The blood sample which can prove whether or not the Spanish cyclist Alejandro Valverde really committed doping was once again refused to be handed over. Alejandro Valverde Belmonte is a two-time silver medallist in the UCI Road World Championships. He grabbed his two medals in the year 2003 and 2005. He has been racing for the UCI ProTeam Caisse d’Epargne. His specialties in road bicycle racing is varied. He is considered to be a strong climber, a sprinter, and a time trialist. Currently, he is the Champion in the Spanish National Road Race.

The Spanish Cycling Federation said they would appeal regarding the ruling. They also said that they are totally and absolutely disagreeing with the decision. In 2006, an affair of blood-doping termed Operación Puerto erupted against a doctor named Eufemiano Fuentes together with some accomplices. Some sourced had linked Valverde in this affair. In this affair, doping products had been uncovered together with some blood bags as well as code names which apparently is linked to top athletes. 60 cyclists had been linked to this highly-organized doping system. Most of the doping are heavily reliant on blood transfusions.

In the initial investigation, the name of Valverde was not linked. However, internal documents linking confiscated bloods to Valverde through codes such as Piti, Valv, and 18 were uncovered from the Court 31 in Madrid. Valverde had been banned in 2007 to compete in the UCI Road World Championships, which was held in Stuttgart. However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) had cleared Valverde making him able to compete during the championships. Though Valverde had been cleared by the CAS, it does not mean that he is not anymore considered as a suspect.

Early this year, DNA samples that were taken from last year’s Tour de France had been linked by the Italian National Olympic Committee to the blood that were seized in the Operación Puerto. When Valverde appeared to the Olympic Committee in February, he maintained that he is innocent. He even questioned the jurisdiction of the Italians regarding this case. It was recommended earlier this month by the anti-doping prosecutor of the Italian Olympic Committee that Valverde should be given a suspension for two years. In response, the Italian Olympic Committee said that they will conduct a hearing regarding the said matter on May.

According to CONI, the said case shall be moved to CONI’s in-house anti-doping court. Valverde was confronted by Ettore Torri, a CONI prosecutor, regarding his DNA evidence as well as documents that shows that Valverde had a contact with a doctor during the height of his case on blood doping in Spain. Coming from his spokesman, it was said that Valverde was “surprised” when the CONI prosecutor recommended that his disciplinary proceedings should continue because of a fact that he did not commit. In Valverde’s statement, it was written that CONI presents completely erroneous arguments. It was also written there that CONI acts in illegal ways and is being non-obedient to what has been ordered by the legal courts of Spain.

Furthermore, they had been in violation of the basic rights of riders. Originally, over 50 cyclists had been linked in the Puerto doping ring. Top riders such as Italy’s Ivan Basso, who had served a ban for two years, had been included.

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