Miguel Ángel López has been suspended by the UCI due to his involvement in Operation Ilex, an operation carried out by the Guardia Civil in Spain to dismantle a network dedicated to the illegal distribution of medicine in the province of Cáceres.
This network was also dedicated to the manufacture and sale of prohibited substances destined to top athletes. In addition to Lopez, the cyclist and former sports director Vicente Belda and Vincente Belda Garcia, his son, with a great professional connection with Lopez, were also implicated.
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Known as "Operation Ilex", this is an investigation initiated in early 2021 by the Public Health and Doping Section of the Central Operational Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard. UCO agents received information about the possible illicit distribution of drugs by a licensed physician and managed to identify the members of the group involved in these practices.
During more than a year of monitoring the group's activities, the investigation also revealed the involvement of three people in Portugal, Gipuzkoa and Castellón, who acted as intermediaries between the initial manufacturers and distributors of the prohibited substances and the athletes who consumed them.
According to sources close to the investigation, the end consumers were athletes recruited by individuals closely linked to the world of professional sports. These athletes received the services of a well-known doctor, identified as Marcos Maynar, who was also a professor at the University of Extremadura (UNEX). Maynar had been arrested in May last year on suspicion of illegal drug trafficking, among other crimes.
The athletes subjected to this doping plan were previously evaluated by means of analysis and stress tests carried out in the facilities of the Faculty of Sports Sciences of Extremadura. The doctor and his assistant, a doctor in Exercise Physiology, prepared a training plan that included the use of drugs not authorized in Spain and substances prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency, prior to their participation in official competitions.
The network charged athletes a sum of money, depending on their level and the possibility of winning prizes, which could reach up to 3,000 euros per season. The drugs and prohibited substances were delivered to the athletes through secure channels, using third parties to hide the relationship between doctor and athlete.
The operation has resulted in the arrest of two people accused of drug trafficking and doping in sport, membership of a criminal group and money laundering. Six more people are being investigated in relation to this case. In addition, searches have been carried out in Plasencia (Cáceres) and in the Faculty of Sports Sciences of the UNEX, where several medicines not authorized in Spain and substances prohibited in sport have been seized.
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Among the substances seized were Actovegin, Dichloroacetic acid (DCA), Theophylline and the hormone Menotropin, as well as empty capsules prepared for filling with these drugs for subsequent distribution. Menotropin is the substance that is rumoured to have been administered to López only weeks before the 2022 Giro d'Italia, which may have led to the reaction in his hip which then forced him to abandon the race.
The entire investigation has been carried out in close collaboration with the Spanish State Agency Commission for the Fight against Doping in Sport (CELAD), the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS), the International Testing Agency (ITA) and the Catholic University of Murcia (UCAM). These institutions have provided essential technical support and advice for the successful development of the operation.
The Guardia Civil emphasizes that a minor has been identified among the final consumers, which highlights the seriousness of this case and the importance of eradicating illegal doping practices in professional sports. The investigation will continue in order to fully clarify this network of illicit distribution of drugs and banned substances in the world of sport.
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Juan LarraCycling Journalist
Juan Larra is a writer for Cyclinguptodate and editor-in-chief of Ciclismoaldia, where he has played a central role since its inception. Under his leadership, the website has become a trusted source for professional cycling coverage, offering in-depth analysis, news, and feature stories.
A sports journalist with over 20 years of experience, Juan earned his degree in Journalism from the University of Seville in 2007. He began his career covering a wide range of sports—including football, basketball, Formula 1, MotoGP, tennis, and cycling—for platforms such as the official La Liga app, Vodafone and Movistar websites, NBA Blogdebasket, and Cadena Cope, honing his skills in writing and editorial management.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Juan contributes to Cyclinguptodate and serves as editor-in-chief for the tennis-focused site Tenisaldia. Throughout his career, he has conducted exclusive interviews with cyclists and sports figures, provided detailed analysis of competitions ranging from local Spanish races to major international events, and acted as a special correspondent at prestigious races including Paris-Roubaix, the Tour de France, and the Vuelta a España.
Juan’s combination of experience, expertise, and direct access to athletes has established him—and the platforms he leads—as authoritative voices in professional cycling.
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Hace meses que venimos predicando en el desierto, y hoy ha explotado la noticia de la suspensión provisional de Miguel Ángel López. Te dejamos dos programas en el que repasamos a fondo la situación de la #OperaciónILEX 💉 1. Entrevista a @alyelmo x.com/sobre_ciclismo…
#OperaciónILEX 💊 | #dopaje 🗣️ La semana pasada, hablamos con el 𝙀𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙣 𝙋𝙤𝙡𝙞́𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙨 #𝘼𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙙𝙤𝙥𝙖𝙟𝙚, @alyelmo. No puedes perderte esta entrevista si quieres entender qué está pasando con la Operación ILEX Enlace al #magazine ⤵️ go.ivoox.com/rf/97947639
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