Zárate asks for help

By Antonio J. Salmerón

Carlos Zárate, who was signed by Saunier Duval from Comunidad Valenciana in 2005, has sent a letter to the UCI in which he expressed that he would perform any necessary tests. The 26 year-old Spaniard wants his name to be cleared from the Operación Puerto affair.

He is in a shade of the suspicion since he made his professional debut in 2004 with the Comunidad Valenciana. He was allegedly linked with some of the team’s riders and technicians to the Spanish investigation.

In his official letter, Zárate declared that, "he has never had any relationship with Doctor Eufemiano Fuentes." Regarding his current team, he continued, "in the Saunier Duval, I have not been able to work as normal."

At the same time, Zárate lamented that, in his native town, Puertollano, his countrymen consider him "drugged" and a "cheater," and as a consequence his family and close friends are also suffering.