List of substances W52-FC Porto riders got caught with revealed, doping scandal deepens

On the 4th of October, seven W52-FC Porto riders have received their bans in relation to prohibited practices and possession of prohibited substances, aswell as irregularities in the biological passport of one rider. Here is the whole list of substances that were found.

The Portuguese peloton has over the last decade seen several doping cases, and the removal of the UCI license of it's top team, W52-FC Porto - winner of the country's most important race, Volta a Portugal, every years since it's creation in 2013 - weeks before it's main goal. A nation-wide police raid was carried, leading to 10 detentions including team riders and staff.

Only 4 out of 12 riders were not banned, with Amaro Antunes and Joni Brandão amongst them. Many of the team's main figures however have been, with ADoP (Portuguese Anti-Doping Agency) revealing the cause for suspension for all seven riders.

The following six riders were banned by ADoP for three years due to possessing prohibited substances:

José Neves - Human Growth Hormone

Samuel Caldeira - Somatropin, Actrapide Human Insulin, Human Growth Hormone

Rui Vinhas - Betamethasone

Ricardo Mestre - Somatropin

Ricardo Vilela - Luteinizing hormone, Somatropin, Thymosin-B4 and their derivatives

Daniel Mestre - Betamethasone

João Rodrigues, winner of the 2021 Volta ao Algarve and 2019 Volta a Portugal has received a total of seven years of ban, with the same sanction as his teammates, and a four-year ban for irregularities in his passport from the UCI directly.

João Rodrigues - (not revealed)