The 2010 season was a very difficult season for Rui Costa who, along with his brother Mario, tested positive for the substance methylhexaneamine at the Portuguese national time trial championships last June.
They protested their innocence, showing the source for the substance was contamination of supplements they had been using. Claims such as these have been heard often before in positive cases, but their position was strengthened when WADA revised its anti-doping Code and ruled that methylhexaneamine was now classified as a 'specified substance'. This meant it is liable to lesser sanction if proven it was ingested accidentally.
The brothers had tested positive in 2010 and couldn’t therefore be excused under the new rules. The Portuguese Cycling Federation proposed a ban of four months and fifteen days but, just before Christmas, the country’s national anti-doping agency (CNAD) rejected this.
“The CNAD does not agree with the proposed decision,” it said in a statement, “since Article 10.5.2 of the WADA Code sets that mitigation can not be more than half the sentence for the offence in question, which in this case is 2-8 years.”
However due perhaps to that change in WADA rules, it was decided that they are now free to race. A considerable obstacle persists though, namely the lack of a team for both riders.
Rui Costa previously competed with the Benfica and Caisse d’Epargne squads, spending two seasons with each. In 2007, he underlined his talent when he won the Giro delle Regioni. Once year later, he was second in the Tour de l'Avenir and landed fifth place in the U23 road race at the World Championships.
His move to Caisse d’Epargne brought him victory in the 4 Jours de Dunkerque plus a solid thirteenth overall in the Tour de Suisse. Last season was one with three wins - the Trofeo Deia, stage 8 of the Tour de Suisse and the Portuguese time trial championships. He also rode the Tour de France, ending the race 73rd.
According to former Cervélo Test Team pro Joao Correia, Costa can be trusted. “The sad thing about the situation is that the guy is a clean athlete and represents the future of our sport [in Portugal],” he said. “Not to mention he's an amazing talent.”
He and his brother are hoping that teams will be able to give each a slot, helping them to resume their careers after a testing result that WADA no longer deems to be breaking the rules.
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VeloNation: I understand that you've been cleared to race - can you talk about how that decision came about?
Rui Costa: Yes, my brother and I can already race because the Portuguese Cycling Federation has accepted our appeal and the penalty applied has already passed.
VN: How did you react to the news of your positive test?
RC: We were informed in writing and at first we thought that there must have been a mistake as we hadn’t taken any banned substance. We decided to immediately ask for a counter analysis.
VN: Can you talk about how it happened, and how the substance entered your system?
RC: We have a nutritionist friend who prescribed and advised us to taking this dietary supplement for the National Championship. But before we did it, we read the label and verified that it didn’t say that it contained any doping substance. Only then we decided to accept the advice of our nutritionist.
VN: You are a member of Bike Pure. What is your stance on banned substances?
RC: Yes, I've been a member of Bike Pure since 2009 and continue to be after it was proven that I never had the intention to dope. I have always been and will continue to be a clean rider. Everything I've done until now has been because of hard work and honesty. I am against doping.
VN: You now have a chance to restart your career- are you angry/frustrated by what has happened?
RC: Yes, we are annoyed that this process took so long and could only be solved at a time when almost all teams already have closed their squads. But then on the other hand, we are happy because it was confirmed that the supplement was contaminated and that we were always speaking the truth.
VN: Have you had talks with any teams? Was there any chance for you to return to Team Movistar?
RC: My manager is in contact with a few teams and we are trying to figure out where the best opportunities are. I am hoping to return to racing as soon as possible and to show my worth.
VN: What have you done in recent months to keep in shape?
RC: In the beginning it was really difficult to concentrate, but I always felt the truth would eventually emerge. I've been training normally for the pre season and to get into the rhythm of competition I did a few mountain bike races. I am ready to return to a high level.
VN: What do you feel you can offer a team?
RC: Well, above all I'm a rider who always gives his best, and in return I hope they would invest in me because I think I still have a lot of progression to make.
VN: Providing you get a squad, what career objectives do you have?
RC: I'm somebody who doesn't make long term goals. Things change constantly and I focus on doing my work and improving each year. This year I just hope to have a better season than last year. I had a good first half and I'd like to take a step up this year.
VN: Finally, what is your brother's situation - does he have anything for this season?
RC: My brother is in the same situation as I, and I hope that he will get a team soon. My dream is that some day that we will be able to be on the same team, although I realise that a ProTeam for the two of us is hard to reach.
We would like to thank all those who have been on our side and always believed in our innocence. It has given us a lot of strength for our fight.
(Thanks to Joao Correia for his assistance)