Entries Tagged 'doping' ↓

Professional cycling has more than its fair share of disputes and debates within its own ranks. The current big issue is between the UCI and the organisers of other big races like the Tour de France.

ASO (Amaury Sports Organisation) who organise races like the Tour de France and Paris-Nice, want to be able to have the freedom to select and invite teams to their races. The UCI wants all these races to be incorporated into their ProTour, this would give the UCI the final say in which teams are allowed to enter.

Recently, ASO announced that Astana would not be invited to this year’s tour after a string of negative dope tests, including Alexandre Vinokourov. ASO argue they want the Tour de France to have a clean image and banning teams with a bad history of doping is essential for people to believe in the integrity of the Tour.

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I often wonder how I would have responded, if I had ever become a professional cyclist in an era of doping. I think my response would have been a mixture of despair, anger and defiance. To be honest, I’m glad I never had a career when the majority of the competitors were trying to find the best way to dope.

Paul Kimmage was one young aspiring cyclist who chronicles the nature of doping in cycling. If your interested in understanding the doping culture of procycling I do recommend Paul Kimmage’s book - A rough ride

There is an interesting interview with Paul Kimmage here at Cycling Weekly.

There is an undoubted bitterness about the way he has been treated by the cycling authorities. Yet, I feel this bitterness is borne out of an unjust treatment. In a way I admire, Kimmage alot because he was willing to swim against the tide and speak out against the culture of doping. He is of the impression that he failed to change cycling.

I was naive and idealistic: I thought it would change the world, I really did. It really hurt that nothing came of it. And now I think the sport is really paying for that.

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I recently read this article about Greg LeMond and his hopes for the future of procycling

“Cycling is falling apart at the seams,” LeMond said. “It could take years to revive. I think it can, but only through drastic changes.”

I thought it was a fair assessment. True, cycling has been through some very turbulent  times, with many of the top riders being implicated in doping scandals. However, the difference is that now cycling is actually trying to stop doping. In the past, it was all too common for the UCI and ‘cycling authorities’ to sweep the issue under the carpet. Furthermore, anyone who spoke out against doping was immediately sidelined and forced out of the peloton.

To get an insight into the mindset of professional cycling and doping, I recommend reading Paul Kimmage’s Rough Ride. Since his retirement, in the late 80s, I think the doping scene got even worse. If you have the stomach try reading Wily Voets ‘Breaking the Chain’ about the Festina era.

However, my feeling is that there are more ‘clean cyclists’ now than at any other time in the history of procycling. There is increasing evidence that teams and sponsors will not tolerate doping scandals. In the past it was argued doping was encouraged by sponsors eager for victories. But, now sponsors are realising that professional cycling can all to easily lead to negative advertising. (Personally, I couldn’t buy a Festina watch, without the constant reminder of the doping scandal)

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After serving a two year doping ban, for failed drugs test, Roberto Heras has decided to quit professional cycling. It appears the main reason is that he is unable to join a pro cycling team and therefore, is unable to get sufficient renumeration. Heras complains:

“I still don’t understand the code of ethics and why ProTour teams can’t hire a rider who like me has served his ban. Other top riders will have to quit the peloton because they can’t find a team.”

Personally, I’m glad that doping bans have been getting more stringent. A Two year ban for organised cheating is insufficient. By making it 4 years for protour teams it acts as a greater disincentive to cheat. Also, it helps to maintain cycling’s credibility. When you get known dopers warmly welcomed back into the peloton, it makes a mockery of all those affirmations to ”rid cycling of doping forever’

When Richard Virenque came back to the pro peloton after consuming industrial quantities of drugs and lying about his use, I really lost a lot of faith in pro cycling. There are numerous other examples as well. But, that’s my opinion make the dopers suffer. (I wish they would confiscate all the prize money as well.)

Heras was a triple winner of the Vuelta a Espagne. He was a teammate of Lance Armstrong during the 2001-03 season, riding for US postals. He failed a test for EPO during the time trial stage of the 2005 Vuelta a Espagne. Heras did unexpectedly well in the time trial, losing by only a second. Heras challenged the test, but, it was later upheld.

Heras’s team Liberty Seguros had a turbulent history with a couple of other riders also revealing suspiciously high levels of hematocrit - possible evidence of EPO use.

• Heras tests positive 

It was no great surprise as T Mobile had been threatening it for a few week, but, Today, T Mobile announced they were cutting there involvement in professional cycling.

“We arrived at this decision to separate our brand from further exposure from doping in sport and cycling specifically.”

T Mobile has been involved in professional cycling since 1991. During those years it has often been at the heart of professional cycling and its trademark magenta jerseys have often been a key factor in the major races. In recent years, T-Mobile has been the team of German star Jan Ullrich. Jan won the Tour de France once, but, then spent many years in the shadow of Lance Armstrong. Since compelling evidence has been created around doping and Jan Ullrich, T-Mobile have sought to find an exit strategy. Their decision was made easier through admissions by former team members of EPO use in the 1990s.

The team will continue next year under the sponsorship of High Road Sports

T-mobile decision at Cycling News

Belgian cyclist Bjorn Leukemans, 30 recently failed a testosterone drugs test before the World Championships in Stuttgart, in September.

Bjorn claimed that he had naturally high levels of testosterone. It is a similar case to Floyd Landis who failed the same drugs test and offered a similar explanation.

Italian rider, Cristian Moreni, has been banned for 2 years following his failed drugs test during the Tour de France. For Moreni, who is 35 years old, this almost inevitably means the end of his career. His negative doping test led to Cofidis withdrawing from this Summer’s difficult Tour De France, his actions were bitterly regretted by other team members, such as, Bradley Wiggins who saw their Tour cut short. To his credit Cristian Moreni, never disputed the drug test. He admitted to his guilt. - Such a shame more dopers are unwilling to do that!

•  Lance Armstrong and doping
• Doping scandals 2007 

In a way I really admire what Lance Armstrong did. He nearly died of cancer. But, through strength of will pulled himself back to health and fitness. To re enter the professional peloton after such a serious illness is quite an achievement; to go and win 7 Tour de France victories in succession, is unprecedented to say the least.

Throughout his career Lance Armstrong has been dogged by doping allegations. It is perhaps inevitable that any cycling champion in the current climate will find himself facing similar allegations.

Lance Armstrong has always denied any doping.

These are some of the allegations made about

• Lance Armstrong and drugs 

2007 has been another torrid year for professional cycling. Doping scandals have continued to engulf the sport, with many of the top riders being embroiled in a seemingly endless series of scandals.

The Tour de France was overshadowed by the race leader Michael Rasmussen being withdrawn on the suspicion of lying about his wheareabouts. Other big Cycling doping scandals include:

• Admissions by Patrick Sinkewitz of T Mobile
• Blood doping Alexandr Vinokourov of Kazakhstan (after miraculous recovery in time trial stage). Vinokourov fell under suspicion for working with notorious doctor Michele Ferrari. But, this was the first time Vinokourov failed a doping test
• Tyler Hamilton (recently served a 2 year ban for a similar offence
• Admissions by Bjarne Riss he won the Tour de France under the influence of EPO
• On going investigations as part of Operacion Puerto - This Spanish investigation implicated many top riders such as Jan Ulrich and Ivan Basso
• Floyd Landis unsuccessful in attempts to clear his name following his doping test failure
• Christian Moreni and Bjorn Leukemans

Tour de France doping scandals 2007

Michael Rasmussen has admitted that he lied about his whereabouts before the Tour de France. Anti doping officials are able to carry out random doping tests out of competition. They could not find Michael Rasmussen in Europe, where he said he was. In fact he was in Mexico. Michael Rasmussen said it was for ‘personal reasons’. However, in the modern climate of doping in cycling many feel that this is as bad as an admission of failing a doping test.

Pat McQuaid, the president of cycling’s world governing body the UCI, told Danish television that Michael Rasmussen had no place in the sport after lying before the Tour de France.

Michael Rasmussen was withdrawn from the Tour de France, when he was in a commanding postion of leading the race and wearing the yellow jersey. His withdrawal was a major blow for the race, but, it would have been even more embarrassing for a cyclist with a bad reputation to win the race.

Michael Rasmussen is a former King of the Mountains and World Mountain Bike Champion