"The riders were instructed on the methods of introducing the doping into the body without it being detected in doping controls" - W52-FC Porto riders and management face Portuguese court
Cycling
The former W52 - FC Porto team has had the most shocking doping accusations of the 2022 season and the riders and management now face court accusations.
Ten riders including notable former Volta a Portugal winners such as João Rodrigues, Joni Brandão and Rui Vinhas, aswell as José Neves, have been accused of administration of prohibited substances. Blood transfusions, growth hormones and testosterone were all mentioned in the documents shared in Portuguese media today.
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"The riders were instructed on the methods of introducing the doping into the body without it being detected in doping controls," the accusation said. "In addition, they received instructions for administering the doping."
Additionally it was said that the riders that took part in the process had consent from team managers and that they "always voluntarily and consciously carried out the facts, with the sole purpose of obtaining a financial and sporting advantage for themselves or for the team through the use of prohibited substances or blood transfusions."
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The existence of an elaborate doping program is reminiscent of previous decades in pro cycling. However the team has suffered it's consequences, with all riders left without a contract for 2023 and the team being stripped of it's UCI license last summer. Amaro Antunes, former World Tour rider, was one of the few who was not accused and is absent from the case.
The team has since developed a mixed under-23/Elite squad and will be racing in the Portuguese peloton over this season.
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Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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