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Schleck questioned over Puerto links
Team CSC-Saxo Bank rider Frank Schleck was questioned by authorities from the Luxembourg anti-doping agency (ALAD) Wednesday evening over alleged links to Operación Puerto ring-leader Dr. Eufemiano Fuentes.
The center of the inquiry was an alleged 6,991.91 euro bank transfer from Schleck into Fuentes’ Swiss account in March 2006 that was discovered by prosecutors investigating the case in Bonn, Germany.
Wire services reported that Schleck, accompanied by an attorney, spoke for about one hour with ALAD representatives. Schleck, 28, assured authorities that he did nothing illegal and that he did not dope.
On a message posted on its web page, ALAD president Robert Schuler said that Schleck will not face legal charges, but could be handed down a racing ban if proved that he worked illicitly with Fuentes.
Schleck wore the Tour de France yellow jersey for two days in July but has become the latest big name cyclist to be linked to the Puerto affair that erupted in Spain in May 2006.
At its epicenter was Doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, the alleged mastermind of a vast blood doping network. When police raided his laboratory in May 2006, banned substances, blood bags and a list of around 200 athletes’ names, including 50 or so cyclists, were reportedly found.
A Spanish judge closed the legal proceedings in the Puerto affair this week, but its unresolved nature continues to plague the sport.
CSC team manager Bjarne Riis, who also refuted rumors that he, too, is linked to the Operaćion Puerto affair, said Schleck is not being suspended by the team.
“Frank has said he has not doped or been involved in any illegal practices. He hasn't compromised any of the team's or UCI's rules,” Riis said Sunday as he announced a new co-sponsor, IT Factory, for his team's main sponsor Saxo Bank. “We will wait for Frank to speak to the Luxembourg authorities before making any decisions. We base our decisions on facts.”
UCI chiefs indicated Saturday, a day prior to the men's road race here, that Schleck could not be prevented from racing on suspicions alone.
While the names of around 200 'clients' of Fuentes were reportedly uncovered by police, only a few cyclists - including Italian star Ivan Basso, the former leader of Schleck's CSC team - were punished.
The UCI has tried, but struggled against Spanish government resistance, to have the investigation fully opened.
Basso is the biggest name yet to be sanctioned because of his links to the Puerto affair.
He was snared by a codename on a blood bags, labeled with the name of his dog “Birillo.” Allegations have been made that another blood bag, labeled “friend of Birillo,” relates to Frank Schleck.
Confronted with the allegations that he paid money to Fuentes, Schleck said did not specifically address that charge, but said that his conscience is clear.
“I've done nothing illegal,” Schleck said. “I have not doped.”
Now it’s up to Luxembourg officials to try to determine if the bank transfer was authentic and if it’s enough to prove a link between the small duchy’s biggest star and cycling’s messiest doping scandal.
