Phonak idles Gutierrez, Botero

Phonak Cycling Team | Press Release

Phonak has sidelined two of its biggest names as a result of Operation Puerto. José Enrique Gutierrez, whose 2nd in the Giro will certainly have a giant asterisk now, and Santiago Botero. The riders won't race “until the examinations bring more clarity to the picture.”

Said manager John Lelangue:

“If further investigations show that the riders have used methods that are not permitted, they will of course be dismissed immediately.”

If the two should be dropped before the Tour, Phonak would lose two of its three strongest Tour riders.