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Spanish federation declines to pursue Mayo case

By VeloNews.com
Published: Jan. 7, 2008
Mayo may be back on the road in 2008
Mayo may be back on the road in 2008
Photo: Agence France Presse (File Photo)

Spain’s national cycling federation announced Monday that it has no plans to pursue further action against Iban Mayo regarding an alleged positive for EPO during the 2007 Tour de France.

The Saunier Duval climbing specialist was cleared of charges that he used EPO during the Tour after a B sample test, analyzed by the Belgian national anti-doping lab in Ghent last October, apparently came back negative. However, the UCI said it questioned the outcome of the test and had the sample re-tested at the French national anti-doping laboratory at Châtenay-Malabry.

At the time, Mayo’s attorney Jose Rodriguez questioned the UCI’s motives in having the B sample re-examined in, what he deemed to be, “a more friendly environment” at Châtenay-Malabry.

According to the UCI, that result came back positive and on December 19, the international governing body forwarded a request to the Spanish federation (RFEC) that it reopen its review of the matter. RFEC officials, however, have apparently declined, claiming that further review would constitute double jeopardy.

“We contacted the UCI in late December to inform them that the competition committee has no plans to reopen the case,” RFEC secretary general Eugenio Bermudez told the French news service, Agence France Presse on Monday. "It’s a question of fairness. No one can be tried twice for the same facts... and as far as we are concerned, he has already been absolved."

Bermudez said that it would be "contrary to the principles of justice" to pursue a case that had already been fairly resolved.

The matter is expected to ultimately be resolved by the International Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.