Disgraced US cyclist Tyler Hamilton, whose two-year ban for blood doping ends next Friday, is now facing another investigation, USA Cycling said on Thursday.
A statement by the US federation said it had received information from the International Cycling Union (UCI) "regarding Tyler Hamilton and his alleged involvement in `Operation Puerto' along with a request to move forward with disciplinary action."
"Operation Puerto" was the Spanish doping affair that saw 13 riders, including Italian Ivan Basso, Germany's 1997 Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich and Spain's Francisco Mancebo suspended by their teams days before the start of the Tour de France because of their alleged implication.
The nature of Hamilton's alleged involvement was not specified by USA Cycling, but evidence from the ongoing probe suggested he spent more than 30,000 euros (US$38,000) on a doping program.
Hamilton has denied working with Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, who is central to the affair, but Spanish authorities claim they found several documents showing that Hamilton was one of Fuentes's best clients.
USA Cycling said on Thursday it had referred the matter to the US Anti-Doping Agency.
"We received a communication from the UCI today containing the `Operation Puerto' dossier for Mr Tyler Hamilton and a request to open disciplinary proceedings against him," said Steve Johnson, chief executive officer of USA Cycling.
"As required by our anti-doping regulations, we have forwarded the complete dossier to the US Anti-Doping Agency [USADA] and have asked them to adjudicate this case on our behalf," Johnson said.
Hamilton a former Phonak and CSC rider and the reigning Olympic time trial champion, had voiced a wish to return from his ban to compete in the world championships later this month, but had already been ruled out of the US team by USA Cycling.
Hamilton, also formerly of the retired Lance Armstrong's now defunct team, US Postal, was caught doping at the 2004 Tour of Spain after blood tests showed evidence of blood doping.
A dispute ensued over the validity of his Olympic gold medal, but he was allowed to keep the title after a second "B" sample was mishandled and rendered unsuitable for counter-analysis.
Hamilton denies allegations he injected another person's blood to improve his performance, and mounted an expensive legal defense and publicity campaign in an effort to have the ban overturned.
Brazil has four teams, more than any other country, in the expanded Club World Cup that kicked off yesterday in the US, but for SE Palmeiras, the competition holds a special meaning: winning it would provide some redemption. Under coach Abel Ferreira since 2020, Palmeiras lifted two Copa Libertadores titles, plus Brazilian league, cup and state championships. Even before Ferreira, it boasted another South American crown and 11 league titles. The only major trophy missing is a world champions’ title. Other Brazilian clubs like Fluminense FC and Botafogo FR, also in the tournament, have never won it either, but the problem for Palmeiras
Paris Saint-Germain’s Lee Kang-in has pleaded with South Korea fans to get behind the team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after more boos were aimed at coach Hong Myung-bo despite leading them to qualification. South Korea reached next year’s finals in North America without losing a game, but that does not tell the whole story. The country’s soccer association has been in the firing line, having scrambled about to find a successor after sacking the unpopular Jurgen Klinsmann in February last year. They eventually settled on Hong, the decorated former skipper who had an unsuccessful stint as coach in 2013-2014, during which
Lionel Messi drew vast crowds and showed flashes of his brilliance when his Inter Miami side were held to a goalless draw by African giants Al-Ahly as the revamped FIFA Club World Cup got off to a festive start on Saturday. Fans showed up en masse for the Group A clash at the Hard Rock Stadium, home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, but Messi could not fully deliver, his best chance coming through a last-second attempt that was deflected onto the crossbar. Inter Miami next face FC Porto on Thursday in Atlanta, while Al-Ahly, who benefited from raucous, massive support, are to
Ferrari’s F1 fortunes might be flagging, but the Italian team start this weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans as favorites, targeting a third consecutive triumph in motorsport’s fabled endurance classic. Roger Federer is acting as celebrity starter with the tennis icon getting the 93rd edition of the jewel in four-wheeled endurance racing’s crown under way tomorrow. Twenty-four hours later, through daylight, darkness and dawn, the 21 elite hypercars are to battle it out over 300 laps (more than 4,000km) in front of a sold-out 320,000 crowd burning the midnight oil with copious quantities of coffee and beer. Ferrari made a triumphant return after
RSS