Latest News for June 26, 2003Edited by Jeff Jones New WADA doping rulesThe new version of the World Anti-Doping Agency doping rules is due to be implemented on January 1, 2004. "The new banned list is certainly no revolution, but it's an important step forward," WADA member Klaus Müller told DPA. Criticism of the rules will be accepted up until August 15 of this year, before WADA decides on the final version in September. The new list will contain roughly 200 banned substances and methods, with the proviso that more can be easily added if new doping methods are discovered. The main changes are the easing of restrictions on caffeine and local anaesthetics. Caffeine, which up until now has been legal subject to certain limits, will now be able to be taken in an unrestricted way. Similarly, the use of local anaesthetics will also be freely allowed. The controversial subject of asthma medication is still being debated, with some WADA members feeling that the list should be even more restrictive than it is now. However the IOC is taking a more conservative approach, stating that banned substances must be "capable of enhancing performance, a health risk, and go against the spirit of sport." Asthma drugs, when used by non-asthmatics, are not considered to fit into these criteria. Finally, the German Kreischa laboratory said that it has developed the methodology for a test for Human Growth Hormone, with a second method also in the works. "It only has to be decided whether to use it," said Müller. IOC president Jacques Rogge will only accept the test if it's "one hundred percent waterproof." Rabobank for the TourThe Rabobank team has been finalised for the Tour de France, with Marc Lotz taking the final spot. The team leaders will be American Levi Leipheimer, Dutchman Michael Boogerd, and Spaniard Oscar Freire. The rest of the team is comprised of Marc Lotz, Bram de Groot and Remmert Wielinga (Ned), Marc Wauters (Bel), Grischa Niermann (Ger) and Robert Hunter (RSA). Van Petegem will race
Despite prematurely abandoning the Tour of Germany and the Route du Sud due to stomch problems, Peter Van Petegem will start in this Sunday's Belgian Championships in Vilvoorde. His father Etienne told Het Nieuwsblad that "He will be at the start on Sunday. On Thursday he'll do one more hard training session." Dierckxsens' operation OKLudo Dierckxsens was successfully operated on yesterday (Wednesday) in Herentals for his injured knee. "I could follow the operation on a screen," he was quoted in Het Nieuwsblad. "There was some inflamed tissue that was removed. If everything goes well, I'll be able to ride again in ten days. I'm expect a good late season." UCI women's rankingsSwedens' Susanne Ljungskog (Team Catalunya-Aliverti-Kookai) continues to command the number one position on the UCI women's rankings, which have been updated after last week. She currently leads Mirjam Melchers (Farm Frites Hartol) by 71 points, with Nicole Brändli (Prato) moving up to third place ahead of Judith Arndt (Nürnberger). Another rider into the top 10 is Russian sprinter Olga Slyusareva (Velodames) who jumped from 15th place into 8th. The two day Giro del Trentino Alto Adige, classified as 2.9.1 on the UCI calendar, was won by Italian Luisa Tamanini (Team 2002) who climbed up the rankings from 156th to 49th. However she was not given a chance to improve on this in the Italian championships after being prevented from starting by the FCI for failing a health check. UCI rankings as of June 22, 2003Individuals 1 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Team Catalunya-Aliverti-Kookai 711.00 pts 2 Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Farm Frites-Hartol Cycling Team 639.50 3 Nicole Brändli (Swi) Prato Marathon Bike 497.50 4 Judith Arndt (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 485.00 5 Zoulfia Zabirova (Rus) Prato Marathon Bike 445.60 6 Sara Carrigan (Aus) Bik-Powerplate 387.80 7 Regina Schleicher (Ger) USC Chirio Forno d'Asolo 367.00 8 Olga Slyusareva (Rus) 308.40 9 Joane Somarriba Arrola (Spa) 305.50 10 Zinaida Stahurskaya (Blr) USC Chirio Forno d'Asolo 303.00 11 Nicole Cooke (GBr) Ausra Gruodis-Safi 294.50 12 Anita Valen (Nor) Bik-Powerplate 268.00 13 Petra Rossner (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 252.00 14 Lyne Bessette (Can) Saturn Cycling Team 222.00 15 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox 221.00 16 Olivia Gollan (Aus) 212.00 17 Alison Wright (Aus) Road Runner - Guerciotti Cycling Team 190.00 18 Debby Mansveld (Ned) Vlaanderen-T-Interim Ladies Team 185.00 19 Geneviève Jeanson (Can) Equipe Cycliste Rona-Esker 165.00 20 Svetlana Boubnenkova (Rus) Prato Marathon Bike 156.60 Teams 1 Prato Marathon Bike 1,159.80 pts 2 Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 923.00 3 Farm Frites-Hartol Cycling Team 874.50 4 USC Chirio Forno d'Asolo 787.00 5 Bik-Powerplate 757.60 Nations 1 Germany 1,286.00 pts 2 Netherlands 1,147.80 3 Russia 1,076.40 4 Australia 1,061.80 5 Sweden 848.00 Full rankings: Individual, Teams, Nations Luperini's team manager protests exclusionThe manager of Fabiana Luperini's Team 2002, Maurizio Ricci, has protested her exclusion from the Italian championships due to health reasons. Luperini and her teammate Luisa Tamanini were prevented, along with six others, from racing in the women's road race yesterday by the Italian federation after failing their health checks. Ricci was quoted by ANSA as saying that "This is the result of the tenacity of the head of the health commission of the Federciclismo, Marcello Faina, against Luperini. We will not participate in the Giro in order not to have more damage done to us in a prejudiced environment." Brunen to retire after Dutch championships32 year old Dutch rider Yvonne Brunen (Powerplate-Bik) has announced her retirement from cycling, following the Dutch Road Championships in Rotterdam this weekend, no matter if she wins or not. Her contract with the team has finished, and she wishes to put more into her job at the cycling school in Deventer. Brunen started cycling in 1994 after a career as a speed skater, and immediately showed her talent by winning the Dutch championships that year, which she repeated in 1995 and 1996. In 1997 she won the Dutch mountainbike championships. She also won three stages in the women's Tour de France and raced in the Olympic Games in 1996. In 1997 she tested positive for nandrolone and noretiocholanolone during the women's Giro, however the Dutch federation determined that these steroids were naturally produced by her body. Grande Boucle Féminine presentedBy Russell Standring, grenoblecycling.free.fr 2003 marks the 12th edition of the women's Tour de France, the Grande Boucle Féminine. The riders will race from August 3-17, 2003 and cover over 1,500 kilometres over the two weeks. 17 teams of six riders will start on the Mediterranean island of Corsica where two stages will be held. The race then moves to the French mainland and into the Alps, for two stages that will take the riders over a number of notable mountain passes including the Col d'Allos (2247m), Col de Vars (2109m) and Col du Lautaret (2057m) and stage finishing climbs to Puy-Saint-Vincent (1400m) and Vaujany (1253m). The race then leaves the Alps and the following stages take the riders across the rolling roads of central and north-western France. The women will face one individual test against the clock on August 16 in Flers, before the final stage takes the riders from Versailles to Paris on August 17. There is one rest day on August 12. The favourite and runner up last year is Sweden's Susanne Ljungskog (Catalunya-Aliverti-Kookai), who finished second in last year's race. Last year's winner, the Belarussian Zinaida Stahurskaya and the Spanish rider, Joane Somarriba are amongst the main contenders for the overall win of the 2003 Grande Boucle Féminine. The stages Stage 1 - August 3: Sartène - Ajaccio, 105km The teams Vlaanderen - T - Interim Ladies Team More information: www.velo-feminin.com South Africa announces World Championships teamSouth African Road Champions David George and Anriette Schoeman have been chosen as part of the SA Team which will travel to Canada in October to take part in the World Championships in Hamilton. Rabobank's Robert Hunter joins George as part of the men's elite team, while five time national time trial champion Ronel van Wyk teams up with Schoeman to ride in the 124km women's road race. The U23 race will see Daryl Impey, Eckard Bergh and Willie van Zyl take part. The junior men's team consists of SA Junior Road champion Leon Nel as well as Egan Tarr, Raynold Smith and Quinton Henegen (reserve). The junior ladies team includes Free State’s Yolandi du Toit and Southern Cape's Nadia Swanepoel, with Marike Cooks as reserve. The junior men and women will cycle 124km and 74.4km respectively. (All rights reserved/Copyright Knapp Communications Pty Limited 2003) |
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