Spanish authorities accused of cover-up as trial into doping in cycling begins in earnest In May 2006 police moved in on Fuentes, seizing a fridge full of around 200 bags of blood belonging to athletes, the majority of whom have never been identified. The operation, code-named "Puerto," brought the arrest of other doctors, sporting directors and trainers suspected of taking part in the doping scheme, and led to 58 cyclists being implicated. Those in the dock alongside Fuentes are his sister Yolanda; Manolo Saiz, the former Liberty Seguros team director; Vicente Belda, the former Comunidad Valenciana team chief and his deputy Jose Ignacio Labarta. The five will have to answer charges of "an offence against public health" rather than incitement to doping, as that was not a crime in Spain at the time of the arrests. Defence lawyers for Fuentes and his co-defendants are expected to argue that the cyclists" health was never endangered because the best technology available was used. Fuentes is expected to take the witness box on Monday with Contador due to give evidence by the end of the week. The main witness for the prosecution is Jesús Manzano, a former cyclist who claims he was made ill by one of the blood bags used by Fuentes. The case will be watched closely by the International Cycling Union, already under pressure for its handling of the Lance Armstrong case. Pat McQuaid, its chairman, was due to speak to Howman this weekend to work out the details of a truth and reconciliation commission. McQuaid has faced calls for his resignation since Armstrong's downfall but insists he is the right man to tackle the drugs culture of cycling. McQuaid said: "My focus, since I became president in 2005, is the fight against doping. I have no intention of resigning, there is a job to be done and I intend to do it.