The judicial investigation against the alleged doping in it professional cycling and other sports that takes place in the Court of First Instance and Instruction number 4 of Cáceres is reactivated this Thursday with the declaration of two of the main investigated: the ex-cyclist and former sports director Vicente Belda Vicedo and his son Vicente Belda Garcíaas reported to The Newspaper of Spainfrom the Prensa Ibérica group, sources of the case.
The testimonies, which will be carried out by videoconference, had been postponed due to the different problems that the parties have had to appear before the head of the Court of First Instance and Instruction number 4 of Cáceres. On this occasion, the parties fear that the strike of judges and other Justice officials will jeopardize the statements.
intermediaries
The investigation carried out by the Central Operative Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard attributes to Vicente Belda and his son the role of intermediaries and recruiters of clients of the doping network allegedly headed by doctor Marcos Maynar, another of those investigated, who was arrested in May 2022 accused of trafficking unauthorized medicines in Spain. The scion of Kelme’s former runner was working, until the so-called ‘Operation Ilex’ was known, as a physiotherapist in Astana Qazaqstan, a top-class cycling club (World Tour) that fired him abruptly.
According to a press release issued by the Civil Guard, the members of the plot not only engaged in the illicit distribution of “medicinal” substances inside and outside Spain without authorization, but also manufactured them, at the same time that they distributed prohibited substances in sport.
“Probable connection”
The recipients of these doping concentrates, always according to the UCO investigation, were top level athletes, some of them linked to the Belda, who despite their accusation have always denied any irregular activity. Last December, the Astana cycling club terminated the contract of Colombian Miguel Ángel ‘Supermán’ López due to his “probable connection” with the Spanish doctor Marcos Maynar.
In a recent statement released on López’s social networks, it was assured that the South American athlete, now enrolled in ‘Team Medellín’, has a team of specialized sports law lawyers who have initiated “a process” before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland, “understanding that there are no grounds for termination of your contract with the Kazakh team”.
And as supposed proof that López is not involved in the doping for which Belda is being investigated, the note highlights that the International Cycling Union (UCI) has decided to block the bank guarantee at 1.7 million euros, according to advance cycle21.com. In addition, the note continues, “López has passed the anti-doping biological passport controls with flying colorsTherefore, “he has full authorization to compete in any team after his renewed UCI license for the year 2023.”
University of Extremadura
The information disseminated by the UCO about the cause confirmed that the investigations corroborated that the athletes who resorted to the services of Maynar and his assistant, a doctor in Exercise Physiology, were subjected to a previous study through analytics and stress tests. These tests were carried out in the facilities of the Faculty of Sports Sciences of Extremadura, where one of the main investigators carried out his teaching work. Doping substances were also produced in this public building and medicines were stored.
Those involved in the plot prepared a training plan for the athletes who contracted their services, which included, says the UCO, the consumption of drugs not authorized in Spain, but above all others included in the list of prohibited substances of the World Anti-Doping Agency. These plans included a detailed calendar of consumption of these substances, prior to participating in different official competitions.