Doping guru Sainz denied bail by French court
Bernard Sainz, the cycling physiotherapist who was jailed after being caught up in another illicit drugs affair, remains behind bars in Paris after again being denied bail by a French court. Sainz, known in the milieu of cycling as "Doctor Mabuse" and the man once accused of supplying drugs potions for professional cyclists, was arrested in Belgium on February 27 after police found amphetamines and syringes in his car when he was stopped for a speeding offence. Upon his release from a Belgian jail, he was re-arrested in France for having broken the conditions imposed on him in 1999 in the
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By VeloNews Interactive wire services , Copyright AFP2002
Bernard Sainz, the cycling physiotherapist who was jailed after being caught up in another illicit drugs affair, remains behind bars in Paris after again being denied bail by a French court. Sainz, known in the milieu of cycling as “Doctor Mabuse” and the man once accused of supplying drugs potions for professional cyclists, was arrested in Belgium on February 27 after police found amphetamines and syringes in his car when he was stopped for a speeding offence. Upon his release from a Belgian jail, he was re-arrested in France for having broken the conditions imposed on him in 1999 in the wake of a drug scandal there The 58-year-old Sainz, who is physiotherapist to Belgian cyclist Frank Vandenbroucke, was handed a series of sanctions in 1999 aimed at keeping him away from the sport of cycling. A former rider, Sainz was effectively banned from having any contact with professional athletes, supplying products to athletes, attending cycle races, working as a physiotherapist, or leaving France. But most of those conditions were broken weeks ago when Sainz was stopped by police near the Belgian town of Ghent and found to be in possession of syringes and some suspect substances. Following Sainz’s arrest police raided Vandenbroucke’s home and seized banned substances – the blood-boosting drug EPO, morphine, and steroid clenbuterol. Sainz’s nickname ‘Dr Mabuse’ originated from the 1922 film depicting a fake doctor. Sainz was charged in 1999 with breaking the law relating to toxic substances and doping products and imprisoned for two months last May.
Copyright AFP2002