Phonak sidelines Botero and Gutierrez

The Phonak Cycling Team has put two of its top riders, Santiago Botero and Jose Enrique Gutierrez (2nd in the Giro), on the bench in the wake of 'Operacion Puerto'. The Spanish media named these two riders in connection with Doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, who is under suspicion of committing crimes against public health by providing blood transfusions and other doping to Spanish spokespeople.

"After consultation with the riders involved, Santiago Botero and José Enrique Gutierrez, the team management decided that neither rider will be selected for races until the examinations bring more clarity to the picture," Phonak said in a statement.