June 26, 2006 – Spain’s Operation Puerto saga continues. Today’s news alleges that American Tyler Hamilton, currently serving a two-year suspension (which ends soon) could be linked to the list of cyclists that worked with the now infamous Dr. Eufemiano Fuentes.

In today’s edition of the Spanish El País – the same daily that spoke of court documents and police reports that listed several riders who had used illegal drugs such as EPO, HGH, blood transfusions and steroids – Hamilton’s name was linked to Fuentes. Fuentes was one of five people detained in late May, along with Liberty Seguros’ team manager, Manolo Saiz.

According to El Pais Hamilton is reported to have worked with the doctor after he left US Postal, and continued to work with Fuentes while on his last team, Phonak. Hamiton was subsequently banned for testing positive for homologous blood-doping. This practice involves injecting another rider’s red blood cells to boost hematocrit levels. Hamilton has always proclaimed his innocence.

Also named in the list of riders associated with Fuentes was Germany’s Jan Ullrich. El País reports that several susbstances and bags of blood had code names for each rider, with one reportedly being listed as “the son of Rudy”, allegedly referring to Rudy Pevegnage, Ullrich’s long-time mentor.