| Just a few days before the end of the Giro d' Italia the | | | | Caisse d'Epargne, one of the most famous cyclists of |
| "Operacion Puerto" doping scandal is entering a more | | | | the last two years. According to the Italian newspaper |
| revealing phase. The blood doping scandal started a | | | | Il Giornali Valverde was number 18 in Dr Fuentes' blood |
| year ago before the 2006 Tour of France with the | | | | bank. |
| arrest of Manolo Saiz and four other people accused | | | | Most of the cyclists implied in Operación Puerto |
| of doping practices which involved more than 200 | | | | have been prohibited to participate in the Big Races |
| athletes, including up to 107 cyclists. | | | | (Giro d' Italia, Tour of France and Vuelta a |
| Entire teams as Comunidad Valenciana (continental) | | | | España) but the experts in the subject assure |
| and Liberty Seguros (professional) were dissolved | | | | that part of the "pelotón" that is riding the Giro d' |
| after the scandal but the cycling starts became | | | | Italia is also using performance enhancers. The recent |
| suspects. The operacion Puerto re-opened the | | | | confession of Bjarne Riis, 1996 Tour winner and now |
| disgrace suffered in 1998 with the "Tour of Shame". | | | | owner and manager of the CSC team opens the |
| Some of the professional cyclist related with the case | | | | suspicions to his team that is currently riding in the Giro. |
| like Mancebo, Ivan Basso and Vinokourov who were | | | | Also, three former Telekom riders, Bert Dietz, Christian |
| favorites to win the "Ronda Francesa" suffered the | | | | Henn and Udo Boelts admitted this week they had |
| consequences for their implication when they were | | | | taken EPO. |
| enable to take part in last year Tour of France. Basso | | | | The sport authorities are determined to follow the |
| also was booted from the Discovery Channel team | | | | case until the end and as part of it, the WADA was |
| and admitted his connection with Puerto. | | | | approved to access the files associated with Puerto, |
| However, the case is still open and the rumors | | | | which means disciplinary actions will be taken against |
| compromise the Spaniard Alejandro Valverde from | | | | cycling scammers. |