Juan Manuel Hernández, manager of Caja Rural: "We have been involved in a doping scheme with which we have nothing to do"

A 23-page document leaked to the press and to the teams during the last Vuelta a Espana, in which the names of Caja Rural - Seguros RGA manager Juan Manuel Hernández and several riders (Orluis Aular's name was leaked) were linked to doctor Marcos Maynar and Operation Ilex, has prompted the Navarre team to respond to the press articles of the last few days.

In an interview with the Diario de Navarra, Hernández talks about everything and categorically denies that his team has anything to do with doping.

FILTERING

"It wasn't a bombshell. We knew it was there since the Vuelta. We followed the due deadlines to file the complaint."

DENUNCIATION

"There is a complaint to the Guardia Civil (Spanish Police, ed.), which has already detected the alleged leaker. We do not know who he is; we will know with the complaint we have filed. We may have our suspicions, but it is not official yet".

DOPING

"The damage that has been done to the image of the team is important, knowing that we have nothing to do with Maynar. We work with the University of Cáceres, as we also work with the University of Madrid and Murcia. We have been involved in a doping plot with which we have nothing to do. We are not in the case. Many riders from many teams work with the University of Cáceres, and we are not involved in any case or lawsuit. The UCO (Guardia Civil, ed.) has filed the complaint to defend us, because we have nothing to do with it".

IT IS STATED THAT HE TOOK RIDERS IN PUBLIC TO DR. MARCOS MAYNAR

"Of course. I'm the one who talks to the coaches and the universities because I'm the team manager. I went to the University of Cáceres, I was there and I didn't meet Maynar. I took four cyclists, whose names I'm not going to say. As others go to Madrid, to UCAN or with individuals".

WHATSAPP CONVERSATIONS

"They are not mine, they are between cyclists that I took them and little else. I've only been to Cáceres once, and Maynar wasn't there. I have had no contact with him at all. There's no wiretap from me. I took them there because I'm the team manager and I'm the one who negotiates with everyone".

UNIVERSITY OF CÁCERES RELATED TO THE ILEX OPERATION

"Until the matter exploded we had no idea. We were working with a certain Nacho, who later also appeared to be implicated. He worked with the physical preparation of some of our cyclists, as he was in charge of the preparation of others from many other teams. Nowhere does it appear that our cyclists have taken or done anything unusual".

CYCLIST REACTION

"As soon as the matter came to light, we stopped working with that university. We have provided the UCO with all the information they have requested. But we have never, ever been involved in anything. That is why we are calm.

FEAR FOR THE FUTURE?

"Neither the UCI nor anyone else has told us anything because there is nothing. Not on paper and we hope not. We can justify in every way that we have nothing to do with the Ilex plot. That is why we have denounced. We know what is in that dossier, how it has been done and how everything has been taken out of context. There is nothing here and it is very sad that we have to defend ourselves. But there has been someone who has acted in very bad faith".

Article written by Juan Larra.