Astana suspends 'Superman' López, investigated for doping
'Superman' Lopez. /
The Colombian cyclist has been questioned about his alleged relationship with the doctor Marcos Maynar
Astana has provisionally suspended 'Superman' López from any activity after learning that the cyclist is being investigated for doping. The Colombian runner 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) waited yesterday for Miguel Ángel López at the Adolfo Suárez airport in Madrid, where he had flown from his country, to question him about his alleged relations 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.
Investigators want to clarify whether the broker is related to Maynar. According to 'Ciclo21', López has gone from being a witness to being investigated and is expected to testify before the judge in the fall, after the Vuelta a España, in which he will be one of the candidates for the podium.
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 registered.
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.
