Latest Cycling News for November 19, 2004

Edited by Jeff Jones

Anderson report recommends AIS reforms

Or, how to investigate doping without a positive test

Some puzzles answered; some still unclear; bizarre piglet iron link uncovered

By John Stevenson

The full stage one report of the Anderson inquiry
Photo ©: CN

In December 2003 cleaners at the Australian Institute of Sport's Del Monte facility in Adelaide found a large plastic bucket containing injection paraphernalia, phials of equine growth hormone and packets of a homeopathic glucocorticosteroid preparation called TestiComp.

That discovery led to the almost certain end of the career of young sprinter Mark French, in whose room the bucket was found, and threatened to derail the preparations of the entire Australian track cycling team in the run-up to the Athens Olympics.

After three investigations into the affair and an enormous amount of negative publicity for Australian cycling, the latest stage of the official report from the enquiry conducted by retired Supreme Court Justice the Honourable Robert Anderson QC exonerates the riders implicated by French; reveals who actually used the equine growth hormone and makes some interesting recommendations as to how such situations should be handled in future that are relevant to all sporting bodies, not just Australian ones. It also leaves open some questions about the involvement of the Australian government and media in the ensuing furor, and finds that someone at the AIS was conducting some interesting Internet searches.

The Australian track cycling team bounced back in the most spectacular possible fashion at Athens, collecting its biggest track cycling medal haul in history. Nevertheless, in the months before Athens five members of the shadow team - Shane Kelly, Jobie Dajka, Sean Eadie, Graeme Brown and Brett Lancaster - found themselves accused of using French's room to inject themselves with various substances. The sport as a whole was subjected to an unprecedented media campaign of suspicion and hostility.

The findings

A major finding of the second stage report was that there was no culture of drug use at the AIS Del Monte facility in Adelaide. French had alleged that he had been part of group injecting sessions, but the report concludes that this allegation is unsupported by any evidence.

Other major findings of the report include:

• A strong recommendation that there should be an independent body to investigate suspected infractions such as substance abuse and to carry the prosecution of persons against whom evidence is obtained;
• That DNA testing of the contents of French's sharps bucket links only two cyclists to use of banned substances, French and Dajka;
• Brown and Lancaster admitted self-injecting vitamins while overseas, claiming that they only injected permitted substances and complied with disclosure requirements. AIS frowned on the practice of self-injection but there were no rules or guidelines about it. This has been rectified. "There is now in place a policy of zero tolerance regarding the use of needles," says the report.

Click here for the full feature

Renäng dropped from Liquigas

By Gabriella Ekström

On November 16, ProTour team Liquigas-Bianchi held a press conference to announce its 2005 line up, but Swedish road champion Petter Renäng was not on the list, despite the fact that he signed a contract with the team on October 21.

"It appears they have registered me as a neo-pro with the UCI, and they haven't approved of that because I'm over 23 years of age," Renäng told Cyclingnews. "Apparently, they can only call me neo-pro if I have ridden for a third division team previously, and if I'm under 23. I have ridden for Team Bianchi Nordic, which is a third division team, but unfortunately I turned 23 in July this year."

After the contract was signed in October, Renäng heard little from the team, but was informed that he was wanted for a medical examination and training camp on November 22. While preparing for his leave, he was informed, through his former manager Tommy Prim, that he was not a part of the team he had signed for. One solution to the situation would have been to just re-sign Renäng and leave the "neo-pro" part out, but all the places for non neo-pro riders had been filled since October 21, with the most famous addition to the team being Mario Cipollini, who announced his new team on October 30.

"Obviously this news is pretty depressing to me. Since I learned I was close to a deal with Liquigas-Bianchi, I stopped looking around for other teams, and after I signed the contract I obviously thought I'd be riding with them. Now I have nothing to rely on, except the fact that I've heard there will be a UCI meeting in December, where they will discuss whether this rule will apply next year or not. Apparently other teams have had the same problem. That's pretty much what I know, and I have only received second hand information, from Tommy Prim. I think that since I have signed a contract with the team, they should make an effort to get in contact with me."

Renäng has been offered a to ride as a stagiaire for Liquigas-Bianchi after September 1st next year as a consolation, but that does very little to help his situation right now. "Perhaps I can find some elite team to ride for until then, but it's not quite the same thing," Renäng concluded.

Liquigas-Bianchi team roster

Michael Albasini (Swi), Dario Andriotto (Ita), Magnus Bäckstedt (Swe), Patrick Calcagni (Swi), Kjell Carlström (Fin), Dario David Cioni (Ita), Mario Cipollini (Ita), Daniele Colli (Ita, neo-pro), Danilo Di Luca (Ita), Stefano Garzelli (Ita), Enrico Gasparotto (Ita, neo-pro), Mauro Gerosa (Ita), Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe), Nicola Loda (Ita), Oscar Mason (Ita), Vladimir Miholievic (Cro), Marco Milesi (Ita), Devis Miorin (Ita), Matej Mugerli (Slo, neo-pro), Andrea Noè (Ita), Luciano Pagliarini (Bra), Franco Pellizotti (Ita), Marco Righetto (Ita, neo-pro), Gian Luca Sironi (Ita), Charly Wegelius (GBr), Marco Zanotti.

Amore & Vita complete

The Vatican sponsored team Amore & Vita-Beretta has completed its roster for 2005. Managed by Cristian Fanini and directed by Roberto Pelliconi and Maurizio Giorgini, the team will be composed of: Claudio Bartoli (Ita), Jamie Burrow (GBr), Jonas Holmkvist (Swe), Lukasz Kacorzyk (Pol), Kimmo Kananen (Fin), Arthur Krzeszowiec (Pol), Aleksandr Kuchynski (Blr), Jonas Ljungblad (Swe), Mateusz Mroz (Pol), Domenico Passuello (Ita), Michal Pomietlo (Pol) and Marek Wesoly (Pol).

Bertagnolli to Cofidis

Saeco's Leonardo Bertagnolli, one of the team's best domestiques and winner of three races this year, has signed a contract with the French Cofidis team for next season. Bertagnolli had an agreement to ride for the Saeco/Lampre combined team Lampre-Caffita, but opted to leave for Cofidis.

Edo to Saunier

Spanish sprinter Angel Edo has been confirmed as riding for Saunier Duval next season, leaving his current team of Milaneza-Maia.

Gomez to Phonak

Team Phonak has signed promising Spanish climber Angel Gomez (Paternina) to ride for them next season. Gomez finished eighth in this year's Vuelta and is considered one of the more promising Spanish riders, especially in the mountains.

Pregnolato angry at Pantani book

Marco Pantani's former masseur Roberto Pregnolato is threatening to sue Pantani's former manager Manuela Ronchi over some parts of the book that she has written on Pantani's life. "I believe that the story of Pantani is quite different to that which is portrayed in the book," said Pregnolato to Tuttobiciweb. "The intention was certainly to tell Marco's story, but the reality was betrayed...I don't want to add any more reflections and I want to consult with my lawyer, with whom I will meet next week. I have already made photocopies of the passages that offended me."

Acqua & Sapone hopes for ProTour spot

Although Phonak still has until November 22 to appeal its exclusion from the UCI's ProTour, there are other teams already lining up at the doors of the UCI HQ in Aigle to take the potential vacant spot. Palmiro Masciarelli's Acqua e Sapone team will meet with the UCI next Monday regarding the possibility. The team has already given the UCI a dossier, but was not selected among the 20 ProTour teams.

Euskaltel-Euskadi meets

Basque team Euskaltel-Euskadi will hold its first training camp of the new season in Derio, beginning next Monday evening, November 22 and finishing on Friday, November 26. The team will give a press conference in the Hotel Laia on the 23rd. A new addition to Euskaltel-Euskadi next year will be Lampre's team doctor, Dr José Ibarguren.

Gold rush for Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under

A large contingent of Olympic and world champions will line up in the 2005 Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under when it kicks off next January 18. Local hero Stuart O'Grady, who won gold in the Madison in Athens and became the first Australian to win a round of the road World Cup, will lead the Cofidis team, while triple (gold-silver-bronze) Olympic medallist, Bradley Wiggins (GBr) has been confirmed to led Credit Agricole.

Three members of the winning Australian pursuit team at the Olympics, Graeme Brown, Brett Lancaster and Peter Dawson, will also race the JCTDU. Brown was a dual gold medallist in Athens after winning the madison along with the team pursuit.

Two time road time trial World Champion, Michael Rogers, will return to the JCTDU in 2005 with his Quick.Step team and the Spanish registered Liberty Seguros has confirmed the Portuguese silver medallist in the road race at the Olympics, Sergio Paulinho, will make his debut in Adelaide.

"It's fantastic for the race that we have attracted the stars of the Olympic Games and of World Championship competition," said Race Director, Mike Turtur. "What is even more satisfying for me is that many of them are Australian cyclists. "The Tour provides an ideal opportunity for sports fans to see their home-grown heroes who are now amongst the very best cyclists in the world. It's going to be a hot field and I predict we'll see some of the most exciting racing in the Tour's six year history."

More information: www.tourdownunder.com.au

Athens stars to Clarence St. Cup

Some of Australia's top track cyclists will be racing at Sydney's Dunc Gray Velodrome for the Clarence St Cyclery Cup on Saturday, November 27. Athens Olympians Graeme Brown, Ryan Bayley, Anna Meares, Steve Wooldridge, Shane Kelly, Ben Kersten, Kate Bates, Sean Eadie, Ashley Hutchinson and Sara Carrigan will be present, along with Junior World Champions Michael Ford and Matthew Goss; Paralympic gold medalist Kial Stewart, and multiple national champion Rochelle Gilmore. A large number of local cyclists will provide strong competition to the top guns, and it looks set to be an interesting evening of racing.

Events on the schedule include:

Clarence St Junior Carnival - 1:00pm
Clarence St - Trek Wheel Race - 4:00pm (heats)
NSW Open Derny Championships - 5:00pm
Open Track Carnival - 6:30pm
NSW Elite Men & Under-19 Keirin Championships - 6:30pm

More information: www.cyclingnews.com/sponsors/clarencestreet/

24 hour track event in Aigle

In the spirit of the old-style six day races, which used to run without a break for 144 hours, there is a 24 hour track race planned at the UCI's World Cycling Centre in Aigle on December 3-4. It will start at 19:00 on Friday evening and finish at the same time on Saturday. The race will see up to 40 teams take part with four to five members per team, but only one rider per team on the track at any particular time. The team which has done the most kilometres at the end of the 24 hours will win a prize.

The organisers hope to have the teams complete more than 42,000 km in total and will measure the distance by giving each team a computer and fitting each bike with a transponder, the computer being in effect the relay baton.

More information: www.domcycle.ch

Australian Cyclist of the Year finalists named

Cycling Australia has announced the finalists in the Shimano 2004 Australian Cyclist of the Year Awards, which will be staged at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour on Friday, November 26. The awards will be given out on the basis of 1) performance at principal world events, 2) performance at other major international events, 3) performance at premier domestic level, 3) consistency of performances, and 4) ambassadorship for the sport of cycling.

The finalists are listed in alphabetical order as follows:

Junior Men's Track Cyclist of the Year: Michael Ford, Miles Olman, Matthew Goss

Junior Men's Road Cyclist of the Year: Simon Clarke, Matthew Goss, Josh Wall

Junior Men's MTB Cyclist of the Year: Amiel Cavalier, Shaun Lewis

Junior Men's BMX Cyclist of the Year: Michael Fenwick, Billy Jolliffe, Brian Kirkham

Junior Women's Track Cyclist of the Year: Skye-Lee Armstrong, Bianca Rogers, Amanda Spratt

Junior Women's Road Cyclist of the Year: Hannah Banks, Natasha Mapley, Amanda Spratt

Junior Women's MTB Cyclist of the Year: Tracey Hannah, Erica Oldfield

Male Masters Cyclist of the Year: Jayson Austin (Masters 2), Ron Truman (Masters 9), David Willmott (Masters 5)

Female Masters Cyclist of the Year: Julie Barnett (Masters 3), Tabatha Cole (Masters 2), Liz Randall (Masters 7)

Male Multi Disability Cyclist of the Year: Greg Ball, Peter Brooks, Kieran Modra (pilots David Short & Robert Crowe), Christopher Scott

Female Multi Disability Cyclist of the Year: Lindy Hou (pilots: Janelle Lindsay, Toireasa Ryan), Claire McLean, Janet Shaw (pilot: Kelly McCombie)

Male BMX Cyclist of the Year: Kamakazi, Luke Madill, Warwick Stevenson

Male MTB Cyclist of the Year: Sam Hill, Nathan Rennie, Sid Taberlay

Female MTB Cyclist of the Year: Lisa Mathison, Katrina Miller

Ride Cycling Review Male Road Cyclist of the Year: Robbie McEwen, Bradley McGee, Stuart O'Grady, Michael Rogers

Trek & Clarence St Cyclery Female Road Cyclist of the Year: Sara Carrigan, Olivia Gollan, Oenone Wood

Cyclingnews.com Male Track Cyclist of the Year: Ryan Bayley, Graeme Brown, Luke Roberts

Female Track Cyclist of the Year: Katherine Bates, Katie Mactier, Anna Meares

Media Awards

Keith Esson Regional Media Award: The Courier Newspaper (Ballarat) - David Brehaut; The Shepparton News (Shepparton) - Robert Harris; The Western Advocate (Bathurst) - Anya Whitelaw & Lisa Gervals

Best Print Story: Ian Cockerill - "Breaking Away" - Inside Sport; Rupert Guinness - "King of the Road" - Daily Telegraph; Melissa Ryan - "Meares now toast of the town" - The Age

Best Photo: David Fletcher - "Horsham Velodrome" - Wimmera Mail Times; David Gray - "Speed Blur" - Reuters (published in The Age); Sarah Reed - "Hitting the Dirt" - The Advertiser

Best Electronic Story (Radio or TV): Michael Tomalaris & David McGrath - "Paralympic hopefuls prepare for Athens" - Cycling Central, SBS TV; John Thompson-Mills - "Tour de France Stage 9" - Triple J Radio

Awards will also be presented in the following categories:

Ausport Volunteer Awards
SBS Television Australian Coach of the Year

The full list of finalists and their achievements in all categories is available at www.cycling.org.au

U.S. downhiller warned

U.S. downhill mountain biker Chris Del Bosco (Vail, Colorado), has been issued a warning by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency after testing positive to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) at the National Championships on September 26, 2004, in Mammoth Mountain, California. The 22 year-old will be disqualified from his first place finish in the event but will otherwise not be sanctioned, apart from the public warning.

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