W52-FC Porto boss: "We have to face our problems and fix them"

After the police raid on W52-FC Porto's hotels and residences, Portuguese cycling is under the spotlight in the cycling world for the wrong reasons. Although no conclusions have yet been taken, the investigation is ongoing, as the team fights to get back on track.

Owner of the team's main sponsor, Adriano Quintanilha, talked to Portuguese newspaper A Bola, in which he reiterated the confidence in the team: "I believe in the word of the cyclists when they tell me they're clean and there's nothing to be afraid, because the blood and urine analysis taken Sunday will be negative."

Responding to rumours that have circulated, in which it was said that the team was in possession of several forbidden substances, he said: "If they [police] apprehended any forbidden substance in their homes or hotel rooms, it will be the riders that will have to respond. But, for what they say, I trust them, and so I took the decision to reunite them," he added.

This Thursday the team has been together once again near the team's headquarters in the city of Paredes, the riders as they have trained together. Regarding the arrest of team DS Nuno Ribeiro, Quintanilha was more reserved in his reponse. "Of Nuno Ribeiro and José Rodrigues [Fortuna-Maia DS] I won't say anything, because I only know what the newspapers, radio and television say."

Ribeiro, a former Volta a Portugal winner - who has had his win taken due to illegal practices - has been suspended from continuing his role within the team. It is said that there are advanced talks for a replacement: "I'm in contact with three people who are capable of doing the job, I'll opt with one of them. The situation isn't easy, but we have to face our problems and fix them. If the riders affirm to be innocent, then we have to return to normality and put things in it's proper place."

"The team is not suspended by the [Portuguese] federation or the UCI and we can compete, as soon as the DS situation is stabilized which will happen soon. The return to team training will have work to place normality back into the W52-FC Porto work group," he concluded. 10 riders of the team have been constituted as defendants in the ongoing investigation.