David Garcia Dapena regrets doping during the 2010 Vuelta a Espana – Cycling News
Spanish rider David Garcia Dapena faced a two year ban during the Vuelta a Espana 2010 as he tested positive for EPO and Hydroxyethyl. He discussed the circumstances under which he had made “the biggest mistake of his life” as he described it.
Garcia joined team Xacobeo-Galicia in 2009 and had to leave the squad because of the ban enforced in 2010. This was also the year that brought the end to team Xacobeo-Galicia as their main sponsor Xunta de Galicia finished their association with them.
He mentioned that doping was always discouraged and condemned in the team and taking the drug was his personal decision as he said, “Alvaro Pino [Team Manager] was always sharp on this issue but neither he or anyone else can control what I do in my house.”
The 33-year-old mentioned that he was under enormous pressure and his performance was not good enough to win him the future contract. He stated that a coach from a different team sold him the drug to improve his performance. Garcia further added that he
never used the product initially as he was concerned about the legal status of the drug as he was unaware of the fact that he had given EPO as he said, “I did not know the product I was taking, but I was aware that I was doping.”
Cyclist admits the use of EPO during the Vuelta a Espana 2010 but denies the use of Hydroxyethyl which was also found during his blood test. When asked about the Hydroxyethyl David commented as, “Something that even today I do not accept, simply because
I never took it, let alone to conceal EPO as some insist on saying, since among other things because I didn’t know I was taking EPO.”
Vincenzo Nibali won the Vuelta a Espana 2010 as David Garcia’s team-mate and a close friend Ezequiel Mosquera finished the race at second position who also tested positive for the same drug. On September 30, 2010 both the Xacobeo-Galicia riders were banned
from the sport for consuming the products prohibited by the UCI.
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