala", while the Chancellor himself is one José Juan Pinto Ruiz, who is also on the Advisory Board. He's the 'PR' in PRDV. Efraim Barak is a Professor on ISDE's Masters programme in International Sports Law.

That same Advisory Board also counts lawyers from the Barcelona law firm Roca Junyent. Roca Junyent is the law firm of Jean-Louis Dupont, who currently represents Alberto Contador.

There are also two people on the ISDE Advisory Board from the firm legal and tax firm Garrigues, Spain's biggest law firm. Garrigues' "Special Representative of International Relations" is José Maria Alonso Puig, who is also a CAS arbitrator.

A little organisation called Rex Sport Asociación de Asesores del Deporte, a sports tax advisory organisation based in Barcelona, is listed either as a shareholder of, or 'having an agreement' with Garrigues.

Rex Sport is affiliated with ISDE and its president is José Juan Pinto Ruiz. Founded in 2002 as a non-profit org by PRDV, Rex Sport's goal is "promoting and improving the current Sports Law and its diffusion among young lawyers." Hence the ISDE partnership it has in the concrete form of maintaining Barak's degree programme. Barak is of course a member of Rex Sport.

Of course, none of this amounts to a hill of beans, but CAS and Spanish-Israel legal worlds are certainly very small indeed.

Lots of overlapping and entwined lines there. Contador gets off scott free with that lot

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Supposedly the decision comes this week or next, correct?

No confirmation until the end of next week, a Reuters cycling correspondent reports.

(So I'll have to keep on worrying for almost two weeks.)

I'm guessing one or two days before the Tour de San Luis starts.