The AP Hotels&Resorts-Tavira-Farense cycling team found itself in a challenging spot this week. They needed to clear the air. On Wednesday, the team released a strong statement. They addressed concerns about two former riders, Delio Fernández and Venceslau Fernandes. The team claims the issues with their biological passports mostly happened before they ever joined the squad.
“These situations involve two individual former athletes,” the team’s statement explained. It noted that the information available suggests these riders had alleged variations in their biological passport data. Crucially, the team pointed out these abnormal values were largely detected over a period when the athletes were riding for other teams. Some reports even trace back six years before their contracts with Tavira began, and nine years before the recent notifications.
This clarification came after the International Cycling Union (UCI) handed down a 20-day suspension to AP Hotels&Resorts-Tavira-Farense. The team was sidelined between October 23 and November 11. This penalty followed provisional suspensions for both Delio Fernández and Venceslau Fernandes. Both riders faced issues within the same 12-month timeframe.
The UCI provided specific details regarding the riders. Venceslau Fernandes received his notification on November 7, 2024. The Portuguese Anti-Doping Authority (ADoP) flagged him for “unjustified anomalies in his biological passport in 2023.” Meanwhile, the international federation suspended Spanish rider Delio Fernández on July 22.
The team made its philosophy very clear: “We have zero tolerance for the use of banned substances or methods.” They expressed deep regret that these individual cases might “stain decades of work.” The team has long been a respected name in both local and international cycling circles. They fear these recent events could overshadow their hard-earned reputation.
For now, the team will “calmly await the outcome of the ongoing disciplinary processes.” They are prepared to take further action. If any violations are confirmed during the years these riders spent with the Tavira team, the Tavira Cycling Club plans to “legally prosecute them.” This shows a firm stance against any wrongdoing that might have occurred on their watch.
Venceslau Fernandes rode for AP Hotels&Resorts-Tavira-Farense during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Before that, he was with Feirense in 2021 and 2022. He also spent time with Oliveirense in 2019 and 2020. Delio Fernández, who suddenly ended his career this year, had been with the Tavira-based team for the past four seasons. His earlier career included riding for the French team Delko Marseille. That was a second-tier global cycling team, where he competed between 2016 and 2021.