José Azevedo on Portugal's shocking W52-FC Porto doping scheme: "Some forget that they are human beings and haven't killed anyone. They're not criminals"

José Azevedo, Efapel's current sports director, made a name for himself as a cyclist with ONCE, US Postal and Discovery in the 2000's. He was a teammate of Lance Armstrong, whom he claims not seeing conduct illegal performance enhancing methods. In Portugal, Azevedo witnessed closely a case just as shocking with W52-FC Porto two years ago, which he now comment on.

The year he decided to start a team on the road, the W52-FC Porto doping scandal broke out, with repercussions that shook Portuguese cycling and the international scene. A blow to the image of the sport. Virtually all riders in the team were suspended including former Volta a Portugal winners Amaro Antunes, João Rodrigues, Rui Vinhas and Ricardo Mestre. Top climbers Jóni Brandão and José Neves had the same outcome, and former team rider and Volta winner Raúl Alarcon also couldn't evade heavy sanctions.

Team DS Nuno Ribeiro, he himself a former Volta winner who was later stripped for doping, was now suspended for 25 years from the sport. An extremely heavy case that left almost no-one in the team untouched, either because of the use or ownership of prohibited substances and 'methods', in what was described as a well organized ring.

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"Of course. People made mistakes, they damaged the image of cycling, the athletes and the teams that were competing correctly. We can't forget that, there were teams and brands that suffered," Azevedo, a former top finisher at the Tour de France, said in an interview with O Jogo.

To continue the reflection. "But it saddens me, because they are people. There is a sporting punishment that has to be applied, but some forget that they are human beings and haven't killed anyone. They're not criminals and most of them won't return to cycling. They've already had their punishment."

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Regarding the possibility of FC Porto (the football team) having a cycling connection again, Azevedo is honest: "I don't know. The club has changed direction. All projects that arise in cycling, that are serious and bring something to the sport, are welcome," and then answers the question of whether one of his dreams would be to lead an FC Porto team. "My dream at the moment is for this project to grow. In a sustained way and with Efapel supporting it." This past year, the Portuguese team almost won the Volta a Portugal with second placed Abner González, former MoVISTAR RIDER.

Regarding the possibility of having the big soccer clubs back on the road, so that the sport could benefit from it, the 51-year-old from Vila do Conde was peremptory in his response. "In Portugal we have a lot of that, clubism. It's our sporting culture and maybe more people are taking to the road, and the media is more attentive. But at this point, the important thing isn't to have a big club, it's credibility, to regain an image of trust and to have references in our squad. Idols also win fans," he concluded.

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