Cyclist Ricardo Vilela, who was already serving a three-year ban, was suspended this Wednesday by the Portuguese Anti-Doping Authority for another seven years for anomalies in his biological passport, while José Gonçalves will serve four years of sanctions.
According to the Portuguese Anti-Doping Authority (ADoP) disciplinary sanction list updated this Wednesday, Ricardo Vilela’s suspension has been extended until July 14, 2032, with a new seven-year suspension starting from the end of the three already in effect for “possession of a prohibited substance and method.”
José Gonçalves, also a former W52-FC Porto cyclist and defendant in the Prova Limpa case, has been sentenced to four years’ ban for “possession of prohibited substances”, one year more than the sanctions imposed on his former teammates who collaborated with ADOP. .
On October 4, 2022, the ADoP announced the suspension of seven riders, including Vilela. Rui Viñas and Ricardo Mestre, winners of the Tour of Portugal in 2016 and 2011 respectively, were sentenced to three years for “possession of prohibited substances and prohibited methods”. and Samuel Caldeira, in addition to Vilela and João Rodrigues.
The Algarve rider, winner of the 2019 Volta Portugal and 2021 Volta Algarve, has received a fourfold penalty from the International Cycling Union due to anomalies in his biological passport.
The ADoP reduced the suspension of seven cyclists from four to three years for “confession”, in contrast to what happened to Gonçalves, Joni Brandão and Jorge Magalhain, as well as four team members, including Nuno Ribeiro.
They are all among 26 defendants charged with trafficking in prohibited substances and methods in the Prova Limpa trial, which eliminated the W52-FC Porto team that has dominated national cycling in recent years.
The State Department has charged 26 defendants, including former sporting director Nuno Ribeiro and team “boss” Adriano Quintanilla, with trafficking in prohibited substances and methods, the two of whom are still responsible for the crime of using prohibited substances and methods and are being charged. along with CEO Hugo Veloso for developing a “doping scheme” to “improve the profitability” of the team’s riders.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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