Astana suspends ‘Superman’ López until it is clarified if he is involved in a doping plot

Astana has provisionally suspended ‘Superman’ López from any activity until it is clarified whether or not he is involved in a doping plot. In principle, the Colombian rider will not participate in the Ordizia classic on Monday and his presence in the Vuelta a España (from August 19) remains up in the air.

Agents from the Central Operations Unit (UCO) yesterday registered Miguel Ángel López’s luggage at the Adolfo Suárez airport in Madrid, where he had flown from his country. According to ‘Cycle 21’, the action is related to the cyclist’s alleged relationship with the doctor Marcos Maynar. The investigation, opened by a court in Cáceres, is known as ‘Operation Ilex’ and is focused on the physiologist from Extremadura, who already appeared in ‘Operation Strobo’ around rowing in Bizkaia (Urdaibai).

The agents moved the Astana corridor to a police station at the airport. Later, López continued on his way. He was scheduled to participate in the Ordizia Test on Monday, but his team decided this morning to temporarily remove him. He has been absent from racing since his retirement in May at the Giro with a hip injury. According to ‘Ciclo21’, López has gone from being a witness to being investigated and is expected to testify before the judge in the fall.

The Civil Guard assures that the search of López’s suitcase at the airport was routine and that nothing suspicious was found. The broker’s lawyers deny that he has “any relationship with criminal acts related to the distribution of unauthorized medicines.” According to his defenders, López “has always been respectful of the rules that govern sports ethics, as evidenced by his sports career.” The cyclist is “surprised by the situation” and says he is “convinced that everything will be cleared up.”

Marcos Maynar and doping

Marcos Maynar, a professor at the University of Extremadura, is free on charges after being arrested in May by UCO agents investigating drug trafficking and money laundering. Within this operation, the Physiology laboratory of the Faculty of Sports Sciences was searched.

The name of this doctor has appeared in several anti-doping processes, such as the one that affected the LA Aluminum team after the death in 2008 of the Portuguese cyclist Bruno Neves and the appearance of EPO and anabolics. He was also related to the Comunidad Valenciana cycling team, led by Vivente Belda, one of the defendants in ‘Operación Puerto’ and sports mentor of ‘Superman’ López. In addition to cycling, Maynar has collaborated with basketball and volleyball teams. Sabino Padilla, then an Athletic doctor, resorted to Maynar in 2002 to defend the innocence of soccer player Carlos Gurpegi, who tested positive for nandrolone.

Maynar has never been convicted. In 2006 he was arrested when the police seized several doping drugs from his home. He claimed that he was using them for his investigations.