Playing God: Eufemiano Fuentes

[Mad Elephant Man]

roundabout is probably referring to this article on El Pais, dating from 1985.

http://elpais.com/diario/1985/02/14/deportes/477183611_850215.html

I don't have time to translate it but it basically says a young Fuentes had been summoned to Madrid from his place on the Canary Islands to work on medical improvements for the Spanish track and field athletes.

So he had a reputation in 1985 as the man to call upon to get results for a national team.

No wonder they do not want him to talk. Almost 30 years of Spanish athletes to talk about.

 

[sniper]

So he had a reputation in 1985 as the man to call upon to get results for a national team.

No wonder they do not want him to talk. Almost 30 years of Spanish athletes to talk about.

I think Barcelona had already been awarded the Olympic Games by then.
Hiring Fuentes perhaps was a measurement in the build up to the games.
And Spain did deliver at those games. I believe they had the best medal count ever, though I'm not sure if Fuentes can be linked directly to the 1992 games.

 

[hfer07]

so is fair to say that all the ones not being coached by Ferrari were seeking advice from Fuentes-& with the Italians getting tougher on their side -he just got such demand to the point he monopolized the market throughout mid 90's onwards....the real question here is who wasn't working with him back then?

I start to believe he was brought down not by the Spaniard authorities at all but by the pressure amounted by his own clients & perhaps another doctors getting crushed by Eufamiano's network....

too much power hold by a single person is not good for business

 

[the asian]

I think Fuentes became a major player in cycling from about 2001, when the demand for BB became larger and people started looking for alternatives for Ferrari.

 

[cineteq]

Jörg Jaksche on today's hearing

"The Spanish doctor [Fuentes] "never offered me treatment for health reasons, but for reasons related to doping."

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/jaksche-provides-damning-testimony-against-fuentes-and-saiz

 

[airstream]

Wow. Jaksche was allowed to testify! So Hamilton and Manzano will confirm his words. Though, the consequences can touch only Ufe himself.

 

[JimmyFingers]

I think Barcelona had already been awarded the Olympic Games by then.
Hiring Fuentes perhaps was a measurement in the build up to the games.
And Spain did deliver at those games. I believe they had the best medal count ever, though I'm not sure if Fuentes can be linked directly to the 1992 games.

In the spirit of balance the host nation pretty much always delivered a higher than average medal count, due to increased funding in the run up, home advantage and larger amounts of athletes involved. In the Olympics thread someone analysed it, only Montreal failed to manifest an improved medal haul

 

[airstream]

I think Fuentes became a major player in cycling from about 2001, when the demand for BB became larger and people started looking for alternatives for Ferrari.

Do you think he granted the Vuelta victory for some random guy in 1993 and then run away from forestage? I'm sure Fuentes was the same invisible wizard as Ferrari, just not so popular one. However his popularity was not lesser in narrow rider circles.

 

[icefire]

Do you think he granted the Vuelta victory for some random guy in 1993 and then run away from forestage?

The random guy won in 1991. 1992-1994 were Rominger's.

Edit: 1991's random guy was riding for Manolo

1995 was for another random Manolo guy, who did 4th at the Tour

 

[sniper]

In the spirit of balance the host nation pretty much always delivered a higher than average medal count, due to increased funding in the run up, home advantage and larger amounts of athletes involved. In the Olympics thread someone analysed it, only Montreal failed to manifest an improved medal haul

yeah, one's judgement pretty much depends on how much importance one attributes to doping.

I'd personally reckon that all other things being equal, more funding means more doping means more medals. we know how important doping is at the olympics. normally you're not gonna increase your medal count unless you increase the program. of course there's a home advantage. but i think the biggest home advantage is that the home nation gets a doping free card, plus additional funding to implement top notch programs.

Quizz: when was the last time that a home athlete got caught doping during the olympics?

 

[hrotha]

Basso's should be one of the most interesting testimonies for us Clinicians, but it's just started and I'm already raising an eyebrow.

 

[airstream]

Basso's should be one of the most interesting testimonies for us Clinicians, but it's just started and I'm already raising an eyebrow.

Apparently he prepared a defensive line that suits Fuentes and Saiz perfectly. That was just an intention to dope. I'm really surprised why Gazzetta chose exactly Chipollini as their victim. Fuentes had a lot of documents on Basso. Simoni and Cunego were called as figurants of the OP in 2006 yet. Why Cipo?

 

[hrotha]

Apparently he prepared a defensive line that suits Fuentes and Saiz perfectly. That was just an intention to dope.

I was hoping he'd drop the "intention to dope" malarkey for this trial but nope, he just said he got three bags out but never got to reinfuse them. And that he never took any drugs.

 

[airstream]

I was hoping he'd drop the "intention to dope" malarkey for this trial but nope, he just said he got three bags out but never got to reinfuse them. And that he never took any drugs.

Strictly speaking, CONI forgave Basso by and large in 2007. The 2006 Giro is one big gift from CONI. There was so much evidence of doping in 2003-2006 that Torri could give him a lifetime ban if he wanted. It's a pity that riders always have expensive lawyers. So they necessarily made up another malarkey for Basso.

 

[PosterBill]

This is what is so infuriating about the doping in cycling (AC set to testify)...it's not that they made the choice to dope, i can understand that. It's the fact that the relish in the lie. Contador set to testify on BEHALF of Saiz...AC is relishing in his lie even though he has to know it's on the verge of crumbling

 

[Fearless Greg Lemond]

Apparently he prepared a defensive line that suits Fuentes and Saiz perfectly. That was just an intention to dope. I'm really surprised why Gazzetta chose exactly Chipollini as their victim. Fuentes had a lot of documents on Basso. Simoni and Cunego were called as figurants of the OP in 2006 yet. Why Cipo?

Are you really questioning this one?

In other words: omerta still rules.

Basso will tell shyte.

Dopenation Spain will walk free, as always.

 

[airstream]

This is what is so infuriating about the doping in cycling (AC set to testify)...it's not that they made the choice to dope, i can understand that. It's the fact that the relish in the lie. Contador set to testify on BEHALF of Saiz...AC is relishing in his lie even though he has to know it's on the verge of crumbling

He has no choice. Either he supports Saiz entirely or induces an even more barrage of criticism and accusations.

 

[BillytheKid]

Contador now to testify:

http://velonews.competitor.com/2013...testify-in-puerto-trial-on-february-22_274458

Nadal playing the game? Points the finger to foreign athletes?

http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/02/news/must-read-nadal-wants-puerto-clients-named_274320

 

[PosterBill]

He has no choice. Either he supports Saiz entirely or induces an even more barrage of criticism and accusations.

I don't get it, why MUST he support saiz? Are there not 20-30 other riders that could testify on his behalf? The critiscism is already there and they ain't going nowhere

 

[airstream]

Are you really questioning this one?

In other words: omerta still rules.

Basso will tell shyte.

Dopenation Spain will walk free, as always.

Shyte?

Yes, seemingly the documents related to spanish athletes were eliminated by now.

 

[airstream]

I don't get it, why MUST he support saiz? Are there not 20-30 other riders that could testify on his behalf? The critiscism is already there and they ain't going nowhere

Their interests completely coincide. Both will say 'I wasn't part of this thingy. I don't know anything. I turned out to be in wrong place in wrong time'. Possibly, it is just some political games. Spain want to say that kinda if the strongest rider is set to testify, anti-doping fight is implemented on the highest possible level.

 

[Escarabajo]

I was hoping he'd drop the "intention to dope" malarkey for this trial but nope, he just said he got three bags out but never got to reinfuse them. And that he never took any drugs.

hrotha, it is beyond me why you expected or expect a different outcome from an active rider that already was sanctioned.

 

[hrotha]

hrotha, it is beyond me why you expected or expect a different outcome from an active rider that already was sanctioned.

I was kinda euphoric after Jaksche's testimony

 

[Mrs John Murphy]

I was kinda euphoric after Jaksche's testimony

And this is why Basso has a job and Jaksche doesn't.

 

[airstream]

What is a main problem about omerta? It seems that no one can confess only for himself and any confession automatically accuses many many other riders or what?