Reports: Spanish police uncover doping circle

Nov 24, 3:53 pm EST

  • Print

VALENCIA, Spain (AP)—Spanish police have reportedly detained up to a dozen people after uncovering a doping ring.

According to news agency Efe on Tuesday, Spain’s Guardia Civil raided homes, pharmacies and clinics linked to Walter Viru, the former Kelme cycling team doctor. Police discovered EPO and growth hormones in Valencia, Barcelona, Murcia and Granada.

Reports said one of the homes raided belongs to race walker Francisco Fernandez, who took Olympic silver in 2004. Fernandez issued a statement denying any involvement, saying “I have never worked with this doctor and I have never had anything to do with doping.”

Viru was a former colleague of Eufemiano Fuentes, who was arrested in relation to cycling-related doping scandal Operation Puerto.

Updated Nov 24, 3:53 pm EST
digg del.icio.us
more
Cycling

9 Comments

Post a Comment
  1. Matt
    9. Posted by Matt Fri Nov 27 12:50pm EST

    Report Abuse

    Roger Clemens­ and Lance Pharmstrong are BOTH Texas steroid addicts!­ Laurent Fignon is a French Steroid TDF double champion­ addict dying of Cancer at age 47!

    Lance­ Pharmstrong­ has MANY drug busted teammates­­­­ too!­ (flunked SEVEN­ drug tests in 1999)

    Frankie Andreu (EPO­ confession of­ doping on the USPO TDF 1999)
    Stephen­ Swartz (Motorola­ EPO and steroid confession)
    Floy­d­ Landis (DQed in­ 2006 TDF)
    Tyler­­­ Hamilton (blood­ doping, post­ menopause drug, steroids and Operation­ Puerto)
    Roberto­ Heras (EPO bust in 2005)
    Benoit­­ Joachim (June Lux­ Nationals 2000)
    Manuel­­­ Beltran­ (1999 TDF and again­ in 2008 TDF)
    Pavel Padrnos (2001­ Giro di Italia­ arrest)
    Ivan­ Basso (Operation Puerto­ and­ confession)
    Alberto­­­ Contadoper (Operation­­ Puerto)
    Greg Strock (confession and lawsuit v USCF,­­ Rene Wenzel and Chris Carmichael)
    Erich­ Kaiter­­ (confession and lawsuit v USCF)
    Gerrik­ Latta­­ (confession and lawsuit v USCF)
    David­­ Francis­­ (confession and lawsuit v USCF)
    Chad­ Gerlach­ (homeless­ in Sacramento, appeared on TV on a reality­ rehab­ show)
    Alexandre­ Vinokeurov (DQed from the 2007­­ TDF)
    Michele­­ Ferrari (CONVICTED in Italian court,­­ Oct. 2004)

    Dead­ alums too:
    Stive­ Vermaut­ (DEAD)­ USPO
    Michel­­ Zanoli (DEAD) Motorola
    Stephen­ Larsen­­ (DEAD) Motorola
  2. John S
    8. Posted by John S Fri Nov 27 5:48am EST

    Report Abuse

    was that,
    Go team Crack ???
  3. Cheese Curtain
    7. Posted by Cheese Curtain Wed Nov 25 11:59pm EST

    Report Abuse

    Could you imagine what would happen if the NFL conducted regularly scheduled and random, out of season drug tests? Could they field a single team? Players weigh 280 libs, bench 500 lbs, run the 40 in 4.6 with 6% body fat. And they try to get you to believe that they got that way just by working out. Uh, ok!
  4. Jeffrey
    5. Posted by Jeffrey Wed Nov 25 3:16pm EST

    Report Abuse

    oh, a race walker was involved. so it isnt just a cycling problem. unfortunately, performance enhancing drugs are spread through sports like a cancer. it is a shame, but it is everywhere. not just cycling as some seem to think. i guess in the end, it is what it is. enjoy it for what it is, and go out and ride. doing it is a lot more fun than watching it anyway.
  5. Welove Oursuvs
    4. Posted by Welove Oursuvs Wed Nov 25 3:15pm EST

    Report Abuse

    yea yea yea, and all Greg LeMond was stuffing in his veins were "iron" shots. If you believe that YOU'RE disillusion. I guess whatever makes your O2 levels higher? All in good fun I suppose.... DOPER
  6. IB
    2. Posted by IB Wed Nov 25 7:07am EST

    Report Abuse

    Go team shack !!!
  7. Tom
    1. Posted by Tom Tue Nov 24 4:59pm EST

    Report Abuse

    Yeah Puerto was cycling related, and tennis related and football related according to the doctor himself - but of course the authorities in those sports care more about keeping them out of the news than catching the cheats !
Sign in to post a comment, or sign up for a free account

Video Spotlight

More Videos »

YAHOO! SPORTS

ALSO ON YAHOO!

THINGS YOU CAN DO

- Site Map

Copyright © 2009 2009 STATS LLC and The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the STATS/AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of STATS LLC and The Associated Press.