Doping cases, police raids, bullets in the post – Volta a Portugal starts amid scandal

W52-FC Porto GP Douro Internacional 2022 Igor Martins/Global Imagens
The now-suspended W52-FC Porto squad in action during July's GP Douro Internacional (Image credit: W52-Porto/Igor Martins/Global Imagens)

When the 83rd edition of the Volta a Portugal kicks off in Lisbon on Thursday afternoon, it will do so under a cloud of doping cases and police raids.

While the scandal-ridden years of WorldTour-level racing are – barring a Bahrain Victorious raid or two – apparently far in the rear-view mirror, a world away in the relatively isolated Portuguese racing scene, the Grandíssima gets underway with drugs and suspensions taking the headlines.

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DateEvent
2021Anonymous police tip kickstarts 'Operation Prova Limpa'
Row 1 - Cell 0 W52-FC Porto monitored for months before raids
April 24, 2022W52-FC Porto hotels, homes, warehouse, vehicles searched
Row 3 - Cell 0 120 investigators, 7 public prosecutors involved
Row 4 - Cell 0 Doping products (syringes, pills, transfusion equipment) seized
Row 5 - Cell 0 DS Nuno Ribeiro, soigneur José Rodrigues arrested
Row 6 - Cell 0 10 riders charged, including José Neves, José Gonçalves, Joni Brandão, Daniel Mestre, Rui Vinhas
July 15Neves wins stage 2 of the GP Douro Internacional
Row 8 - Cell 0 ADOP suspends 8 W52 riders and 2 staff members
Row 9 - Cell 0 Former W52 rider Edgar Pinto handed four-year doping ban
Row 10 - Cell 0 Neves, Amaro Antunes, Jorge Magalhães only W52 riders not suspended
July 17Reports emerge of doping products seized in April raid
July 22Volta director Joaquim Gomes confirms W52 can still participate
July 27UCI suspends W52-FC Porto from competition
July 28FC Porto suspend 'naming brand and licensing contract' with team
Row 15 - Cell 0 ADOP director reveals his home is under police surveillance following threats
August 2Porto police raid Rádio Popular, Efapel and Glassdrive riders
Row 17 - Cell 0 Francisco Campos suspended then fired by Efapel
Row 18 - Cell 0 Daniel Freitas suspended by Rádio Popular
August 3Luís Mendonça, João Benta withdrawn from Volta by Glassdrive, Efapel
August 4Volta a Portugal starts in Lisbon

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Senior news writer

Dani Ostanek is Senior News Writer at Cyclingnews, having joined in 2017 as a freelance contributor and later being hired full-time. Prior to joining the team, they had written for numerous major publications in the cycling world, including CyclingWeekly, Rouleur, and CyclingTips.

 

Dani has reported from the world's top races, including the Tour de France and the spring Classics, and has interviewed many of the sport's biggest stars, including Wout van Aert, Remco Evenepoel, Demi Vollering, and Anna van der Breggen.

 

As well as original reporting, news and feature writing, and production work, Dani also oversees The Leadout newsletter and How to Watch guides throughout the season. Their favourite races are Strade Bianche and the Volta a Portugal.