By Andy Layhe,?Bike Pure?(Twitter?@BikePure) Monday sees the commencement of the Spanish trial into the alleged doping practices of Dr Eufemiano Fuentes, otherwise now known as the doping ring Operation Puerto. The trial begins some six years after Spanish police discovered a range of doping substances, paperwork and blood bags belonging to athletes across a variety of sports. The trial is due to last several months with several notable witnesses due to give evidence including Alberto Contador, himself banned for doping. But even before the trial begins it is causing controversy, particularly within the cycling community. This is because the trial will only focus on the cycling aspect. Spanish authorities have refused to release details of athletes from other sports implicated in the scandal and passed prevented them from giving evidence. Fuentes himself has stated publicly that cyclists only made up for around a third of his client base, with allegations of footballers, tennis players and track and field athletes being linked to the illegal doping ring. As the sport?s reputation still sits bloodied and wounded from disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong?s much hyped ?confession? why is cycling once again being singled out amongst higher profile sports? Former Kelme rider Jes?s Manzano, who is due to give evidence at the Spanish trial, is stated as saying ?well-known footballers? frequented Fuentes? clinic. There has never been a question of why athletes from other sports aren?t being held under the microscope during this trial. Other cyclists who will be giving evidence at the trial tell us that there seems to be a fundamental cover up by the Spanish authorities from releasing information relating to other sports. ?This trial will be nothing more than a circus and another nail in the coffin of the sport? said an unnamed rider due to give evidence who spoke to us earlier today. This week, David Howman, director general of WADA (World Anti Doping Agency) has expressed his concerns as to why one sport is being singled out. In a statement to Telegraph.co.uk Howman said, ?We were always told that the patients this man (Fuentes) was treating were across a number of sports so it was disappointing that cycling was the only sport isolated.? So why are other higher profile, big money sports being protected? It seems as such. Sports such as tennis and football with higher rewards and stature. It?s up to intelligent journalists and leading anti-dopers to address and question these important issues to ensure we are seeing a level playing field when it comes to fair, honest sport. It is becoming all the more easier for other sports to hide behind the tarnished image of cycling. It?s up to you and I that it doesn?t.
