World Championships: Valverde In? Valverde out

[Mongol_Waaijer]

This is just as objectionable. I suggest you grow up as well and stop stereotyping an entire nation.

I think he was just making the point that much as some Australians apparently think it harmless to call Greeks and Italians "that word", some Brits think it amusing and benign to make jokes about Australia's distant past as a penal colony.

The fact that many Australians don't like that really destroys the theory that stereotyping and national/racial nicknames can ever be "harmless".

Let's put this one to bed....

 

[TRDean]

I think he was just making the point that much as some Australians apparently think it harmless to call Greeks and Italians "that word", some Brits think it amusing and benign to make jokes about Australia's distant past as a penal colony.

The fact that many Australians don't like that really destroys the theory that stereotyping and national/racial nicknames can ever be "harmless".

Let's put this one to bed....

Good points...but this thread made me remember...what ever happened to IceAxe? That guy had issues!!

On topic, I think I have made myself clear in other threads...but AV needs to go...and I mean go away. I lurch when I think of him winning the Vuelta and then doing worlds. Scum.

 

[cyclingmad]

Racism

Quite sad to see that some forum members are racist and that their opinions on riders in general are racially influenced.

I say he should race regardless of whether he is guilty or not (2006 incident) it has not been established that he broke the rules of competition or the case been concluded decisively

Legal procedures that drag on and on undermine credibility that is really bad. Whose to blame more so than Valverde? (there is still a small level of doubt)

Spainish authorities for letting information out too early without complete and impartial review.
CONI bringing this up so late after the event.
UCI for not being able to establish proper controls to allow this to take so long.

Lots of people doped before 2006 lots got caught lots got away with it.
His actions even if guilty are all pre 2006 he is racing as fair as anyone else now. Dont strip him of titles since 2006 without proof he doped to achieve them.

Floyd Landis did more damage dragging his case out over a year and he had a positive test.

 

[elapid]

OK, I know I am in the minority here, but I am satisfied with Valverde racing the worlds. Firstly, the UCI cannot do anything because the case is currently with CAS and it is out of their hands. Secondly, the last time the UCI tried to ban Valverde from racing the worlds (2007), Valverde won on an appeal to the CAS. So the UCI are not going to waste their time and money trying to do that again. Lastly, while I have absolutely no doubt about Valverde's guilt in Operation Puerto, there is a lot more to this case than Valverde's guilt. There is the Spanish judicial system's ruling, there is CONI's ruling on a non-Italian athlete which ursurps the authority of the RFEC over their own athlete (and all its subsequent consequences and implications), and then there is the inequality of very few riders being pinged for Operation Puerto and just the prominent riders being targeted. Equally I feel sorry for the likes of Basso and Ullrich because they were most affected by the fallout of Operation Puerto. But what about all the other implicated riders? I know that this doesn't make Valverde clean, but I also do not agree with the handling and inequality of the Operation Puerto fallout and I do not agree with CONI's actions.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

Quite sad to see that some forum members are racist and that their opinions on riders in general are racially influenced.

I say he should race regardless of whether he is guilty or not (2006 incident) it has not been established that he broke the rules of competition or the case been concluded decisively

Legal procedures that drag on and on undermine credibility that is really bad. Whose to blame more so than Valverde? (there is still a small level of doubt)

Spainish authorities for letting information out too early without complete and impartial review.
CONI bringing this up so late after the event.
UCI for not being able to establish proper controls to allow this to take so long.

Lots of people doped before 2006 lots got caught lots got away with it.
His actions even if guilty are all pre 2006 he is racing as fair as anyone else now. Dont strip him of titles since 2006 without proof he doped to achieve them.

Floyd Landis did more damage dragging his case out over a year and he had a positive test.

What you mean with lots?
There is only three who got away with it: Epo-Lance, Valv-Piti and AC. The last two only because spain is a 3rd world corrupt country.

What makes me and others mad is that riders were banned (Basso) or even got destroyed (Ulrich) for the same offense or even less (Rasmussen).

Nowadays the situation in pro cycling is worse then in the true Epo-Era of the 90s, because not talent decides anymore, but how corrupt the country of a rider is.

May in the near future the pro peloton will be full of riders from Simbawe, Nigeria or Tschad, while those from "normal" countries serve doping bans.

 

[DonTickles]

I think he should be allowed to ride, I think he should keep his titles, and I think he should serve the standard ban if and when it comes down. I know it sucks and seems unfair but that's the way it's turned out. OP should have been handled way differently from the beginning but the reality is that it was F'd up.

Look at it from Valv's point of view, he's allowed to race so why not race? Most reasonable people are not going to sit themselves out if they have gotten the go ahead from the officials. As for proclaiming his innocence, I think Valv believes himself to be innocent from the point of view that many of the dopers have. "Everyone is doing it so I'm not really cheating". If he has a slim chance to avoid the ban then he's going to go for it, because in his mind he's saying, "Why should I be getting crucified when almost everyone else is doing exactly the same thing as me?" I don't think Valverde believes for a second that anyone hanging around him in the mountains of the Vuelta is clean and I don't believe any of them were clean either.

So while I want to see Valverde banned for OP I won't consider him the slimiest scumbag in the peloton until I see some outrageous Lance like personality traits from him as well. Maybe they're there and I just haven't heard about them yet.

 

[DonTickles]

What you mean with lots?
There is only three who got away with it: Epo-Lance, Valv-Piti and AC. The last two only because spain is a 3rd world corrupt country.

What about all the other OP blood bags that were never solidly linked to anyone? There were a ton of riders who slipped through that net alone. I also think it would be naive to think Fuentes was the only one storing blood and running medical programs for riders (think Ferrari, Santuccione, Freiburg, etc). Lance, Valv and AC are far from the only dirty riders in the peloton. My personal opinion is that riding clean in the pro peloton is rare.

 

[Cobblestones]

The thing I wondered is since Valverde has been banned from riding in Italy for a while now, if the UCI also comes down with a two-year ban for the same offense, what will happen when the Italian ban expires? Will he be able to ride in Italy for a while, or will the UCI ban extend the ban in Italy beyond the two years (wouldn't that be double jeopardy?).

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

What about all the other OP blood bags that were never solidly linked to anyone? There were a ton of riders who slipped through that net alone. I also think it would be naive to think Fuentes was the only one storing blood and running medical programs for riders (think Ferrari, Santuccione, Freiburg, etc). Lance, Valv and AC are far from the only dirty riders in the peloton. My personal opinion is that riding clean in the pro peloton is rare.

Oh sorry, you got me wrong.

I meant convicted riders. Those 3 named are convicted but never got banned. Its absurd that those three were allowed to win the biggest races. I feel real sorry for the likes of Ulrich, Rasmussen and Basso (and others). Those were the scapegoats.

If you dont get caught, you can not be penalized.

The rest of your post i totally agree.

The ONLY rider i trust (to be clean nowadays) is Cunego. Gerdemann and Voigt i almost trust. Thats it. No more, no less.

 

[Fourier]

How independent is the CAS from the UCI and eventually the CONI process? could the CAS be waiting for the outcome of the worlds to make a decision? If Valverde is allowed to race and wins, is banning the reigning world champion to much of a liability escentially transforming the rainbow jersey into a shield from suspension or a motivation for CAS and UCI to suspend Valverde?

 

[elapid]

The thing I wondered is since Valverde has been banned from riding in Italy for a while now, if the UCI also comes down with a two-year ban for the same offense, what will happen when the Italian ban expires? Will he be able to ride in Italy for a while, or will the UCI ban extend the ban in Italy beyond the two years (wouldn't that be double jeopardy?).

Oooh, that's an interesting question! I would assume the Italian sanction would be extended to coincide with the worldwide ban, but Valverde would have a strong case to race in the 2011 Giro for instance considering his Italian ban has been in effect for several months now. That will cause some headaches at the UCI and CAS if the Italian ban is upheld worldwide.

 

[cyclingmad]

caught vs not

Oh sorry, you got me wrong.

I meant convicted riders. Those 3 named are convicted but never got banned. Its absurd that those three were allowed to win the biggest races. I feel real sorry for the likes of Ulrich, Rasmussen and Basso (and others). Those were the scapegoats.

If you dont get caught, you can not be penalized.

The rest of your post i totally agree.

The ONLY rider i trust (to be clean nowadays) is Cunego. Gerdemann and Voigt i almost trust. Thats it. No more, no less.

None of Armstrong Contador or Valverde have been convicted yet so they are not the only ones getting away with it. Kloden, Leipheimer and lots of other pros in the same period were probably doing the same thing and got away with it. I personally know some riders that took EPO and didn't get caught so pre 2006 lots of people got away with it.

Nowadays there is less enhancement from doping because of the rules doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

Spain is not a backward or 3rd world country I am not sure why you are posting this. Spain has no more dirty riders than anywhere else just happens that Operacion Puerto happened so someone in Spain got caught.

Best thing for the sport is to clear the past stop dragging up the mud and do something about sorting out the current situation.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

None of Armstrong Contador or Valverde have been convicted yet so they are not the only ones getting away with it. Kloden, Leipheimer and lots of other pros in the same period were probably doing the same thing and got away with it. I personally know some riders that took EPO and didn't get caught so pre 2006 lots of people got away with it.

Nowadays there is less enhancement from doping because of the rules doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

Spain is not a backward or 3rd world country I am not sure why you are posting this. Spain has no more dirty riders than anywhere else just happens that Operacion Puerto happened so someone in Spain got caught.

Best thing for the sport is to clear the past stop dragging up the mud and do something about sorting out the current situation.

In which world are you living?

AC and Piti are on the Fuentes-List. Epo-Lance was tested positive 7 times + sworn against him under oath. Those 3 are not only convicted dopers, but they still deny and lie. Thats the lowest level of human nature.

Sure Klöden, Leipheimer and all the others did dope, but they have not been convicted. You cant judge someone because you think he did something wrong. To judge one you have to have witness.

We cant stop talking about the past as long the basterds are still around. Plain and simple!!

What is your definition of a 3rd world country? Covering crimes up and being totally corrupt is my definition. And spain certainly qualifies for that.

 

[Aguirre]

The Italians coach and Adorni wants Valverde out! Ja, why they not screamed aloud when Valverde was at the Vuelta?????

Anything to do with Cunego and the Italian hopes of victory????

This is ridiculous.

The problem is that Valverde wins and wins, he is controlled over and over and he is clean. The problem starts only when he wins of if he becomes a main threat as a rider, mainly at the Tour and now in the Worlds.

If he wouldn't win the Vuelta, if he was not in good shape.... Then some mouths would shup up.

AND THIS IS CALLED JUSTICE????

 

[DonTickles]

Oooh, that's an interesting question! I would assume the Italian sanction would be extended to coincide with the worldwide ban, but Valverde would have a strong case to race in the 2011 Giro for instance considering his Italian ban has been in effect for several months now. That will cause some headaches at the UCI and CAS if the Italian ban is upheld worldwide.

Easy solution for the Giro in 2011, make it cross over into France again, or better yet, start it in France (or wherever else). Then Piti can't compete! It would suck if he won Milan Sanremo though.

 

[cyclingmad]

Definitions

In which world are you living?

AC and Piti are on the Fuentes-List. Epo-Lance was tested positive 7 times + sworn against him under oath. Those 3 are not only convicted dopers, but they still deny and lie. Thats the lowest level of human nature.

Sure Klöden, Leipheimer and all the others did dope, but they have not been convicted. You cant judge someone because you think he did something wrong. To judge one you have to have witness.

We cant stop talking about the past as long the basterds are still around. Plain and simple!!

What is your definition of a 3rd world country? Covering crimes up and being totally corrupt is my definition. And spain certainly qualifies for that.

Now the third world generally refers to the poorest countries in the world with little infrastructure or even enough food to feed everyone. The previous definition along with first and second world was non aligned to Communists or Capitalists. Under the second definition there is some truth if you are talking about the Franco era but certainly not now. Spain in terms of corruption is little different from France and the UK. Admitedly more significantly behind Germany but certainly in the top tier of nations

I may have been technically incorrect is some points in responding to some of this. By definition convicted means caught and found guilty of a crime or offense. Contador Valverde and Armstrong have not been convicted of anything yet.

The is varying amounts of information on these riders suggested these riders and many others were involved in doping prior to 2006 information had vastly different quality between the three. Nothing found since indicates they are any different from anyone else. Valverde may be found guilty and convicted this year but if he does he is another unlucky one like Ulrich (Im a fan of his to) and other riders

 

[Dr. Maserati]

Quite sad to see that some forum members are racist and that their opinions on riders in general are racially influenced.

I say he should race regardless of whether he is guilty or not (2006 incident) it has not been established that he broke the rules of competition or the case been concluded decisively

Legal procedures that drag on and on undermine credibility that is really bad. Whose to blame more so than Valverde? (there is still a small level of doubt)

Spainish authorities for letting information out too early without complete and impartial review.
CONI bringing this up so late after the event.
UCI for not being able to establish proper controls to allow this to take so long.

Lots of people doped before 2006 lots got caught lots got away with it.
His actions even if guilty are all pre 2006 he is racing as fair as anyone else now. Dont strip him of titles since 2006 without proof he doped to achieve them.

Floyd Landis did more damage dragging his case out over a year and he had a positive test.

On the comments made earlier in this thread - I am shocked and saddened by them- there is no justification for it.

As for Valverde - he has been convicted by CONI, the case before CAS is an appeal on the grounds of the legal issue on whether CONI has juristriction to make that decision.

While I agree that there are plenty of other athletes that have doped and gotten away with it the main difficulty here is that the Spanish Federation have been reluctant to open a case against Valverde - it is for this reason that the case has dragged on as they had that information since August 2007!

The UCI have said there are several references to Valverde in the 6000 page report on OP, with this information CONI were able to conclude that "Bag No. 18" was Valverdes - and the DNA test confirmed this.

 

[biker jk]

Spain is not a backward or 3rd world country I am not sure why you are posting this. Spain has no more dirty riders than anywhere else just happens that Operacion Puerto happened so someone in Spain got caught.

Do you really believe this? Spain is at the forefront of doping in cycling. Without even including Valverde and Contador here is the list since 2004.

Jesus Manzano of Spain exposed doping practices in a series of articles in the Spanish newspaper Diario AS in March 2004. This included his use of EPO, Cortisone, Testosterone, Human Growth Hormone, Nandrolone, Oxyglobin, and the extreme practices to administer them.[256]. The revelations were so strong that Spanish investigations were begun, and these in turn lead to Operación Puerto.

Janet Puiggros Miranda of Spain became the second Spanish athlete to commit a doping offence at the Olympics after also testing positive for EPO during a pre-Olympic test. Like Gonzalez, she was withdrawn from competing (in the Women's Cross-Country race). She also denied the administration of a "B Test", which is used to verify the first drug test.

José Reynaldo Murillo of Spain tested positive for Erythropoietin in the 46th Vuelta a Guatemala in October 2004.[245]

Roberto Heras, the winner of an unprecedented fourth Vuelta a España, tested positive for EPO prior to the penultimate stage of the 2005 Vuelta a España.[268] He was stripped of his 2005 Vuelta win and the victory was given to Russian Denis Menchov. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years"[255].

Iñigo Landaluze, made his breakthrough by winning the 2005 Dauphiné Libéré, but it was soon announced he had tested positive for abnormally high testosterone and was suspended from racing until his case was heard out. In 2006, however, he was cleared to return to racing after he showed that the lab conducting tests committed procedural errors. The UCI then failed to show that those errors did not affect the outcome of the tests. The CAS panel reviewing the case said that it was "probable" that Landaluze had committed a doping violation, but the UCI had failed to meet its burden of proof in the case. New revisions to the WADA Code would suggest that Landaluze would have lost his case under the new rules.[270] The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' states 'Acquitted for legal reasons'[255]

Jenaro Ramos Lozano of Spain tested positive for Stanozolol on 8 April 2005. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years"[255].

Garcia Quesada Adolfo of Spain tested positive for Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in competition on 19 May 2006. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years."[234]

Victor Hernandez Baeta of Spain tested positive for EPO in an 'out of competition' test on 4 July 2006. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years."[234]

Santos Gonzalez Capilla of Spain tested positive for Triamcinolone acetonide on 4 March 2006. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' stated "disqualification, warning and reprimand"[255].

Aitor González, the winner of the 2002 Vuelta a España, tested positive twice in 2005, first during an out of competition test in August, and again during the 2005 Vuelta a España for a methyltestosterone metabolite. González claimed that the positive test was the result of a contaminated dietary supplement called Animal Pack prescribed by a doctor.[277] González was handed a two year ban and retired soon afterwards. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' listed 17 alpha methyl, 5 beta androstane, 3 alpha 17 beta dio and a 2 year ban[255]

Oscar Grau of Spain tested positive for Finasteride. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' states "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years"[255].

Jon Pena Hernaez of Spain tested positive for Phentermine in competition on 1 August 2006. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years."[234]

Christina Alcade Huertanos from Spain was disqualified for 2 years. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' listed Triamcinolone acetonide and a 2 year ban[255]

Aitor Osa from Spain was involved in the Operación Puerto doping case. The Guardia Civil in Madrid linked numbers used by Dr. Fuentes to identify blood sample bags to names; number 1 to Ullrich, number 2 to Basso, number 4 to Botero, number 5 to Sevilla, number 7 to Aitor's brother, Unai Osa, number 8 to Aitor Osa himself.[282]

Unai Osa from Spain was involved in the Operación Puerto doping case. The Guardia Civil in Madrid linked numbers used by Dr. Fuentes to identify blood sample bags to names; number 1 to Ullrich, number 2 to Basso, number 4 to Botero, number 5 to Sevilla, number 7 to Unai Osa himself, and number 8 to his brother Aitor Osa.[282

Jose Antonio Pastor Roldan of Spain tested positive for Terbutaline on 19 June 2006. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' stated that he was sanctioned by 'disqualification and a warning'[255].

Fernando Torres of Spain tested positive for Ephedrine in competition on 8 July 2006. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years - (under appeal by rider)."[234]

Jordi Reira Valls of Spain tested positive for Stanozolol and hCG on 16 May 2006. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' states "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years"[255].

Aketza Peña of Spain and the Euskaltel-Euskadi team tested positive for the anabolic steroid nandrolone on 30 May 2007. The sample was taken after stage one of the Giro del Trentino on 24 April and was announced during the 2007 Giro d'Italia.[304] The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years"[234]

José Antonio Pecharroman Fabian from Spain tested positive for Finasteride 'in competition' on 26 August 2007. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2007' stated "disqualification and ineligibility for 2 years"[234].

Iban Mayo tested positive for EPO on the Tour de France's rest day, July 24, it was announced Monday night. His Saunier Duval team was informed of the positive test by the UCI and immediately suspended the Spanish rider.

Manuel Beltrán tested positive for EPO after the first stage of the Tour de France. The news broke on 11 July 2008. Blood abnormalities before the tour start had led French anti-doping agency AFLD to target the rider. Beltrán's team Liquigas withdrew him from the tour with immediate effect. French police questioned Beltrán over possible offences, and searched his hotel room. The B-Sample has not yet been tested.[312]

Moisés Dueñas was withdrawn from the Barloworld team before the 11th stage of the Tour de France on 16 July. The official statement from ASO stated that he had tested positive for EPO at the end of the time trial fourth stage.[318] Barloworld, two days later, announced that they were withdrawing from sponsorship after this year's Tour de France.[319]

Maria Moreno of Spain tested positive for EPO at the Beijing Olympics on 31 July. She left China on the day of the test, before the results were published, and reports in Spain claimed an 'anxiety attack'. IOC communications director Giselle Davies said: "She was tested in the Village and she had already left China that evening before having had the result. The test has come back positive for EPO. The disciplinary commission has ruled that she should be excluded from the Games and have her accreditation withdrawn." The IOC passed the case to the UCI for follow up.[326]

Antonio Colom tested positive for EPO in an out of competition test on 2 April. He was targeted for additional controls using information from his blood profile. Colom's positive drug test is the second within the ranks of Katusha within five weeks (see Christian Pfannberger). [349]

On 31 July 2009, it was announced that Mikel Astarloza had tested positive for Recombinant Erythropoietin (EPO) on 26 June 2009 and was being provisionally suspended by the UCI.[353]

 

[auscyclefan94]

I may have been technically incorrect is some points in responding to some of this. By definition convicted means caught and found guilty of a crime or offense. Contador Valverde and Armstrong have not been convicted of anything yet.

The is varying amounts of information on these riders suggested these riders and many others were involved in doping prior to 2006 information had vastly different quality between the three. Nothing found since indicates they are any different from anyone else. Valverde may be found guilty and convicted this year but if he does he is another unlucky one like Ulrich (Im a fan of his to) and other riders

Some riders were convicted of Operacion puerto Basso (Ita), Ullrich (Ger), Botero (Col) and Jachse (ger), Scarponi (Ita) and other were cleared (at the time) Contador (Spa), Beloki (Spa), Nozal (Spa), Paulinho (Por), Osa (Spa). I could go on tho Spain seems to have a less harsh approach to doping.

 

[Runitout]

Some riders were convicted of Operacion puerto Basso (Ita), Ullrich (Ger), Botero (Col) and Jachse (ger), Scarponi (Ita) and other were cleared (at the time) Contador (Spa), Beloki (Spa), Nozal (Spa), Paulinho (Por), Osa (Spa). I could go on tho Spain seems to have a less harsh approach to doping.

Australia cleared Davis when Aussie dollars (and Swiss francs) were found in Fuentes' stash of loot.

Someone with an emu on his passport was up to his neck in it.

It's not just the Spanish who know how to look away.

 

[auscyclefan94]

You have to love the belligerant, unrepentant racist.

Ok, I will apologise as it was un called for but you must understand that calling some a "wog" is not meant in any circumstance as a racist taunt but as a general comment. Everyone use to call soccer wog ball many years a go because the italians and greeks used that word. Not meant to be derogortry.

grow up you inbred backwater convict

it is racist. Watch your language. Mods should ban your type. Jingoistic drivel

That makes you look like a complete hipocrit calling me that because your now the racist.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Australia cleared Davis when Aussie dollars (and Swiss francs) were found in Fuentes' stash of loot.

Someone with an emu on his passport was up to his neck in it.

It's not just the Spanish who know how to look away.

I agree with you totally but i'm saying that spanish riders have a worse record than aussies in this case. I'm just annoyed that this case OP was brushed over so easily and not looked into enough to get rid of the cheats. They got out of it too easily.

 

[Ferminal]

Australia cleared Davis when Aussie dollars (and Swiss francs) were found in Fuentes' stash of loot.

Someone with an emu on his passport was up to his neck in it.

It's not just the Spanish who know how to look away.

Does a situation like Puerto come down to each federation?

Spain had a lot more reasons to shove the whole thing under the carpet, they didn't want any of their Tennis or Football stars exposed.

 

[elapid]

Some riders were convicted of Operacion puerto Basso (Ita), Ullrich (Ger), Botero (Col) and Jachse (ger), Scarponi (Ita) and other were cleared (at the time) Contador (Spa), Beloki (Spa), Nozal (Spa), Paulinho (Por), Osa (Spa). I could go on tho Spain seems to have a less harsh approach to doping.

Only three riders were sanctioned as a result of Operacion Puerto: Basso (Italian) after initially being cleared by CONI and later confessed in 2007; Scarponi (Italian) after confessing in 2007; and Jaksche (Germany) after confessing in 2007. Without confessing, I doubt any of these riders would have been sanctioned.

Botero's case was dropped by the Colombian authorities. While Ullrich's DNA has been linked to blood bags found in Operacion Puerto, he retired and was never sanctioned.

jk biker provided a good summary of Spanish riders suspended by the RFEC. No Spanish rider was sanctioned as a result of Operacion Puerto because of the ruling by the Spanish judiciary. They stated that sporting bodies such as the RFEC could not use evidence obtained during the Operacion Puerto investigation to sanction athletes.

 

[biker jk]

Australia cleared Davis when Aussie dollars (and Swiss francs) were found in Fuentes' stash of loot.

Someone with an emu on his passport was up to his neck in it.

It's not just the Spanish who know how to look away.

I give you 26 Spanish cyclists who have been found to be doping since 2004 and you give me Alan Davis. The doping problem in cycling is centred in Spain and that country is not rpepared to do anything about it.