Doping case of Marc Soler’s father takes new turn as report alleges 2023 links between UAE rider and banned US Postal doctor
Cycling
The anti-doping case involving the father of Marc Soler has taken a further turn after Spanish outlet Ciclo21 published a detailed reconstruction of events dating back to August 2023.
Earlier this week, it was confirmed that Jaume Soler Serrano, an amateur cyclist and the father of the UAE Team Emirates - XRG rider, received an 18-month suspension from Spain’s anti-doping authority CELAD following links to banned coach Jose Marti, a figure associated with the US Postal Service doping era and currently serving a ban until June 2027.
The new report focuses on a meeting on 9 August 2023 in Adrall, near the Andorran border, involving Marti, Jaume Soler and Marc Soler. According to the publication, the three were the subject of surveillance by Spain’s Guardia Civil following anonymous complaints submitted to CELAD earlier that year.
Jaume Soler and Marti were stopped at a roadside control where officers discovered equipment including latex gloves, alcohol, a lactate meter, oxygen saturation devices and testing strips. These tools are commonly used in performance testing to measure aerobic and anaerobic thresholds.
Ciclo21 writes that there are “no direct proofs”, but suggests that the sequence of events could describe “a potentially punishable scenario”, while also acknowledging the presence of “many reasonable doubts” that remain to be resolved by the authorities.
Read also
What is being examined
The report states that Marc Soler was riding in the area at the time of the control and later met with his father and Marti before being stopped separately by officers. It alleges that authorities are examining whether the circumstances could fall under anti-doping rules relating to prohibited association, which restrict licensed athletes from working with individuals serving doping bans.
At this stage, no sanction has been announced against Marc Soler, and no formal verdict has been issued in relation to his involvement. The matter remains under the jurisdiction of CELAD, with Spanish authorities yet to publish a final determination.
In statements referenced in the report, Marc Soler denied any professional relationship with Marti, while acknowledging that the coach had previously trained his father. Marti is said not to have provided subsequent testimony to the Guardia Civil.
Marc Soler in the leader's jersey at the 2026 Vuelta Murcia
Case remains unresolved
The confirmed sanction announced relates solely to Jaume Soler Serrano. There is no public ruling indicating that Marc Soler has been charged or sanctioned.
Ciclo21 describes the case as ongoing, noting that administrative changes within CELAD have contributed to delays in reaching a final decision. The Union Cycliste Internationale and other governing bodies are understood to be awaiting the outcome of the Spanish process.
For now, the case involving the father of the UAE rider has developed further following the publication of new reporting, but no additional disciplinary decision has been made public.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
claps 4visitors 4
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- Roglic could not have won anyway, after Jonas followed him when Roglic decided it was his turn for a stage win. Jonas had already attacked Kuss twice, so it was Jonas who was within seconds of taking the lead before Kuss was 'gifted' the win. It felt a bit like Roglic was being thrown under the bus when the team made his unhappiness public.Hills3314-11-2026
- POG1, another nice doc about our favourite, I watched most of it with a big smile on my face (except for the bits about his crashes 😢 obvs!).Lozza14-11-2026
- Martinez had a good year! 5th at the Tour was a great result for him, albeit largely through getting in successful breaks, but he held it better than Pidcock who’d done the same.Lozza14-11-2026
- guess what Valgren, you're 34, and no you're not good enough. sorry to say.mij14-11-2026
- I'm a sepp fan and like to think he earned that LOL, indulge me : ) I think Jonas was fine. Roglic did not want to concede to Sepp. and I don't think you ever attack your own teammate in the leaders jersey if he is holding his own, which Sepp just about was.mij14-11-2026
- enough time? he's 24 years old. He's won 10 races over the last 2 years and some are significant. I won't argue about his attitude being good - it needs to improve. But with some coaching and mentorship he has a lot of winning ahead of him and has plenty of time to win a GT. I don't think he will ever beat Tadej, but everyone else is fair game Look at Mas and Valverde - they were 31 and 29, respectively, when they won the Vuelta.mij14-11-2026
- Pogacar has a fine head on his shoulders.Careful investments and a couple of coffee shops sounds like a wonderful way to chill after an intense career.Stay healthy GOAT.
Brucegel14-11-2026 - I live in Maribor.PogiSloFans14-11-2026
- I live in Ljubljana and often go on trips in the surrounding area, where I frequently see young cyclists in 'Pogi Team' jerseys training, either alone or in groups. By simply motivating so many young people to take up cycling, Tadej has already achieved something truly significant.Velijo14-11-2026
- That's an excellent point. It's interesting that Vader came to that realization only after he learned that his contract wasn't going to be renewed.
santiagobenites14-11-2026
Loading
Remember when Marc Soler's dad, Jaume Soler, received a doping ban for associating with a banned US Postal doping coach? New Ciclo21 article involves Marc Soler, reporting "Marc Soler had arranged to meet with his father who, in turn, had arranged to meet with Martí."
EXCLUSIVA @ciclo21 Los hechos completos del encuentro entre Marc Soler, su padre Jaume y el exentrenador sancionado por dopaje Pepe Martí La @CELAD_esp ha de decidir posibles sanciones por asociación prohibida Una información de @fernanferrari ciclo21.com/marc-y-jaume-s…
3 Comments