This judicial investigation into alleged doping within professional cycling and other sports resumed this week, following statements from the two principal suspects: the former cyclist and the former sporting director. Vicente Belda Vicedo and his son Vicente Belda Garciaas spoke to El Periódico de España of the Prensa Ibérica group, which originally reported on the case.
The statements, planned to be delivered via video conference, were postponed due to ongoing issues among the parties as they sought a ruling from the President of the First Instance Court in Cáceres, Court 4. There are concerns that a strike by judges and other justice workers could disrupt the proceedings and delay the statements further.
intermediaries
The investigation conducted by the Civil Guard’s Central Operations Unit identifies Vicente Belda and his son as intermediaries and recruiters for a network that supplied doping products to athletes. The alleged operation, reportedly linked to Dr. Marcos Maynar, has drawn attention since May 2022 when another suspect was arrested for illegal drug trafficking in Spain. A former Kelme rider’s son, who had been working as a physiotherapist for Astana Qazaqstan, a World Tour cycling team, was dismissed after the so-called Operation Ilex became known.
The case underscores the ongoing scrutiny of performance-enhancing drugs in elite sport and the role of medical professionals in possible trafficking and distribution networks.
According to observers, the investigation points to a broader pattern of illicit supply and distribution of so-called medicinal substances used to boost performance, with authorities asserting that some products were distributed without proper authorization and that banned substances may have been produced and circulated in sports circles.
I veto the biological passport and the timid social condemnation: Is it cheap to do drugs in Spain?
Olaya Gonzalez
The Civil Guard has stated that members of the alleged conspiracy not only distributed controlled substances illegally inside and outside Spain, but also produced and circulated substances that are banned in sport. The focus remains on how this activity operated and its potential impact on competition integrity.
“Possible link”
According to the Civil Guard’s investigation, some buyers of these doping concentrates were top athletes connected to Belda, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. In December, the Astana cycling team terminated the contract of Colombian rider Miguel Ángel López due to a reported possible connection with Dr. Marcos Maynar.
In a recent social media post, López, who has competed for the Medellín Team, affirmed his commitment to the sport and indicated that he would pursue legal avenues to ensure fair treatment in the face of ongoing inquiries. The post suggested that he would rely on sports law experts to address any disputes at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland, asserting that his contract should not be terminated during the investigation. Reports also note that the International Cycling Union has reportedly blocked a bank guarantee of 1.7 million euros as part of the case, with statements suggesting López passed biological passport controls and remains eligible to race under a renewed UCI license for 2023.
University of Extremadura
Documents released by the Civil Guard indicate that athletes seeking Marcos Maynar’s services and his assistant, a doctor of Exercise Physiology, underwent testing that included analytics and stress assessments. Some tests were conducted at the facilities of the Faculty of Sport Sciences in Extremadura, where one of the lead researchers performed teaching duties. The investigation suggests that doping substances were produced and stored within this public building.
The implicated individuals reportedly crafted training regimens for athletes who used these services, including plans that involved substances banned in Spain and listed by the World Anti-Doping Agency. These plans described consumption schedules tied to participation in official competitions, raising questions about the oversight and control of medical interventions in sport.