Seven riders who rode for the W52-FC Porto Continental team from Portugal have been banned from racing for periods of three and seven years for a range of doping offences. The bans, which have emerged today, follow a major investigation into the team, which included law enforcement searches earlier this year.
João Rodrigues, winner of the 2019 Volta a Portugal and the 2021 Volta ao Algarve, has been suspended for seven years, while the other six riders, listed below, have been banned for three years for the range of substances set out below.
Back in April two arrests were made during searches under Operation Clean Proof which the Judicial Police (PJ) in Portugal said at the time was “aimed at detecting prohibited methods and illicit substances liable to tamper with the sporting truth in professional cycling events”.
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“The police operation, involving a total of about 120 elements from the Northern Board of Directors and the Central and Southern Boards of Directors, the National Anti-Corruption Unit and the Criminal Investigation Departments of Braga, Vila Real and Guarda, also had the collaboration of the Anti-Doping Authority of Portugal,” a police statement said.
The Anti Doping Authority of Portugal has announced the bans for the seven riders - below - for 'possession of prohibited substance and prohibited method' linked to a range of substances.
- Rui Vinhas (35) banned for three years for Betamethasone
- Samuel Caldeira (36) banned for three years for Somatropin, Actrapid Insulin and HGH
- Ricardo Mestre (39) banned for three years for Somatropin
- Daniel Mestre (36) banned for three years for Betamethasone
- Ricardo Vilela (34) banned for three years for Luteinizing hormone, Thymosin
- Jose Neves (26) banned for three years for human growth hormone
- Joao Rodrigues (27) banned for seven years for bio passport/prohibited methods
The bans confirmed today following provisional suspensions earlier this year. The team's licence had also already been withdrawn by the UCI. Rui Vinhas and Ricardo Mestre won the Tour of Portugal in 2016 and 2011 respectively.
Those substances, and what they can be used for, include: Betamethasone, a corticosteroid usually used for the treatment of skin conditions; Somatropin, a human growth hormone (HGH) analog; Actrapid Insulin, usually used to treat diabetes; Luteinizing hormone, which increases the production of testosterone; Thymosin, which can aid the bodies healing and repair functions.
