The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) announces that its Disciplinary Commission has rendered its decision in the disciplinary proceedings initiated against Team Java – Kiwi Atlántico (also known as Kiwi Atlántico – Cabo de Peñas) and its representatives Enrique Salgueiro (ESP) and Gerardo Guzman (VEN).
The team - which was registered as a Venezuelan UCI Continental Team in 2022 - is sanctioned with both a ban from registration with the UCI and ineligibility to take part in events on the UCI International Calendar until 31 December 2028; the General Manager of the team, Enrique Salgueiro, is sanctioned with a suspension from any activity in cycling until 31 December 2028 as well as a fine; and the Team Representative, Gerardo Guzman, is sanctioned with a suspension from any activity in cycling until 31 December 2025.
The UCI had referred the case to its Disciplinary Commission in July 2023 following the discovery of potential irregularities in the management of the team, including misrepresentations and the production of false documents.
The Disciplinary Commission found that the team and Enrique Salgueiro were responsible for two cases of fraud under article 12.4.008 of the UCI Regulations; the first related to the unauthorised use of a UCI official’s signature on an official letter, and the second to the submission to the Venezuelan Cycling Federation of a false rider contract which included a rider’s signature used without his authorisation. Enrique Salgueiro was also found to have acted in contravention of principles of trustworthiness and integrity by intentionally submitting false information in the context of the team’s registration process for 2022 as well as during the proceedings before the Disciplinary Commission, in breach of articles 12.2.001 and 12.4.017 of the UCI Regulations.
As for Gerardo Guzman, the Disciplinary Commission found that he was complicit in circumventing the UCI Regulations on the nationality of UCI Continental Teams by registering as the team representative in the sense of article 2.17.010 of the UCI Regulations, without carrying out any of the tasks incumbent upon a person in such a role. Gerardo Guzman was therefore found to have acted in breach of articles 12.2.001 and 12.4.017 of the UCI Regulations.
The decision remains subject to a possible appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.