Two laboratory doctors linked to a major Spanish cycling doping scandal were released from a Madrid prison on Saturday after each paid 120,000 euros in bail. Jose Luis Merino was freed in the early morning hours, while Eufemiano Fuentes departed Soto del Real prison later that evening, accompanied by his wife and attorney, offering no comment to reporters.
Earlier in the week, cycling team director Jose Ignacio Labarta and mountain bike rider Alberto Leon were released without bail on condition they remain available for questioning. Liberty team manager Manolo Saiz, also arrested in the operation, had been freed the previous Wednesday under similar terms. Insurance firm Liberty subsequently announced it was pulling its sponsorship of Saiz's squad.
Investigators uncovered a blood doping scheme in which blood was drawn from riders, artificially enriched with oxygen, then reinjected to improve performance. Spanish police chief Joan Mesquida estimated up to 200 athletes could be implicated. Because the stored blood samples have a short usable window, and no major races are currently held in Spain, authorities believe the network extends beyond Spanish borders.
Reports have named Tour of Italy leader Ivan Basso and former Tour de France champion Jan Ullrich as possible participants, though both have firmly denied any involvement. Spanish Sports Minister Jaime Lissavetsky vowed the government would take an uncompromising stance against doping in sport.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in May 2006, in its own words.