“If it ends this way, Spain will remain a doping paradise.”

ANDDecember 3 last year, Prosecutor’s Office of Exremadura confirmed in his report which he received Access to the BRANDthat “based on the procedures carried out, it was not possible to sufficiently prove for which athletes they were intended and in relation to which specific competitions, whether they were used and to what extent the effect produced or the danger, both general and specific, that this medicine can cause when taken orally. In connection with the above, the temporary dismissal of these three defendants is required.”

The incident he is talking about is Operation Ilex, So named because the most common tree in Extremadura, where the story originated, is the holm oak (ilicis in Latin). Operation Ilex This is work Civil Guard who is pursuing a network of trafficking in illegal products led by Dr. Meinard, professional from the University of Extremaduraand this has already attracted runners such as Miguel Angel Lopez, who was suspended from his post in July last year for his connection to the case. The report from the Extremadura prosecutor’s office could undermine the work of the Spanish Civil Guard, which has been working since October 2021, through the public health and doping department of the Central Unit (UCO), to demonstrate alleged criminal behavior. supply, mediation, offer and storage for these purposes of medicinal products that do not have the necessary authorization required by law.

In addition to the doctor, they appear at the operation Marcos Mainar and his assistant meGnacio Bartolomeother people like it Vicente Belda Vicedo, Ruben Thiago Alves and Raul Bernal; and medications such as Actovegin, Dichloroacetic acid (DCA), Theophylline and Thioctacid. It also turned out that they were working with drugs such as HGM-Lepori 75 IU powder and injection solvent, which belongs to the company Angelini Pharma España SL and its active ingredient is menotropin. The aforementioned product was allegedly provided to Superman Lopez for the purpose of enhancing physical abilities. Another third party (Vicente Belda Jr.) could be involved in this distribution and the use of this substance for doping purposes could cause adverse consequences.

Belda It was he who allegedly obtained the substance from his home and took it to Hungary so that Lopez could administer it at the start of the Giro 22. Belda, the newspaper learned, confirmed receipt of the package in a statement in October last year. “I receive it and until I leave I don’t understand what it is. I received it and the day before leaving for the trip I opened the packages for the organization. I see there are blisters and I literally throw them away. Firstly, because it is illegal. According to team rules, I can’t bring in medications, my hair is falling out. Secondly, if I get stopped at the airport, my hair will fall out and I will have to take two flights the next day. “I couldn’t risk my life because of the blisters.”– says the man who was Astana’s assistant until the case broke.

This is the medicine that was supposedly administered Superman This caused him some problems with his leg, as can be understood from conversations between the participants. Vincent He wrote Meinard remembering that he is losing strength and cannot press: “If this is normal for him, then you can’t even touch him. He’s covered in micro-tears. It has something to do with fluid retention.”

Own Lopez recognizes him by message Meinard What “Let’s see if I have a bad reaction to any of the new vitamins you sent me.”. Inflammation occurs as a result of consumption “testicle” (which UCO proves is menotropin) prescribed Meinard, which causes inflammation and pain. Physical problems continued through the early days of May until Superman left the Giro on the 10th. The consumption of “testicles” and its effect on the body of an athlete who consumes it without therapeutic need and with the aim of improving his physical abilities could be a reason for refusal.

Chronology of the case

UCO First, he asked for records and phone resets of Maynard and Nacho (Ignacio Bartolome), who was a graduate student and wanted to stay in Maynard’s position. He is the one who comes into contact with Angel Vasquez so that cyclists can exit from the north. It is he who comes into contact with Ruben Thiago take the runners Portuguese Ephapel, where the next prescription for menotropin comes out. When all this information ends up in court, Astana temporarily suspends Lopez. Then the current suspension will come intensive care unit through ITA (anti-doping unit of the International Cycling Union) based on the report UCO. What is interesting is that there was a demonstration in this case. Meinardthen in Beldabut not until Superman that, as a witness, he risked four years in prison if he did not tell the truth to the judge. UCO, which recorded conversations between cyclists from other Spanish teams and Mainar outside the team. Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, such as Euskaltel and Burgos BH.

found three sales of menotropin: one goes to Portugal for Efapel, the other for Angel Vasquez (who later admits to supplying illegal substances to a former professional cyclist Luis Vicente Otin) and another one to Hungary for Superman.

Depending on the final decision, the case may end Meinard convicted of drug trafficking offenses as well as doping, totaling five to six years. Vicente Beldawho in his statement explains his relationship with Harold Tejada (who, according to him, only helps him with transportation), will go unpunished, since it is not confirmed that the drugs he received were given to anyone. Nacho could end up with a drug trafficking offense and another doping offense (around six years) for giving instructions Angel Vasquez how to take menotropin. Vasquez He faced punishment for drug trafficking or EPO, depending on whether Autin had a sports license at the time.

Finally, to Vincent son who is allegedly a link in supporting doping Superman, he could get three years for doping. Spaniards feel used and victimized. “I would like to add that I have nothing to do with the conspiracy; they ruined my life. They wanted to use me as a trafficker to smuggle substances,” he said at the conclusion of his October speech. Now everything will be decided by the judge, taking into account report from the Criminal Investigation Department and the Prosecutor’s Office of Extremadura.

He will have to decide whether to open a new procedure, which, if everything goes as usual, will come in 2024, since it carries a prison sentence. Otherwise, the case will be considered closed and they will simply “fall”. Meynard and Nacho with three years in prison for drug trafficking. There would be no trace of doping, which, according to the UCO and the UCI, is documented. This would end in a situation that, according to some participants in the operation, and after what happened in our country with other operations such as “Port”, “Leaves Spain as a doping paradise.”