Posted at 7:49 a.m., Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Cycling: Spain's Valverde banned from road worlds
Associated Press
AIGLE, Switzerland — Spanish rider Alejandro Valverde was banned from the road world championships today after cycling's world governing body concluded he may have violated doping rules.After "meticulously" examining a 6,000-page dossier from the Spanish district attorney, the International Cycling Union said it concluded "several documents may show the involvement" of Valverde in Operation Puerto, a Spanish doping investigation that has implicated more than 50 riders.
The UCI has asked the Spanish cycling federation to open disciplinary proceedings against Valverde, who finished sixth at the Tour de France.
"These proceedings would not imply any guilt on the part of Alejandro Valverde," the UCI said in a statement. "However, according to UCI regulations, and to safeguard the atmosphere and reputation of the World Championships, Alejandro Valverde will be prevented from participating."
The worlds will take place Sept. 26-30 in Stuttgart, Germany.
Valverde, who races with Caisse d'Epargne, had opted out of next month's Spanish Vuelta to focus on the world championships.
If found guilty, Valverde faces a two-year ban and could lose a year's salary under the UCI's anti-doping charter.
The Operation Puerto scandal broke in May 2006 when Spanish authorities seized about 100 bags of frozen blood in the Madrid offices of doctor Eufemiano Fuentes. At least five people were arrested on suspicion of helping athletes with blood doping.
On the eve of the 2006 Tour de France, nine riders _ including 1997 champion Jan Ullrich and 2005 runner-up Ivan Basso _ were excluded from the event after being implicated in the scandal.
The investigation implicated 58 cyclists, but a judge ruled that Spain's doping laws couldn't be applied retroactively and threw out the case. The UCI has continued to pursue the matter, however, and recently received the investigation files.
