Bernard Sainz, aka "Dr. Mabuze," has been found guilty of illegal medical practice and doping incitement and sentenced to one year of house arrest.

The 78-year-old must wear an electronic tag for the next 12 months and is also banned from practicing professionally in the field of sports and health.

The conviction of Saiz follows an investigation conducted by France Télévisions and Le Monde in June 2016, in which hidden cameras showed Sainz outlining doping practices to athletes. Former junior world champion Pierre-Henri Lecouginier admitted to Libération in 2017 that he was one of two riders who wore hidden cameras for the documentary "Cash Investigation," which accused Sainz.

According to L'Équipe (opens in new tab), Sainz plans to appeal the verdict, and his attorney, Hector Bernardini, claims that his client was convicted "based on speculation and interpretation." Sainz said he is "disappointed" in the verdict and sentence. He said, "I have restored some people to health at the limits of conventional medicine."

Prosecutors had sought a two-year prison sentence for Sainz at his trial at the Paris Criminal Court in November. Sainz's previous convictions include a two-year prison sentence (suspended for 20 months) for medical misconduct and doping incitement in 2014.

In February 2019, the Khan Court of Appeal handed down a one-year suspended sentence and a fine of €2,000; in 2013, Sainz was fined €3,000 for his involvement in an investigation into doping of racehorses.

Sainz, who defines himself as a "naturopath," has been associated with professional cyclists since the 1960s, and past clients include the late Philippe Gaumont and Frank Vandenbroeck. His activities became widely known in the aftermath of the 1998 Festina affair, but despite repeated incidents during that period, he continued to frequent professional cycling, and Libération reported that he was an official participant in the 2015 Tour de France Rivarotte.

Paul Mauriac, a lawyer for the French Cycling Federation, expressed his frustration at Sainz's repeated violations. According to L'Équipe, "We have known him for 30 years and he is still at large. 'This damage is irreversible. Mr. Sainz is a cat that always lands on his feet.

On Monday, Sainz's co-accused, former French amateur champion Loïc Elbruteau, was sentenced to three months' suspended jail and fined €2,000 for inciting doping.