After much arguing in Spanish courts for years, there has now been a definitive verdict that decides the future of the 211 blood bags seized during the 2006 Operacion Puerto drug probe. 

In 2013, it was decreed that the blood bags, stored in a doping lab in Barcelona, would be destroyed. The new verdict has overturned this decision. It also decreed that doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, who was handed a one year prison sentence at the time, is cleared off all charges. Fuentes’ four-year ban from practising as a sports doctor is lifted, while Ignacio Labarta, the sports director who received a four-month suspended prison sentence and four-month ban from any cycling-related activities is also cleared. Charges against others initially accused – Fuentes’ sister Yolanda, and sports directors Manolo Saiz and Vicente Belda – remain dropped.

However, the courts have now overturned their 2013 decision after much lobbying on behalf of the UCI, the Spanish Cycling Federation [RFEC], WADA and Italian National Olympic Committee [CONI].

Spanish newspaper El Pais has revealed that the blood bags are reportedly owned by 23 cyclists and 12 athletes. Some big names have already received suspensions in the past from the Puerto raids: Jan Ullrich, Jorg Jaksche, Alejandro Valverde, Michele Scarponi and Ivan Basso are the biggest names.