The Austrian cycling federation is still waiting to hear from the UCI about the charges against Jörg Jaksche, stemming from the Fuentes case. "The UCI, which supposedly is preparing a file to be sent to the national federations, isn't doing anything. We have nothing against Jaksche," said the federation's general secretary and chairman of the anti-doping committee, Rudolf Massak.
Jaksche, a German citizen, lives in Austria and thus rides with an Austrian license. He was suspended by the former Team Liberty Seguros for his alleged participation in the Fuentes doping ring.
"I don't need to bother to go to court with the rumours and denunciations that have been spread by the media. An attorney would tear us apart in five minutes," Massak told www.sport1.at. He "can only become active, bring charges, when we have definite evidence in our hands. Otherwise our charges would have such feet of clay, that the other side could blow us up," according to Massak, and that would be something that "the national federations would not survive."
Massak also questioned the strength of the evidence against Jaksche. "The illegal substance must be found in the body, proven that it is there. If that is not the case, then at least an illegal method must be proved."
He asked if his federation is supposed to try Jaksche, "just because the name 'Jorge' is written on one of the bags of blood they found, when there are probably three million men of that name in Spain?"
Cyclingnews' recent coverage of 'Operación Puerto'
April 2, 2009 - Valverde indignant over possible suspension
April 1, 2009 - Valverde: Italy requests two-year suspension
March 13, 2009 - Le Monde newspaper hit with fine over Puerto allegations
March 2, 2009 - WADA president Fahey asks for Puerto evidence
February 24, 2009 - Spanish federation seeks access to Puerto blood bags
February 20, 2009 - CONI considers Valverde case while UCI awaits verdict
February 19, 2009 - Valverde under criminal investigation
February 11, 2009 - Valverde summonsed for Operación Puerto in Italy
February 8, 2009 - Eight charged in Operación Puerto
Cyclingnews' complete coverage of Operación Puerto
