Spain Makes A Mockery of the Anti-Doping Process

The Spanish Sport [Cycling] Federation (RFEC) makes a mockery of the anti-doping quest to rid sport of doping products and methods to increase performance; and thus conveys an unfair advantage to Spanish cyclists. Alberto Contador was recently absolved of all responsibility for testing positive for clenbuterol, a synthetic steroid, during the 2010 Tour de France, because the RFEC claimed that intent could not be reasonably ascertained. Rekindles memories of the WADA phrase "comfortable satisfaction."

Sounds familiar and all too predictable for the Spanish.

Alejandro Valverde was positively linked to Operation Puerto by a perfect DNA match of blood bag 18 found in the office of Doctor Eufemiano Fuentes when the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) tested Alejandro Valverde during the 2008 Tour de France. Yet, in spite of this perfect DNA match, the RFEC refused to suspend Alejandro Valverde, allowed Alejandro Valverde to continue to race for two additional years, and win the Vuelta d' Espana!

Of course, the UCI and WADA were forced to act, after interminable delay and pressure from CONI, to file an appeal of the RFEC inaction to the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS), which resulted in a two year suspension for Alejandro Valverde for his ties to Operation Puerto.

Until very recently, in Spain, no law existed to punish dopers in athletic competitions. Alberto Contador was cleared of his involvement in Operation Puerto, because of this loophole.

Manolo Saiz, when director sportif for Liberty Seguros, ran an organized doping program with ties to Operation Puerto. Saiz was arrested by the Spanish Civil Guard. Alberto Contador was a member of the 2004 Liberty Seguros team, but was never implicated in this affair.

The UCI provisional suspension of Alberto Contador is no longer in effect. Unless WADA and the UCI file an appeal of the Spanish decision to the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS), Alberto Contador will be allowed to retain his 2010 Tour de France title and prize money and he will continue to race.

Allowing a man who tested positive for a performance enhancing drug during a Grand Tour "walk" sets an incredibly bad precedent. The UCI and WADA have no option but to appeal.

Spain regards cyclists as favorite sons who are incapable of error: even in the face of conclusive proof: thus making a mockery of the entire anti-doping effort to ensure "fair play." Although it would be very difficult to change Spanish culture with regards to their heroes, there still remains hope that they will understand the severity of the doping problem and modify their attitudes toward combating misuse and abuse in sport; and act accordingly.