Operation Puerto: Yet Another Doping Scandal

Published on Friday 30th of June, 2006

For those who aren't in the know, there has been on ongoing investigation into a massive doping scandal in the world of cycling called Operacion Puerto.

The current state of affairs sees a massive bust in Spain that uncovered a doping ring that includes up to 200 athletes, many of them cyclists. You can read the news to date here on Cyclingnews. Reuters also has a good article.

Ullrich, Sevilla out of the Tour de France

Today's big announcement, one day prior to the start of the big race, sees perpetual second place finisher Jan Ullrich suspended from the race due to suspicions of doping. Teammate Oscar "baby-face" Sevilla has also been suspended.

Even worse, it has been rumoured that the other favourite, Ivan Basso, is also on the list of riders involved in the scandal. Oh, and Francisco Mancebo.

So here we have the possibility of three of the top favourites being out of the race.

Update: Basso and Mancebo out!

This really blows for the world of cycling. The whole affair has been kinda messy, with the respective cycling bodies bad mouthing one another at times, and the French have even had another go at accusing Lance Armstrong of doping (heck, even the ever unclassy Greg LeMond stepped in to further tarnish his own image by stating that Armstrong 'threatened to kill his family'.)

If I can take anything from this, I do appreciate this piece of irony: while the French have been accusing Armstrong of doping - remember Lance has never failed a doping test - many of this years favourites may be out on their doped up butts while Armstrong's former team, of which he is part owner, now has an increased chance of winning the tour again, as none of their riders are implicated in this affair.

If this twisted, cynical piece of irony turns out to be true, well, talk about instant karma.

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Mike Rohde on Fri, 30 of Jun, 2006

All I can say is WOW.

Mike on Fri, 30 of Jun, 2006

Me too! My jaw is dropping. I'm rooting for Victor Hugo Peña, though Landis is in his way :-)

I think this should make the TdF even more exciting from a racing standpoint (even more unpredictable), even if it is depressing from a fans standpoint to see this happen.

jorge Suaste on Wed, 5 of Jul, 2006

Iam alittle sad for the sport itself and i feel disapointed for the riders on the other handI wish that the french police write a letter and apologize to Lance for all those years of investigation that prove nothing, compare of this operation Puerto.

Mike on Thu, 6 of Jul, 2006

Hey Jorge,

I hear you, and you are right, the French police have found nothing, compared to OP which was very very significant...

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