Valverde may be suspended

[Will1985]

Cyclingnews has just reported that CONI have today handed down a 2 year ban.

 

[John the Monkey]

Ban relates to riding in Italy only, apparently.

What happens now?

 

[Flying_Monkey]

He can't ride the Giro or the Tour (because it passes through Italy this year), or any other Italian events. He is appealing to CAS though...

 

[Keith Oates]

Looks as if his participation in the TdF is not on this year even if he does go to the CAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[John the Monkey]

Lionel Birnie said on Twitter that the UCI's rules say that a ban by one federation means the rider can't race anywhere under it's auspices - Valv.Piti won't be racing for two years, it looks like.

 

[andy_wrx]

He's going to appeal of course, but seemingly because he reckons that CONI have no jurisdiction over him, a Spaniard.

So rather than denying he doped, he's saying the case isn't valid ?

Sounds like a tacit admission to me...

 

[Will1985]

Of course - Spaniards are exempt from all doping allegations...didn't you know that?

 

[Speicher]

Really!? Wonder what Speicher's got to say about that!

She should have points deducted from last year's fantasy TdeF and the Vuelta!

And not be allowed in this year's big three, either!

Only just read this!

It is of-course too late now to find out if that means you would have got more points than I did, ooops I digress - this may spill over into the Tea Thread.

 

[Will1985]

Time to dredge this up again. Cyclingnews have published a new article.
Nothing surprises me about this - the Spanish authorities seem to have been protecting their own riders from the outset and/or ignoring the gravity of the doping allegations. Surely global bodies like WADA and UCI should have some sort of power or precedence over national bodies?

Just the codename Valv/Piti is pretty damning if you ask me.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

And in the meantime he goes on winning... in the Vuelta a Burgos, he basically controlled the entire race and did just enough on the final day to take the win from a desperate and unfortunate, Tom Danielson, who hasn't really won anything all season.

He might be one of the most blatant and unrepentant cheats out there, but he's going to be hard to stop in the Vuelta a Espana.