Tour De France 2006 Scalndal!

[TWINKLE]

http://tf1.lci.fr/infos/france/faits-divers/0,,3382540,00-numero-deux-tour-france-controle-positif-.html

At least six french cyclists tests have come back positive.

[Pierre ZFP]

What was the outcome with Floyd Landis?  Did he get to keep his Yellow Jersey?

[TreizeVents]

Floyd still has his yellow jersey.  We await the verdict, at the

end of the month, of the American cycling authority, which is in charge of

deciding if the evidence is good enough to suspend him.  Although he can

appeal to a higher jurisdiction, he won't.  In all the cases of doping,

the national associations have the last word.  This is why Ivan Basso, for

example, has signed a new contract with Discovery to ride this year.  The

evidence in his case, from the Spanish "Operation Puerto" was deemed

inadequate to convict him of anything.  There are a lot of complications,

which can be explained at length, which have to do with varying jurisdictions

of national and international bodies in cycling and doping.  This is

complicated by the current battle between the Grand Tours and those who run and

won them (French Spanish, Italian) and the "Pro Tour", which is

another business organisation which is trying to compete with and control the

Grand Tours.  Its all to do with sports bureaucracy and its

jurisdictions. 

But Floyd still has the jersey.

[TWINKLE]

He may still have the jersey but......

Floyd Landis l'Américain, qui avait terminé avec le maillot jaune sur les Champs Elysées, en juillet dernier, a été convaincu de dopage. Aucun vainqueur n'a encore été désigné pour l'édition 2006, en attendant la fin des procédures. L'Allemand Andreas Klöden a terminé en troisième position du Tour 2006.

Officially nobody won the Tour de France 2006.  If Landis and the Spanish cyclist are disqualified it'll be the German Andreas Kloden who'll be wearing the yellow jersey.

Unless of course...........[Www]

[TreizeVents]

Hi Twinkle,

Just to settle matters a bit and clarify them further, look at the official

definitive results on the Tour de France official site. 

http://www.letour.fr/2006/TDF/LIVE/us/2000/classement/ITG.html  We have to

remember that reporters for AFP and other news agencies are often not really up

to date on all the issues of each particular sport.  They, the owners of the Tour, cannot disqualify Floyd until all the

evidence is in.  Even though they stopped innocent riders from riding the

Tour 06 on no serious evidence at all (Ullrich, Mancebo, Basso, Contador, Davis,

etc.)  That means ASO (the Tour owners)

have had to wait until the American Federation decides on the issue of whether

Floyd's test result, for an elevated ration between two kinds of testosterone,

were OK, good enough, clear enough.  When they do, and there is little

doubt they will decide he was doping, THEN and only then can the Tour take away

his jersey, that is the win. 

 

However, other agencies, like the French one

that just revealed they are going to examine the case of a number of cyclists

in the Tour who tested positive, can ban him and others from racing in France

only.  That's the French Government Anti-Doping Agency (which of course is

not the same as the World Anti-0doping Agency, which is not the same as the

UCI, the international cyclists body).  This agency is now asking the

riders who tested positive for doping of various kinds, to furnish serious

medical evidence that they should have had an exemption for taking the drugs

they did take.  This agency now only has “administrative evidence”,

whatever that might be.  Probably a

formule without proper attestation or a tampon that is incorrect, knowing the

French.  Many cyclists take drugs that

WOULD be illegal if they did not have a good medical reason.  Examples abound.  This French agency

suspects that maybe some of the riders did not REALLY have a good medical

reason to use the illegal drugs.  That's how Pereiro (who was SECOND in

the Tour and would have been declared the winner) and his case just made the

news. 

It is really quite complicated with all the agencies and federations fighting

for power, jurisdiction and control over the sport and the drugs tests. 

So for another week or so, Floyd still is the winner of the Tour.  After

that, we shall see if they give it to Pereiro or Kloden.  IN any case it is a massive mess and totally

embarrassing to all who live the sport, as I do.

[TWINKLE]

Yes it's embarrassing.  The drugs are rampant in this sport - there's no getting away from it,  it's been going on for years.  Do you remember Virenc?  How embarrassing was he?

I have followed a couple of etapes (Tour de France 1991) with my band as we were playing live concerts during the whole of the  tour with the sponsor Europe 1.  The mind boggles at how on earth they manage to cycle for all of that time in such extreme conditions and I remember getting out of the vehicule and walking up the incredibly steep 'cols' to see what it was like. 

It's like hell!

[TreizeVents]

Well, Twinkle, its always different for a cyclist looking at the Tour

than a non-cyclist.  But overall, its has the same basic effect. 

Anyone who is fit can climb those hills.  I have seen fully laden tourists

do it.  I have done many of the famous tough climbs.  Admittedly some

when I was younger.  So its not the steepness or the length that is a real

problem.  Its the blazing speed they climb at.  Having done them you

just cannot figure how they can do it, day after day.  Sure they have

support, the lightest and best bikes, all they have to do is get fit, all

that.  But it is still utterly astounding. 

As for the drugs, well, that has to have a context.  Besides the endless

and much worse than before bureaucratic cycling infighting that is getting way

out of hand, details on request.  We live in a society where loads of

people take drugs.  Alcohol, coffee, sugar, speed, cocaine, cannabis,

antibiotics and the list goes on.  Many people could not survive normal life

without drugs, and I am not even talking about people who are seriously

ill.  I always try to take this in context of a society which is drug

ridden.  The cyclists at least have a good reason to take drugs.  On

the other hand, they are against the rules and if you get caught, you pay. 

If you have a good doctor and up to date techniques, you don't get

caught.  And if you are clean, you can still win sometimes.  Although

these days no knows who is clean.  But this does not change the basic

spectacle of the whole event.

[TreizeVents]

Information from cyclingnews.com

McQuaid blasts Pereiro allegations, commends WADA changes

By

Shane Stokes

UCI President Pat McQuaid has strongly criticised the French anti-doping

agency AFLD and the Le Monde newspaper over their suggestions that Tour

de France runner-up Oscar Pereiro doped during the Tour de France.

On Thursday Le Monde

said that Pereiro had twice provided urine samples containing traces of

the controlled substance salbutamol. The Spanish rider has a therapeutic

use exemption (TUE) permitting him to use Ventolin to treat this, but

according to the Le Monde story, he hasn't provided sufficient proof to

show he needs this.

In a press conference, his personal allergist, Dr. Luis Sands, stated

that Pereiro suffers from "moderate" asthma and denied that

the usual dosage of medication could give a positive test. McQuaid also

said that the rider's condition was genuine.

"It is a completely ridiculous situation and is typical of the AFLD,

the French anti-doping agency," the Irishman told Cyclingnews

on Friday. "Everyone in the sport accepts the WADA rules [regarding

standards for TUE's], but they go off and do their own thing. It is typical.

There is no way he can be considered positive. He is an asthmatic, he

has all the medical backup to show that he has been an asthmatic, and

I believe he has now sent that to the AFLD. That should be the end of

it.

"It is scandalous reporting on the part of Le Monde to put down

that Oscar Pereiro was positive. He was not positive. He uses Ventolin

to treat asthma, as many people do. It is not a doping product or anything

like that."

[TreizeVents]

Pereiro cleared by French anti-doping

Happy Oscar

Photo ©: Sirotti

Oscar Pereiro, the 2006 Tour de France runner-up was cleared of any doping

charges by the French Anti-Doping Authority (AFLD) today. Pereiro, who

had a certificate to use the asthma drug salbutamol from the UCI, was

put under pressure last

week by the AFLD to file further documents supporting his medical

need for the drug.

Pereiro submitted

the forms late last week, and was among 11 riders who were cleared when

the AFLD accepted their medical clearance. The other riders were not named.

The story of Pereiro's case exploded when the French newspaper Le

Monde reported that Pereiro had tested positive, something that UCI

president Pat McQuaid called "scandalous". "He was not positive."

McQuaid told Cyclingnews, "He uses Ventolin to treat asthma,

as many people do. It is not a doping product or anything like that."

[TWINKLE]

The French have an expression which really sums up this sort of press release.

It can be visual as shown in the photo below

Or, it can be spoken - "Mon oeil!"

It basically means "Who are you trying to kid?" or  "You can't pull the wool over my eyes"

 

[TreizeVents]

I am not quite sure what you are getting at.  What is it that you don't believe? This is what actually happened.  I took it from Cyclingnews.com today.  To explain a bit.  There is an ultra enthusiastic government sponsored body called the French Anti-Doping Authority.  This is in addtion to the UCI, the overall governing body of cycling, the French national cycling federation and the World Anti-doping Agency.  All fighting for power and glory and money.  Anyway the French anti-doping group can only say things about what happens or will happen in France.  They can, for example, exclude someone form riding in France, but not in the world.  And they, like anyone else who would have looked, found that quite a few cyclists tested positive in the Tour.  That is, they had something illegal in their urine or blood.  "Suddenly", months later, French justice being what it someetimes is, they let a leak out about Pereiro.  Really they should never do this, and in countries of legal extremity like America, they would have been taken to court and found guilty and been forced to pay loads of money to Oscar.  As someone woud have when tehy excluded form the Tour this year, people who when tried in the proper channels were found innocent of any crimes or doping.  Anyway, the big disupte was not about whether Periero had been using salbutamol in his inahler or whatever, but whether he had the right kind of doctor's note to say he really did have asthma or allergies or whatever.  Turned out that he was able to produce this note and keep the French anti-doping government hacks happy.  This does not mean that he actually does have asthma or whatever, of course, but it does mean that he was able to provide as much documentation as anyone could wish for. 

As for doping in sport in general, of course there are many views.  The most intelligent one is that athletes take drugs.  Not all, maybe loads, maybe a few, but definitely some take drugs to increase their performance, to extend their careers, to win the big one, whatever.  As do plenty of normal people who are not athletes for the same reasons, although "recreational" can be added for normal people.  And some of them get caught or go over the top.  But sometimes they might NOT be taking drugs too.  And in this case, by the official views of the official bodies what Pereiro did is fine.  So if and when Landis gets his suspension from the USA authorities, in a week or two I think, then Pereiro will officially win theTour.

[TWINKLE]

Just trying to be funny about yet another sport that has become a joke.  So you're saying that everyone knows the drugs are being administered to these sportsmen but it's okay as long as they can justify it with a Ventoline pump?  Ridiculous!

How many people suffering with asthma would consider taking up cycling at a national sport level?

I'm not looking for an argument TreizeVents - honest.   Just tell me to get on my bike and I will once I've had a pull on my Serotide[:)] 

[TreizeVents]

[quote user="TWINKLE"]

Just trying to be funny about yet another sport that has become a joke.  So you're saying that everyone knows the drugs are being administered to these sportsmen but it's okay as long as they can justify it with a Ventoline pump?  Ridiculous!

How many people suffering with asthma would consider taking up cycling at a national sport level?

I'm not looking for an argument TreizeVents - honest.   Just tell me to get on my bike and I will once I've had a pull on my Serotide[:)] 

[/quote]

No I am not saying that.  Everyone knows that cyclists, sportsmen

and ordinary people take drugs of various kinds to get through the day. 

And everyone knows that cyclists take drugs for sure.  Some of them. 

No one knows how many or who, until they are caught.  But it is totally

well known that many global level cyclists suffer from allergies, asthma and

all sorts of conditions and still manage to ride at the top level, but perhaps

not when the stuff they are allergic to is heavy in the air.  Landis' hip is a clear case.  Who would htink he could ride like that when he couldn't walk normally!  Greg Lemond,

for example, suffered, but earlier in the cycling year, not during the

Tour.  He never did well in the spring.  And it is pretty well known

that he was clean (maybe).  Many others have medical problems, that is

well known.  That is why they have the system of medical excuses written

into all the procedures.  What is also well known, or widely suspected, is

that some of those cyclists might be cheating too.  That is, they might

have found some doctor to SAY they have a problem that requires taking some

treatment that other cyclists cannot take.  If they have a tame doctor,

they can cheat or they can use drugs like Pereiro used to "cover up"

use of other drugs.  Its complicated here.  But if they don't get

actually caught....  Every other cyclist in that original item you quoted

also "got off", they had valid excuses.  There are classic

injustices too.  There is a French cyclist, Frank Bouyer, who has

narcolepsy.  The only treatment is a forbidden drug.  He got busted

for this, and in spite of all his efforts, was excluded for two years.  He

should have been allowed, everyone knows.

No argument seen or heard.  Its just a bit complicated and not everyone

understands the details of the rules and the drug use.  And then of course

there is the classic case of Delgado, who, in the year he won the Tour, was

caught taking a drug that was forbidden by the Olympic committee, but not yet

forbidden by the UCI (cyclists body).  It would have been in two weeks,

but was not at the exact time he got busted.  It was a "masking drug",

to hide use of steroids, as I recall.  He got off.  And what they

define as illegal changes all the time as well.  Plus they have to have a

reliable test for a given drug.  And of course the reliable test comes

AFTER the drug hunters find out or suspect that a drug is being used.  For

example, they have a test for blood doping id the rider uses someone else's

blood, but NOT if he re-introduces his own.  Tyler Hamilton got busted

because he used someone else's, not his own.

In countries like America, you have to take drug tests to get a job in MANY

cases.  People take drugs!  All kinds of people.