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Anti-doping agency wants Fuentes evidence

The lawyer representing the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has said blood bags seized from Doctor Eufemiano Fuentes should be released for inspection if the Spanish authorities strong stance on doping is to be believed.

Berta Aguinaga made specific reference to the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Evaluation Commission's visit to Madrid this week as part of the city's bid for the 2020 Olympic Games.

Assurances were made to the Commission that a proposed new statute which would bring Spanish law into line with the WADA code on doping would be passed by June, three months before IOC members make a final decision on who will host the Games.

And Aguinaga argued that should Magistrate Julia Patricia Santamaria refuse to grant WADA access to the blood bags seized from flats belonging to Fuentes, it would send a conflicting message.

"During these days we have heard the authorities say a lot about Spain's real commitment against doping," she told the court.

"I hope that is materialised in the handing over of the bags." 

Aguinaga also repeated calls made earlier in the week by counsel for the International Cycling Union for six Spanish cyclists who gave evidence to be indicted for perjury.

She said that Angel Vicioso, Isidro Nozal, Joseba Beloki, Unai Osa, David Etxebarria and Marcos Serrano had "flagrantly failed to tell the truth by denying the obvious."

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CYCLING

Swiss rider dies after fall into ravine on Tour of Switzerland

Swiss rider Gino Maeder has died from the injuries he sustained when he plunged into a ravine during a stage of the Tour of Switzerland, his team Bahrain-Victorious said on Friday.

Swiss rider dies after fall into ravine on Tour of Switzerland

Maeder, 26, fell during a high-speed descent on the fifth stage between Fiesch and La Punt on Thursday, after an exhausting day marked by three ascents over 2,000 metres altitude.

He had been found “lifeless in the water” of a ravine below the road, “immediately resuscitated then transported to the hospital in Chur by air”, organisers said.

But the next day, “Gino lost his battle to recover from the serious injuries he sustained,” Bahrain-Victorious said in a statement.

“It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we must announce the passing of Gino Mäder,” his team wrote in a statement.

“On Friday June 16th, following a very serious fall during the fifth stage of the Tour de Suisse, Gino lost his fight to recover from the serious injuries he had suffered. Our entire team is devastated by this tragic accident, and our thoughts and prayers are with Gino’s family and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time.”

“Despite the best efforts of the phenomenal staff at Chur hospital, Gino couldn’t make it through this, his final and biggest challenge, and at 11:30am we said goodbye to one of the shining lights of our team,” the team said in a statement.

Maeder had enjoyed a strong start to the season, finishing fifth in the Paris-Nice race.

American rider Magnus Sheffield also fell on the same descent from Albula, during the most difficult stage of the race with multiple climbs. The Ineos-Grenadiers rider was hospitalised with “bruises and concussion,” organisers said.

On Thursday, world champion Remco Evenepoel criticised the decision to compete on such a dangerous road.

“While a summit finish would have been perfectly possible, it wasn’t a good decision to let us finish down this dangerous descent,” the Belgian wrote on Twitter.

“As riders, we should also think about the risks we take going down a mountain.”

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