Former pro had been linked to ongoing investigation in Italy, but denies involvement
Having suddenly retired in June despite having six months left to run on his contract with the Vacansoleil DCM team, Jose Rujano has announced that he is aiming to take over the running of the sport in his home country.
The former pro, who specialized in climbing and who won three stages, the mountains classification and finished third overall in the Giro d’Italia during his career, now wants to get involved in the administration of cycling.
"My goal is to take over the reins of the Federación Venezolana de Ciclismo [Venezuelan Federation of Cycling] to give prominence to all those who make their living in this sport, including the athletes, associations, commissaires and technical directors,” he stated, according to mindeporte.gob.ve.
If successful, the 31 year old wants to move into the position this year, and said that one of the areas he wants to focus on is to grow the grassroots level and also to develop the sport and make it more popular.
He also sees the pro level of the sport as an area to be targeted. “Also, to help professional teams form in the first two years so that cyclists can represent the country at the biggest international events in the world,” he stated, adding to his listed goals.
Rujano states that he has built up very good relationships with others involved in Venezuelan sport, and claims to have total support from them. “They recognise that I know national and international cycling and which are the faults that we have to improve upon.”
However Rujano’s plans will also attract attention for another reason. In March he was named by Italian media as being implicated in the Operacion Amateur affair, which related to the traffic of doping products including EPO and CERA in Italy. Rujano denied it at the time, but was blocked from starting the Giro d’Italia by his Vacansoleil DCM team.
At the time, it described the matter as ‘complicated.’
When he announced his retirement in June, Rujano said that the ‘many problems he had nationally and internationally’ were the reason he was walking away.
While he has not been given any sanction or indeed been found guilty in relation to Operacion Amateur, the announced intention to go into the administration of the sport increases the need for a final outcome to be reached in relation to the case.