Editor’s note

On February 3, USADA announced that Cesar Marte accepted a sanction stemming from a urine sample taken on July 21, 2013, during an in-competition test, at the CRCA Lou Maltese Memorial in New York, N.Y., that resulted in an adverse analytical finding for the prohibited stimulant Modafinil.

Modafinil has been shown to prolong exercise time to exhaustion while performing at 85% of VO2 max and also reduces the perception of effort required to maintain this threshold.

Modafinil is prohibited in-competition under the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing and the International Cycling Union (UCI) anti-doping rules, both of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code (“Code”) and the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.

Henry Francisco contacted Marte and offered to share a transcript of his conversation with Marte with NYVC. The conversation has been translated and copy edited.

Who are you?

My name is Cesar Alberto Marte Arias, I’m an amateur cyclist based in the Dominican Republic and New York.

When did you start to ride your bike?

I was a teen, around 15 or 16 years old in the Dominican Republic.

What inspired you?

First watching my father, then the races in the capital. I wanted to be in the sport right away. I took my time. I started doing physical training before getting on the bike. My father wanted me to become a cyclist, but it was my own will that makes me become a cyclist.

How did you start?

I got an old BMX, in DR we race BMX before riding a road bike. My father brought me a road bike in 2008 and within month I was competing in national events, competing with the stronger riders that I used to watch.

How is like racing in Dominican Republic?

Races are tough, everyone wants to be on the national team to travel and get the experience. The races are fast, but with lots of attacks. The Dominican Vuelta is very fast, and we all want to get the optimum fitness to be able to compete.

Did you leave the school to become a cyclist?

No, I always went to school and had good grades, in my last year of high school I got my green card and came to USA to live with my father. I went to school to learn English, but nothing else.

Any difference in the racing style?

Yes, racing in NYC is very fast when compared to the Dominican Republic, the speed is high and races are very tactical, the adaptation was very fast. I could sit in, the positioning and moving in the peloton required an extra effort. Dominicans race very aggressively, lot of attacks and changes to the speed of the race. If you race La Vuelta the speed goes higher plus the attacks.

If I don’t answer is because my cell is dying.

No problem, I understand. How long did it take for you to adapt to racing in NYC?

A long time, I started Cat 4. My father told me to start from the bottom so I can get to the level of the races in USA. After that I had to train more so I could move up in the category system and be able to race with the pros. The whole process took me 2-3 years.

The conversation was cut short due to a blackout in DR.

Next day in the morning the conversation continued.

What is the hardest race you have ever done?

Most races here are hard, lots of great riders, regardless of age. All of the races here are hard. Somerville, Wilmington and Iron Hill were very difficult, Also Harlem is very fast and tough. The Mengoni Grand Prix is a lot of pressure for the team as well because of the presence of Mr Mengoni.

How is the relationship with you father in and out of the race?

It’s like any father-son relationship, he is always giving me advice before and during the race. Sometimes I get mad, because I think he doesn’t trust me in the races.

How did you get to Mengoni?

After doing the whole of 2010 as a cat 4, my father put me in the team with the support of Mr. I.

How is the relationship with your teammates?

Very good, they all treated me with respect and I felt like the little kid of the team, it was an amazing experience.

How do you think they feel after what happened?

I know they are sad, but I’m sure that deep inside they know I didn’t do anything wrong. I never used that drug or any other.

Did you speak to any of them?

Not directly, my father gets the messages from teammates. My father is devastated, he fought and tried to get to the bottom of this.

How did it get into your body?

It may sound like a lie, but I don’t know. I’m not a rider that used any substances to race, ever. I’m allergic to Caffeine. I used regular GNC supplements, because I’m aware of the risk of the unknown or hidden. In the past I tried an energy drink and my heart rate went up, I didn’t finish that race. That was at Dairylands

What supplements do you take?

Mega Men, Vitamin C, Powerbar powders to recuperaten.

Were you ever offered drugs?

No, never.

How was the day before the Lou Maltese race?

Resting, taking my supplements and eating.

Can you name the supplements?

Vitamin C, Powerbar powders as I said before.

Do you know Modafinil?

NO, this is the first time I’ve heard about it, I’ve never in my life heard or knew about this or what is used for.

Did you ask your father or anybody else?

Yes, I asked but he didn’t know either, it was the first time he heard about it too.

How did it get to your body then?

I told you I don’t know

What is your explanation for this?

Maybe my body produces it, a combination of supplements maybe? But I don’t know. Really I don’t know.

That is hard to believe Cesar.

I understand, but I would not lie about something like that. Jesus died saying the truth, if I knew the first day I met USADA I would have told them.

What do you want to tell the cycling community?

That I have no words to describes this, I know lot of them are going to judge me or not believe me

What about your friends?

My friends know me, I’m not the kind of guy that would do anything like that, I’m disciplined and I work hard to get where I get with no drugs.

And the Team?

I want to apologize to the team, Mr. I. and the others. I’m not the only victim here, the whole team gets tainted. I will keep on fighting and training

In summation, you never heard about Modafinil, never used drugs and have no idea how it got to your body.

Exactly

What are you doing with life now?

I will focus on school and a job to keep a job to support myself while living in NYC.