W52-FC Porto, who gave up forming a professional team after the doping scandal, has announced the launch of a new project, involving an under-23 team and betting on cycling training.
“W52 and FC Porto in support of cycling in the upcoming sporting season, with a new project that has a U-23 team that will bet on cycling training,” can be read in a statement from W52-FC Porto.
According to the note, this project will be “rooted in the association” Fonte Nova – Clube de Ciclismo “and wants to “connect to work with entities such as the Portuguese Cycling Federation and others in the sports, educational and social sectors”.
In addition to the under-23 team, the team is also considering access to other levels of training and appropriate sport, seeking to bet on a “clear commitment to defending the ethics and values of the sport”.
“The new W52 – FC Porto team structure and work plan will be presented shortly,” the statement read.
The apprenticeship, under the direction of Associação Calvário Várzea Clube de Ciclismo, abandoned its intention to register as a continental team in 2023, after, in October, the federation postponed its decision to run, a day after seven cyclists from W52-FC Porto were suspended by an anti-terror authority Portuguese Steroids (ADoP).
At the end of April, 10 riders of W52-FC Porto were indicted and the sporting director, Nuno Ribeiro, as well as Representative Jose Rodriguez, were arrested during the “clean test” process, responsible for the Research and Action Division of Penal Code (DIAP) in Porto.
In the police operation, many clinical materials and tools were seized, which were used in the training of athletes and had an effect on their sports performance.
Joao Rodriguez, winner of the 2019 Portuguese Volta and 2021 Volta o Algarve, was the cyclist who received the biggest penalty: the 27-year-old Algarve will serve seven years of suspension, four of which have been imposed by the International Cycling Union, for anomalies. In the biological passport, another three years by the ADoP, for possession of a prohibited vehicle.
Rui Finhas and Ricardo Mestre, winners of the 2016 and 2011 Grand Prix of Portugal, respectively, have been sanctioned for three years for possession of a prohibited substance and a prohibited method, the same reason cited by the ADoP for commenting for the same period as Ricardo Villala, Daniel Mestre, Jose Neves and Samuel Caldera.
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