The sports director of W52, Porto’s cycling team, was arrested today in an operation by the Judicial Police (PJ) of Portugal against a doping plot, in which a second person was also arrested. The PJ reported in a statement that it made two arrests in the framework of the “Clean Test” operation, aimed at “detecting prohibited methods and illicit substances likely to adulterate the sporting truth in professional cycling events”.
Although the authorities did not reveal the identity of the detainees, several local media suggest that one of them is Nuno Ribeiro, sports director of W52-FC Porto. The Porto team did not participate this morning in the third stage of the O Jogo/Leilosoc Grand Prix, held in Vila Nova de Paiva, where its presence was scheduled. According to the Police, several home and non-home searches were carried out in various regions of the country, that affected leaders, athletes and facilities of one of the teams.
Various substances and clinical instruments “used in the training of athletes and with an impact on their sports performance” were seized. The operation, which brought together 120 agents from various units of the Judicial Police, had the collaboration of the Portuguese Anti-Doping Authority. The detainees will be brought before the judge to learn about the coercive measures applied and the investigation will continue under summary secrecy.