Although Euskaltel's Aitor Gonzalez has received an official document informing him that he tested positive during the Vuelta a España for what the biggest Spanish newspaper, El Pais, claims to be an anabolic metabolite, the Spanish rider denies having taken "any prohibited substance whatsoever."
While the affair started a few days ago with only rumours to supply it, Gonzalez was since notified by the UCI - but not his team, who has not taken any action against its rider yet. "Aitor has received an official note, but he insists that he's taken nothing," said Euskaltel team manager Miguel Madariaga. "He's shaken up, and the letter caught him by surprise. The team still hasn't received anything official."
Gonzalez' representative, Ángel Buenache, believes that the leaking of the information to the press is related to the quarrels between the UCI and RFEC, the Spanish Cycling Federation. "It's alarming that this notice leaks after there has been a series of complaints against the UCI by the RFEC," Buenache told Spanish daily Marca. "This is directed against Spanish cycling."
Meanwhile, Gonzalez has issued a statement in which he expresses his will to take legal action against "the persons, institutions and public organisms" that have "violated" his fundamental rights, as well as those who have "damaged" his and his team's image.
Buenache, too, thinks that the damage is already done. "Nobody can undo that the whole European press published that Aitor tested positive. But he never did test positive, in no place. We don't deny or admit anything, but the presumption of innocence was violated, as well as the right of defense and the protection of data," he concluded.
