Technicalities save Valverde from Spanish ban

Eurosport - Tue, 23 Jun 16:48:00 2009

Spain are unable to extend an Italian-imposed two-year ban on to cyclist Alejandro Valverde because they do not have access to the same evidence, according to the Spanish sports minister.

CYCLING Alejandro Valverde / foto Imago - 0

Valverde, the world's top-ranked rider last year, was banned by Italy's Olympic Committee CONI last month, but the punishment only applies within their borders.

CONI said blood samples the Spaniard gave at a doping control when last year's Tour de France entered Italy matched DNA from code-named bags of blood discovered in Spain's Operacion Puerto doping investigation, launched in 2006.

"CONI have managed to get hold of evidence that is being denied to us," Jaime Lissavetzky told Spanish sports daily As in an interview.

He said CONI's request for information from the Spanish judge in charge of the Puerto probe had been successful because a deputy incorrectly authorised the release of the bag of blood in question, in the prosecutor's absence.

When the judge returned he said CONI did not have the authority to rule on the Valverde case.

The Spanish authorities have been unable to gain access to the evidence because when the original charges were brought in 2006, doping was not an offence in Spain and prosecutions could only be made for offences against the public health.

Valverde, who protests his innocence, has appealed the Italian ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport on the basis that CONI do not have the jurisdiction to ban him.

The International Cycling Union, who have not extended CONI's ruling, will be in attendance at the hearing.

"We have to wait and see what CAS says," Lissavetzky added.

"We defended Valverde when we had to last year, when they tried to stop him competing in the world championships without any evidence, and CAS ruled in his favour.

"Now the situation is different."

Valverde, who has won the Dauphine Libere and Tour of Catalunya stages races since the Italian ban was imposed, is poised to miss July's Tour de France as the 16th stage of the race passes through Italy.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 7 of 7

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  1. "if there is a clean rider at the moment it is­­ valverde" .... u wot ?
    I find the lying and­ politics to be more despicable than the original­ cheating.

    From ffogil, on Tue 23 Jun 7:51PM

  2. I have concluded that doping like a splinter in my @ss­ as a fan. Most of the time I can walk around knowing it­ is there, but it really does not affect my daily­ activities. I dont know how it got there, it has just­ appeared and I was not paying close enough attention to­ prevent getting another one in my @ss if I sit in the­ same spot. Furthermore as soon as I relax and decide to­ sit it irritates me, sometimes to the point where I­ have to get back up and then I am not able to relax and­ enjoy life, I am forced to pay attention so that I dont­ hurt the wounded cheek. Anyway I cannot believe I am­ writing about my @ss on a forum, it just shows how­ bored I am with doping and the constant BS surrounding­ it.

    From Worldwide, on Tue 23 Jun 1:36PM

  3. ironicaly if there is a clean rider at the moment it is­ valverde.after operacion puerto and now ban from CONI­ (and possibility of being arrested) do you really think­ he will cheat ever again?

    From Peter, on Tue 23 Jun 1:34PM

  4. You can't have one independent body when the­ offences involved are also criminal acts under each­ country's legislation. Ten years ago doping was a­ question that only sports federations and the IOC could­ act against, and even then the most they could do was­ ban competitors from events they controlled. Since then­ most European countries have introduced laws that­ classify doping as a crime, so that the police and­ judges become involved. This may be a good thing or a­ bad (depends on your point of view) but one thing is­ for sure: it complicates the juridical status of the­ riders, and makes it possible to be imprisoned in one­ country but allowed to ride in others.

    From James W, on Tue 23 Jun 12:25PM

  5. By the way, Coni is the name of Putin's dog, which­ is quite influential in the russian press (at least, it­ is mentioned often enough).

    From veksiv, on Tue 23 Jun 11:50AM

  6. i paid the judge but i didn't pay no deputy. (sorry­ couldn't resist it)

    From ai, on Tue 23 Jun 11:46AM

  7. Whole thing is crazy. Its obvious Spanish authorities­ are going to support their countryman. Why can't­ there be just 1 independant body whose decisions are­ everyone has to act on. You have CONI , ASO, UCI ,­ Spanish authorities, CAS, WADA .

    From kellyseamus43, on Tue 23 Jun 11:27AM
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