More depressing news of a new, possibly very big doping ring in Spain. It was interesting to see that the former pro, Jesus Manzano, who provided a lot of testimony in the 'Operacion Puerto' case warned about one of the doctors involved over 2 years ago.

This is what he said to the sports paper 'L'Equipe' in 2007,

“It concerns one of the four Spanish Laboratories accredited by the UCI. This laboratory, which is in charge of sending the UCI vampires [doctors] to take the samples during the Vuelta and other races is the same lab that's in charge of the doctors’ visits to the cyclists. They follow the cyclists and give them the stamp of approval on their licenses."

“The owner of this clinic, a renowned haematologist, called Walter Viru, who is one of the doctors for Kelme, [in order] to alert them the day before the UCI vampires were coming to take the samples from the cyclists. And he did the same thing with Del Moral, the doctor for the US Postal team and then Discovery, [who is] a good friend of his."

Viru is one of the doctors implicated in the latest scandal.

To think that when Manzano first aired his accusations in public he was derided. Just about everything he has said has turned out to be true. He talks of the cycling 'Mafia'. I think he is correct on that one. Just think of where we would be if this one rider decided to say nothing. I think every true cycling fan should be thankful he had the courage to speak out.