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Operación Puerto - Gone with the Wind

By Guest Contributor

Date: 1/4/2010

Operación Puerto - Gone with the Wind

Operación Puerto - Gone with the Wind
The details of the anti-doping violators now it seems will never be known; the finger has been pointed a lot, the damage has been massive; but if legal irregularities prevent justice being done, then we must move on.

By Myles McCorry

It was recently announced that Operación Puerto was over. The investigation to the Spanish doping ring based around the PED godfather Eufemiano Fuentes is closed. The retrospective look into the dark era of cycling did undoubtedly prevent the sport moving forward. At Bikepure we are sad justice was not done.

The UCI, Spanish Cycling Union and WADA, unsuccessfully appealed the Madrid judge's decision according to which the blood bags found by the Guardia Civil could not be released to the international institutions. This simple fact that there is not a unilateral, global method of dealing with the problem of cheating in sport is at the core. The blood bags contained the identity of multi sport generation of cheats. now those dopers are to get away with it as the evidence is hidden, and the truth silenced.

Bikepure believe the Madrid court missed an opportunity for a landmark ruling, which could have united the international doping authorities. Cross border collaboration to clean up competition and protect young athletes was lost. So still riders like Valverde race on, though sanctioned b7y CONI in Italy; but free to race in Spain where the alleged proof against him and others was collected.

Operación Puerto began in May 2006 when the Spanish Civil Guard arrested Madrid doctor Eufemiano Fuentes and Liberty Seguros manager Manolo Saiz, amongst others, after having found massive amounts of doping products and blood doping evidence in an apartment belonging to Fuentes. Over 200 athletes were implicated and cyclists made up only 34 cyclists of these. The famous tennis stars and soccer millionaires got off free and cycling bore the brunt of the bad publicity once again.

The details of the anti-doping violators now it seems, will never be known; the finger has been pointed a lot, the damage has been massive but if legal irregularities prevent justice being done, then we must move on.

Fuentes corrupted and tarnished a generation of athletes. He had risked the health of hundreds and the implications and mistrust will linger for years to come. But it is 'Day 1' together we must work to prevent greedy Fuentes clones from having an impact on the results page and the doping headlines of the future.

Let's look forward...
Myles McCorry
www.bikepure.org

A Reputation Worth 71 Euros
This might seems bit of fantasy but bear with me. Picture yourself, as a 33 year old ex professional cyclist sitting on a nice chair with your 7-year-old son on your knee. He has a well read, old cycling magazine and is looking at a picture of a younger, leaner version of you with a big tan, a fantastic smile and arms raised in victory. The boy looks up at you and asks the golden question “ Dad, why do you not ride you bike any more?”

There are two possible answers, which will resonate and follow the father for the rest of his life. I will not even vocalize the answers. It is up to you to imagine the answers, of a father if he were (A) previously caught doping, cheating on his friends, fellow riders and fans. And (B) the answer of a father who had a career, possibly not successful but defiantly filled with memories of pride and stories of courage and effort and doing his best. Stories, which will fill the son with pride in his father. Provide a school yard of stories to his friends and framed pictures on the wall. Not shame, not disgust and disgrace about past glory.

Doping is a choice for a rider. Not even an easy choice and we cannot pretend to fully understand the individual pressures forcing the decision to go down the dark path of doping. Risk of contract termination- loss of self belief…whatever- we are aware, that if a rider is caught or not - the shadow of cheating, the lies and the mindset will be there forever. Not only in your lifetime, but the repercussions will pass down, haunting the next generation.

Bernhard Kohl tested positive to third-generation variant of erythropoietin (EPO) (CERA) during the 2008 Tour de France. Kohl's former manager Stefan Matschiner recently auctioned off an autographed mountains classification jersey from the 2008 Tour de France. The new cost of the jersey from the tour official website is 79 euro including postage. Matschiner received only 71 euro for the jersey and a feedbag. The doper’s signature took 8 euros of the face value of the jersey.
www.bikepure.org

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The Daily Peloton
We publish contributors articles with many differing views on doping and the administration of anti doping rules. The cycling community as a whole has to confront the curse of drugs in the sport and the inherent short and long term effects to riders health. It is important to dispel the myths of doping and the idea for younger riders that doping will make it possible for them to reach their dreams. It simply won't and will lead to a life of secrecy and misery. If you don't believe this read the confessions of some of the riders in the links below who made the that mistake.

We are determined to push the debate in this area and challenge the assumptions of our readers and bring to light the differing opinions in the cycling community. In the end we hope it brings about some positive change.

The anti-doping battle is one to raise the standards of ethics and morals for all the participants of the sport at every level and demand the same from their fellows. It is a crusade for the hearts and minds of cyclists to admit that doping is nothing more than cheating and stealing a win from a fellow rider.

Theft is an open admission that one could not have honestly earned something on his own efforts. It will take the efforts of the cycling community at every level to win this race for clean and fair sport.

Without a Doubt - CSC Anti-Doping Program
Team CSC Launches Anti Doping Program
Team CSC'S Doctor Rasmus Damsgaard Responds
Team CSC Anti-Doping Program - 6 Month Report
Drug Wars - Padua Bust!

Doping in Bicycle Racing - Fact and Fiction
Doping in Cycling - Fact and Fiction a Clarification
Doping in Bicycle Racing - Fact and Fiction a Rebuttal

Interview: Cycling Writer & Presenter Matt Rendell Part 1

The Toll of Doping - was it worth it?

Complete Guide to Climbing by Bike