News for March 20, 2002

Edited by John Stevenson

French ministry wants independent doctors for Tour

The French minister for sport, Marie-George Buffet has asked the UCI and Tour de France organisers to investigate the possibility of a panel of independent doctors at the Tour to assess the medical need for riders to use drugs that can have both therapeutic and performance-enhancing effects.

However, UCI president Hein Verbruggen has ruled out the creation of the panel just for the Tour de France.

The measures were discussed at a meeting yesterday attended by Buffet, Verbruggen, Patrice Clerc of Tour owners the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), Jean Pitallier, president of the Fédération Française de Cyclisme (FFC), Michel Boyon, president of the French anti-doping body, CPLD, and Tour de France director Jean-Marie Leblanc as well as representatives from the WADA and French sports ministry.

The meeting agreed that the procedures used in 2001 should continue: riders will be subject to blood controls and at least six riders per day will be tested for EPO. At the urging of the French ministry it was also agreed that a working group would meet in the next 10 to 15 days to determine the feasibility of an independent panel of doctors for the 2002 Tour.

Verbruggen raised eight practical and procedural issues that such a panel would have to overcome. The points include the problem of resolving a dispute between a rider's own doctor and the panel. "What would happen if the panel refused to recognise the validity of the Yellow Jersey's doctor prescribing cortisone?" asked Verbruggen.

Patrice Clerc, president of the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), ownbers of the Tour de France, said, "control of drug abuse can only happen in a program that applies to all sports, not just cycling."

Sacchi ordered to face CONI

Suspended Saeco rider Fabio Sacchi has been summoned to explain himself on Monday to the Italian Olympic Committee. Riders Endrio Leoni, Daniele De Paoli and Ermanno Brignoli and Saeco directeur sportif Giuseppe Martinelli have also been called up for questioning by CONI's anti-doping investigators

Celestino defends Sacchi

According to his Saeco team-mate Mirko Celestino, the hormonal products found at the home of Fabio Sacchi in last week's police raid were actually for his wife, who is pregnant.

"Fabio often talks about the children he wants to have. He and his wife have been trying to have a child for a long time, and he told me how happy he was that he is soon to become a father," said Celestino. "The drugs found in his house are used by his wife so that she can become pregnant.

"When he left the race yesterday he was crying but I also saw that he was determined to explain everything with the help of his lawyers."

According to Italian press reports, the police found gonadotrophin, which can be used as a fertility drug but is banned for athletes, and Profasi, a drug that stimulates ovulation. Sacchi's Saeco team suspended him Monday, pending a full explanation of the raid's findings.

Sacchi's lawyer Norma Gimondi refused to discuss the Celestino's claim.

"We can't comment on the case because the police are still carrying out their investigations," she told the Reuters press agency.

"Celestino is a good friend of Sacchi and perhaps Sacchi told him those things in confidentiality. I can't comment on what he said."

If Gimondi's name sounds familiar, it's because she is the daughter of Tour de France winner Felice Gimondi.

Wadeckj on the mend

Piotr Wadeckj, victim of a serious fall in the first stage of Tirreno-Adriatico last week, says he wants to get back to racing as soon as possible.

"I am already thinking about the day when I will be able to start again," he said. "It's not just a job, it's a passion."

Ullrich out of Sarthe

The early season of 2002 looks likely to be remembered as the Battle of Ullrich's Knee as Telekom yesterday announced that the recalcitrant joint has further delayed the start of Jan Ullrich's season.

According to Telekom team doctor Lothar Heinrich, Ullrich will not start the Cicruit de la Sarthe on April 9 because he has not yet recovered from the right knee problem that has plagued him since January.

Rudy Pevanage, Telekom's directeur sportif, said he was nevertheless confident Ullrich would be fit for the start of the Giro d'Italia on May 11.

Six added to ongoing Italian investigation

After the raids on riders' homes before stage 4 of the Tirreno-Adriatico, six riders have been added to the Italian investigation into illegal use of performance-enhancing drugs in cycling that started with a raid on last year's Giro d'Italia.

The six riders are: Stefano Casagranda, Endrio Leoni, Davide Rebellin, Fabio Sacchi, Davide Casarotto and Gorazd Stangelj.

35 riders are still under investigation in the aftermath of the Giro raid, along with 25 associates and other athletes.

Milan-San Remo leaders & teams announced

Lotto: Van Petegem & McEwen

Lotto has announced its team for this weekend's Milan-San Remo, and it's no surprise to see Peter Van Petegem and flying Australian Robbie McEwen heading the roster.

McEwen admitted the race was a bit of a step into the unknown for him, but is confident given his current form and stage win in Paris-Nice. "I've only ridden it once before," he said.

Van Petegem has been trying to keep a low profile in the early season, but also looks to be in good shape, while Lotto's Grand Old Man of the Classics, Andrei Tchmil is also on the squad but his team says he is targetting the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix rather than going for a repeat of his 1999 win.

The full Lotto roster for Milan-San Remo is: Robbie McEwen, Mario Aerts, Christophe Brandt, Thierry Marichal, Andrei Tchmil, Kurt Van Lancker, Peter Van Petegem and Guennadi Mikhalov.

Cofidis: Planckaert

Cofidis will rely on its Belgian Classics specialists to spearhead its assult on Milan San Remo, according to the team. Nico Mattan, Jo Planckaert and Peter Farazijn head the Cofidis team for Saturday.

Planckaert was active in Paris-Nice, attacking on stage 5's Col du Tanneron. "If I have the same form, perhaps I will be able to attack on the Poggio," he said.

The full team includes Nico Mattan, Jo Planckaert, Peter Farazijn, Andrei Kivilev, Massimiliano Lelli, Angelo Lopeboselli, Guido Trentin and Robert Sassone.

CSC-Tiscali: Jalabert

Laurent Jalabert will be looking to compensate for his disappointment at Paris-Nice by winning Milan-San Remo, and the team's recent American acquisition Tyler Hamilton and Jalabert's brother Nicolas have been deputised to help him.

"[Hamilton] will be there to help Laurent," said CSC directeur sportif Johnny Weltz. "He hasn't raced much up to now, only one stage race (Valenciana)."

Jalabert missed last year's MSR after falling off a ladder at home, but he is very familiar with the Primavera. He is expected to fly directly to Milan on Thursday without familiarising himself with the course.

The CSC-Tiscali roster is: Laurent Jalabert, Nicolas Jalabert, Tyler Hamilton, Danny Jonasson, Jakob Piil, Nicki Soerensen, Geert Van Bondt and Paul Van Hyfte.

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