In a press release issued on Monday, the International Cycling Union (UCI) announced it has banned the elite Venezuelan team Java – Kiwi Atlantico and its team manager Enrique Salgueiro until 31 December 2028 for fraudulent actions “following the discovery of potential irregularities in the management of the team.”

Salgueiro, 42, is a former Spanish professional rider who raced from 2003-2008, earning stage victories at Vuelta a Leon, Tour des Pyrenees and Vuelta a Extramadura. He has managed Java – Kiwi Atlantico since 2019.

The UCI Disciplinary Commission found that the team and Salgueiro were directly responsible for two cases of fraud under UCI article 12.4.008; the first related to falsely using the signature of a UCI official, and the second for forging a rider’s signature on a contract submitted to the Venezuelan Cycling Federation. In addition, the commission ruled that Salgueiro failed to act with trust and integrity when registering the team in 2022.

While individual team riders have not been banned or sanctioned, team representative Gerardo Guzman is also banned from participating in the sport in any capacity until 31 December 2025.

Guzman was found complicit in circumventing UCI regulation 2.17.010 concerning the nationality of the Java – Kiwi Atlantico team, fraudulently indicating he resided in the same country where is registered the team, when in fact he did not.

Photo Credit: Varo de Vigo

© 2019-2024 All Rights Reserved Gran Fondo Daily