As Spanish sport continues to brace itself for further revelations relating to the anti-doping raids carried out yesterday, it has emerged that police there have been monitoring Eufemiano Fuentes, his sister Yolanda and former mountain bike rider Alberto León since last April.
The Guardia Civil had been warned of individuals who had been helping high-level athletes carry out blood doping, and the Operación Galgo (Operation Greyhound) raids have confirmed that, with a large number of banned substances being found yesterday. These included EPO, anabolic steroids, blood bags, and the equipment needed to carry out transfusions.
There was also ‘abundant’ documentation relating to doping practices which, depending on its nature, could in theory be used to try to identify the sportspeople involved.
The Guardia Civil has confirmed that the trio of Eufemiano Fuentes, Yolanda Fuentes and León received a calendar of targeted events from the coaches of various sportspeople, then formulated a doping programme involving those banned substances.
A total of 15 premises were raided yesterday, and 14 people were arrested. The Guardia Civil identified these only by their initials, but the Spanish media has deciphered most of the names.
Arrested in Madrid:
M.L.S and M.C (pharmacists)
P.M.R (intermediary in the purchase and sale of banned substances)
César Pérez (athletic trainer)
Alberto León (doping provider and former mountain bike pro)
José Alonso Valero (athletic manager)
María José Martínez (athletic trainer)
Manuel Pascua (athletic trainer)
Alberto García Fernández (athlete)
Arrested in Las Palmas:
Eufemiano Fuentes (sporting doctor)
Yolanda Fuentes (sporting doctor)
Arrested in Alicante:
M.B (doping supplier)
Segovia:
José Luis Pascua (cycling coach)
Palencia:
Marta Domínguez (athlete and doping supplier)
Aside from the Fuentes siblings and León, who were involved in Operación Puerto, José Luis Pascua is the only link at this point in time to cycling. It is not known if any cyclists are involved in the current investigation, or indeed if Pascua has any links other than the fact that he is brother of Manuel Pascua.
He is well known as a coach in the sport, having worked with Pedro Delgado, Marino Lejarreta, Santiago Blanco, Chava (Jose Maria) Jimenez, Oscar Pereiro and Carlos Sastre.
In August of this year, the 17th running of the Marcha Cicloturista Pedro Delgado was run as a tribute for the trainer.
He was taken into custody yesterday, questioned, and then released without charge.
Investigations into Fuentes and the others are continuing.