First Edition News for September 17, 2003

Edited by John Stevenson

Steinweg ban lifted

Stefan Steinweg at the 2000 world's
Photo: © AFP

Track cyclist Stefan Steinweg, who was banned for two years in May by the German Cycling Federation (BDR), after being found guilty by Australian authorities of attempting to import drugs into Australia, has successfully appealed against the ban.

According to a report on www.radsport-news.com, Steinweg's appeal rested on the grounds that he did not have a BDR license at the time of the offence, and was therefore not subject to UCI anti-doping regulations. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) accepted this argument and waived the ban.

Steinweg was convicted on March 6 by a court in Melbourne, Australia of importing prohibited substances. Customs officials searched him on his arrival at Melbourne International Airport on February 12 and found several types of testosterone (steroids) and six vials of growth hormones in his possession. He was fined AU$700 and ordered him to pay court costs of $661.

"We are very much surprised that the judgment has now been waived", said BDR secretary-general Karsten Schütze. Schütze denied Steinweg's claim that he did not possess a BDR license at the time. "A few days before his departure for Australia Mr. Steinweg requested a license, which was given to him," said Schütze.

Steinweg now plans to resume his career, riding the six-day season and aiming for the Athens Olympics next year. "I am sure I will play an important role in the federation's planning for the Olympics," Steinweg told rad-sportnews.com.

However, the BDR is waiting to see the details of the judgment before deciding if it can take further action against Steinweg.

The CAS' decision raises the prospect that riders can immunise themselves from anti-doping regulations by simply failing to renew their licenses during the off-season.

Evans sets new Irish ten mile TT record

By Shane Stokes, Irishcycling.com

Former Irish record-holder Tommy Evans looks set to reclaim his place at the top after a scorching ride in the Jim Traynor Memorial ten-mile time trial last night. The Totalcycling.com Lindsay Ford rider stormed the distance at an average speed of over thirty miles per hour to record a time of 19 minutes and 23 seconds, 15 seconds better than the record set two years ago by fellow northern rider David McCann.

Evans' time will have to be ratified by Cycling Ireland before it is officially confirmed, but it is highly unlikely that there will be any problems. It had been announced beforehand that he was aiming to set a new ten-mile standard and all the officials will have been in place.

Quick-Step for GP de Wallonie

The Quick-Step - Davitamon team has announced the riders who will ride today's GP de Wallonie. They are: Frederic Amorison, Wilfried Cretskens, Aurelien Clerc, Kevin De Smedt, Andrey Kashechkin, Kevin Hulsmans, Johan Museeuw, Nick Nuyens, Domenico Passuello, and Luca Paolini.

Carrara to Ceramiche Pagnoncelli

Top Italian road cyclist Vera Carrara has moved from the Road Runner team to the Ceramiche Pagnoncelli squad, which shares the same equipment sponsor, Guerciotti.

Hamilton world's and eBay raise funds for Right To Play

The 2003 Road World Cycling Championships, eBay.ca and Right To Play, a non-profit organisation that supports child and community development through sports have teamed up in an on-line auction to benefit both the Hamilton world's and Right To Play.

Items being auctioned include a VIP race package, including a car tour, around the track for 3 laps; a Triumph motorcycle; and a Wayne Gretzky autographed Right To Play hockey jersey.

To bid, visit www.eBay.com/Hamilton2003.

Nella/Cramaro GP goes international

The Nella/Cramaro World Cycling Grand Prix, October 5, 2003 in Thorold Ontario has become a truly international event, according to the organisers. The UCI-sanctioned race for juniors and under-23s will have riders from the US, Belgium, New Zealand, Moldova, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands.

The 12 noon start will cover five laps (25 km/lap) for juniors and 7 laps for the under 23s. The start will be staggered so that both groups will be on the course at the same time.

The Grand Prix is open to licensed individual riders or teams. More information can be found at www.stcatharinescc.com.

St Kilda CC racing again

Melbourne, Australia club St Kilda CC returned to racing September 14 after a winter of negotiations that highlight just how much organisers now have to do in order to put on races, even at the club level.

Announcing the return of racing at the club's Port Melbourne circuit, club president Dean Langenberg said, "It has been a long hard winter, many negotiations, several traffic management plans and more signs and witches hats [Australian for 'bollards' - Ed] than you can poke a stick at - but we did it!"

"In order to conduct our weekly racing, we have had to invest over $7,000 in signage, witches hats and other ancillary equipment," said Langenberg. "We will need one policeman, up to 12 marshals and one mobile toilet block. The Beaumaris Lions Club will provide 6 of the 12 marshals required to meet the provisions of our permit. Whilst they charge for their services, the proceeds will go to some worthy causes. We feel that to call on 12 marshals from the club on a weekly basis would be too much of a drain on our membership and resources. We also cannot risk not having marshals in attendance as, if certain strategic points are not manned, we will simply not be able to race. At this current time, the police attendance will be reviewed on a weekly basis to ascertain their ongoing necessity/requirement."

The circuit has been modified slightly from the one used previously and now has its start/finish in White Street instead of Boundary Street. Racing starts at 8am on Sunday mornings and costs $15.00, a fee that Langenberg says will be reviewed if costs are reduced in future.

IMBA takes congressional staff for a ride

Cynics might say that politicians and their aides regularly take the rest of us for a ride, but mountain bike advocacy organisation IMBA has turned the tables by hosting its first-ever mountain bike ride for congressional staff at Riverbend Park, Virginia, on September 12.

Senate, House and committee staff joined IMBA leaders and local advocates on what was for many, their first mountain bike ride. IMBA, the Maryland Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE), and America Bikes hosted the event.

"Something so fun and simple as a bike ride can really bring people together and help illustrate the importance of the sport," said MORE advocacy director Nancy DeVore.

IMBA executive director Tim Blumenthal said, "This ride is part of IMBA's effort to increase mountain biking's presence in Washington, D.C. Between our dedicated lobbyist and legal counsel, targeted federal land management agency work and simple things like hosting congressional bike rides, we're making sure that government officials understand our sport and our needs."

Previous News    Next News

(All rights reserved/Copyright Knapp Communications Pty Limited 2003)