Lissavetsky: "Anti-doping law not just against cycling"

The new Spanish anti-doping law is not aimed specifically at cyclists, according to the country's State Sports Secretary Jaime Lissavetsky. "This new Law is not against the cycling, but against doping," Lissavetsky was quoted by EFE as saying on Friday.

Although some 200 athletes (from track and field, basketball, tennis and football) are said to be implicated in Operacion Puerto, only 31 (of 58) cyclists have been named so far. Lissavetsky said that he is not aware of the names of any athletes from outside cycling yet. "There exists a report from the Guardia Civil which talks about cyclists, and from it, they could be identified according to the presumed plot...

"We did all that was asked of us. The French minister requested an official report from us on Operacion Puerto, and we have fulfilled this with great speed since the information leaked. It is necessary to discern between the criminal aspect on the one hand, and the cyclists on the other. The UCI has taken a decision which I cannot enter into."

Courtesy of Antonio J. Salmerón