Father of UAE star Marc Soler suspended in doping case linked to disgraced US Postal doctor

The father of Marc Soler has been handed an 18-month suspension by the Spanish anti-doping authority following an investigation into links with a disgraced former doctor from cycling’s US Postal era, according to a report by Escape Collective.

Jaume Soler Serrano, an amateur cyclist and the father of the UAE Team Emirates rider, was sanctioned by Spain’s anti-doping agency CELAD after authorities concluded he had worked with Jose Marti, a figure best known for his involvement with the US Postal Service during one of the sport’s most notorious doping periods.

The case does not involve Marc Soler himself, nor does it relate to any professional activity within UAE Team Emirates - XRG.

There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by the rider.

Marti is currently serving a separate doping ban that runs until June 2027, which prohibits him from working with athletes in any capacity. Under anti-doping regulations, breaching that ban could result in a lifetime suspension.

According to documents reviewed by Escape Collective, CELAD investigated whether Marti had violated the terms of that sanction through his contact with Soler Serrano. At this stage, the documentation does not indicate that Marti has received any additional punishment beyond his existing ban.

During the investigation, Marti reportedly told authorities that he was acting as an academic researcher, presenting himself as a university professor studying performance in both amateur and professional cyclists.

While the reporting is new, the case itself stretches back several years. Spanish authorities had already placed Soler Serrano and Marti under scrutiny as early as August 2023, when the pair were followed and detained by the Guardia Civil as part of an ongoing inquiry.

Soler Serrano’s suspension came into effect last autumn, but details of the case and the connection to Marti only became public this week following the publication of CELAD documentation.

Whether Marti will face further disciplinary action remains unclear, with no additional sanctions announced so far. For UAE Team Emirates and Marc Soler, the situation remains external to the professional peloton, with the case centred solely on amateur activity and regulatory enforcement.