Alberto Contador (Astana) has denied any link to a Madrid coach, and president of the regional Madrid Cycling Federation, who is currently on trial for supplying and facilitating performance enhancing drugs, according to Biciciclismo. In an article in Interviu magazine, it is alleged that Javier Fernández Alba, on trial for doping violations, is a former coach of Contador’s and signed him to the Velo Club Portillo junior team in 1999.
"I never had a professional relationship with this man and do not know where this centre that he directs is located," said Contador, according to Biciclismo.
Contador further states that when he joined Velo Club Portillo, Fernández Alba had moved on and was no longer connected to the team. By that time he was the technical director of the Madrid Cycling Federation, so the extent of their association was when Contador rode for the regional team.
Fernández Alba works in the fitness clinic of the Salus per Exercitacione de Majadahonda (SPE) a fitness centre in Madrid, which works with a number of famous sports people, and is on trial for crimes against Spain’s new Sports Act. He has been under investigation by Spanish police since Francisco José Prieto, the World masters champion tested positive for nandrolone in the Spanish championships.
It is alleged that Fernández Alba has been responsible for the preparation of 200 athletes, including Luis Pérez and Luis Pasamontes, charging between €200 and €500.