Zonneveld questions Soler in doping case: “Why on earth do lactate tests with a suspended doctor?”

According to leaked police investigation files, Soler’s father reportedly had an appointment with Martí — the doctor who was banned due to the doping scandal linked to his time at US Postal. They were said to be waiting with lactate-testing equipment for a rider, and that rider was very likely Marc Soler.

“However, there is no definitive proof that Soler was involved in this meeting because, most likely, Martí and his father realised they were being watched. Soler would then have been informed to keep riding on, and it seems he slipped away,” Zonneveld said.

Soler’s father — who claimed the lactate tests were for him — was handed an eighteen-month ban. Zonneveld finds that explanation hard to believe. “Of course not — that man was sitting in his car without any sports clothes on, waiting.” And in any case, he is no longer active as an athlete. “He’s 50-plus and sometimes does a veterans triathlon, but now he’s not even allowed to do that anymore,” Zonneveld laughed.

“Basically, it’s almost certain that Marc Soler worked with Martí — the question is whether it can also be proven,” Zonneveld added. The analyst is therefore suspicious of the Spaniard when it comes to possible doping use. “Why on earth would you work with a suspended doctor for lactate tests? That’s something so simple you can almost do it yourself.”

That Soler is linked to the story seems hard to dispute, but after three years it may be impossible for anti-doping authorities and Spanish justice to find definitive proof. “And that frustrates, among others, the Spanish police — they find it annoying that nothing can be done with it,” the Dutch analyst said.

“Undoubtedly, the case will be followed up, because the suspension of Soler’s father only came out last week,” Zonneveld continued. For now, the Spanish climber is still racing as normal. He recently won the opening stage of the Vuelta a Murcia and initially appeared to have taken overall victory as well — but that result was later stripped after too much of the course had been removed.