News for November 14, 1998

Drugs Update

It seems that in cycling there are very large differences between people as to how to approach the drugs problem. Or even if it is a problem. 1997 Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich has said in an interview with the German newspaper Die Welt that there should be harsh penalties given to cyclists who test positive. He said: "I think that sanctions should send a clear signal to really deter. A two-year ban would be a suitable measur. Somebody who tested positive or who has admitted taking something must be suspended, and straight away, not two months later. All the teams and the world body should pull together to make sure that something finally changes on that sad matter."

Sounds reasonable enough. Now contrast that with the view of in-coming TVM manager and ex-professional Steven Rooks. This week he gave an interview to De Limburger, a newspaper in the the Netherlands. He was asked about EPO. He replied: "EPO? So what! All you have to do is to make sure you have less that a 50 percent haemocrit value. Than you will have no problem. I don't feel guilty about this attitude at all."

Rooks has very liberal views about doping. He articulated a view which says that it is okay to use drugs as long as you are not detected. On the danger to the health of the rider, he said: "There are rules and you have to be mindful of what drugs are on the banned list. As long as you do not test positive in the drug controls then you are okay. The sportsman is responsible for their own life. He makes the decision to live one year longer or shorter."

Rooks also says there is a lot of hypocrasy surrounding the doping issue. He said: "I think you have to be open about it. Doping isn't harmful. I know what you have to do to reach the top. And when you reach the top, you have to do everything you can to stay there and work a good doctor. Nothing is wrong with that. Everybody knows you can't ride the Tour de France with only sandwiches."

But what about the fact that the rules forbid the use of banned drugs even with medical supervision? He replied: " Forbidden or not, that isn't important. When it is about a forbidden product, you only have to ensure that the authorities do no find out you are taking it. I was never found to be positive during my career. That is what it all turns around..."

He told the newspaper that if he is to become manager of TVM (to be announced soon) he will have an escape clause in his contract. He explained that: "If there are lot of troubles coming out of the French affair I want to have the option to quit.'

He was asked if he thought his attitudes to doping would give him some problems with TVM. He said: "We have discussed that yet." When asked, TVM said they would not comment on his statement.

Interview with Manolo Saiz, ONCE manager

The Team Association and the Societe du Tour de France have been in disagreement about how to handle the doping problems. ONCE's director is optimistic about the meeting. He said: "There has been a lot of talk about a stand off between the Tour and the teams, but I'm convinced that our positions are closer than they appear. In the end, we are all fighting for the same thing. The only thing is that there are some positions in which there is still disagreement. I am hopeful that we should be able to reach an agreement."

The points of discrepancy have to do with some of the impositions made by the Tour and the letter of good conduct that the teams have so far refused to sign.

- How would you define the current moment in cycling with this doping matter?

- Currently all of the sport is in a period of reflection and aiming to make a total change. But I don't know what that change will be.

- Which way should it go?

- I don't know, it's too soon. Right now people are taking positions and in reality, only the Tour has spoken. The UCI hasn't said the last word, we need to work and wait.

- Ultimately there is talk that the Congress of the International Olympic Committee, could be a starting point.

- Yes, it could be the start because this is an organisatoin which influences the majority of sports. I'm sure that a new definition of what doping is will have to come out of there. Also they will have to decide if the Olympic Games is to continue moving towards professionalism or if they want to return to the previous situation of separating the professional from the amateur.

- Can the sport being totally cleaned up and drug free?

- What does, a total cleaning mean? A house can be completely clean one day, but the next day there is a need to clean it again. Sports are in a continuous evolution. What are we looking for? Equality amongst athletes and the rest of society or do we want to create little monsters? If other sports allow certain things, if society itself allows certain things, why not cycling?

- What things are we talking about?

- If a person takes a cold medicine, nothing happens, but if an athlete does it, he will test positive for ephenedryne. We need to have very clear, that excessive dedication of the athlete always lead to certain dysfunctions which have to be taken care of. Of-course there is a need for vitamins - the athletes need to be taken care of. If there is a lack of magnesium, they need to be given some magnesium...

- Yes, but where do substances like EPO and anabolic steroids come in?

- I don't have the professional credentials to say if that could enter at that level or not. That can only be commented on by the expert doctors...

- But there will have to be some limits. What is the limit?

- The limit will be dictated by the new definition of doping.

- What could that definition be?

- We will have to make it, depending on where we want the sport to be in our overall society. If the Olympic Games are making millions of dollars, then the spectacle that is being offered should have the same value. People will demand spectacles like the NBA. It turns out that the doping norms of the NBA are more permissive. So then why are we going to glorify Michael Jordan and at the same time sink somebody else for similar behaviour?

- So the solution is to assume that doping is something necessary for all professionals in sports?

- No, I insist that the solution is to redefine what doping is. Plus, I'm convinced that athletes are not doping per se, but are actually trying to help themselves to better use their abilities.

- Doping exists, but lets assume we had redefined it.

- Yes, that's what I say. According to my conception of that new definition we would conclude that the athletes are not doping at all. Do they dope in the NBA? Everything has an evolution. The list of banned substances is so big, because athletes in the past used to take medication on their own. But now there are professionals, who look after their health, so now there is no need for such a long list. There needs to be an evolution.

- Why did things had to happen at the last Tour, for this debate to be raised?

- Because until now, this was a sporting matter and the judges hadn't gotten involved. And at the same time they looked for a sport with impact, but at the same time weak, cycling, but the debate is wider than that.

50 kms or 300 laps (total time 57.37.36)

 1. Dimitri Galkine (Rus) - Andrei Minashjkin (Rus)             27 pts.
 2. Jimmy Hansen (Den) - Anders Kristensen (Den)                42 (+1)
 3. Luc De Duytssche (Bel) - Sven Spoormakers (Bel)             22 (+1)
 4. Bernhard Wachter (Ger) - Michael Worner (Ger)               18 (+2)
 5. James Notley (Gbr) - Phil West (Gbr)                         9 (+2)
 6. Andy Flickinger (Fra) - Damien Pommereau (Fra)               6 (+2)
 7. Franco Marvulli (Swi) - Adrian Strubi (Swi)                  2 (+2)
 8. Benoit Genauzeau (Fra) - Stephane Kraft (Fra)                0 (+4)
 9. Johan Dekkers (Bel) - Nicky Vermeersch (Bel)                 0 (+4)
10. Martin Blaha (Cze) - Ondrej Vackar (Cze)                     0 (+5)

A letter from our cop out there

I just thought I would drop you a note to thank you for your help. You made a lot of this happen. Things are moving along slowly but with a lot of promise. I have been contacted by the following people from your web site and they have been a tremendous help and I would like to thank them.

I have a new saying that I will be using for this program and it fits very well, "We shall be known by the tracks we leave behind" The tracks being left by these people are awesome.

Kendra Wenzel from Team Saeco, Ray from the Navigators, Dylan Casey Team Shaklee, my new buddy who is going to show me the true way to bike (so he thinks) Ken drake race promoter and Matt Slalter who is giving me a bike to give to the kids.

I would like to thank them all and it is nice to know that there are people in this world who still care.

Best wishes,
Paul Long
Belleville Police
offpaul@aol.com

Australian Veteran Road Championships, Lobethal, South Australia

Women:

Division 1  62 kms:

 1. V. Birks (SA)
 2. K. Howard (Vic)
 3. S. Peters (SA)
 4. S. Thompson (NSW)

Division 2 31 kms:

 1. T. Bosch (NSW)
 2. L. Grivell (SA)
 3. K. Codrington (SA)

Division 3 31 kms:

 1. R. Cragie (NSW)
 2. K. Rowe (NSW)
 3. K. Logan (SA)

Division 4:

 1. R. Hastings (NSW)
 2. D. Davies (SA)

Division 5:

 1. J. Thomas (NSW)

Division 6:

 1. M. Cadie (NSW)

Division 8:

 1. L. Russle (SA)

Men:

Division 1 93 kms:

 1. P. Hughes (NSW)
 2. G. Nugent (SA)
 3. G. Davis (SA)

Division 2 93 kms:

 1. P. Taylor (SA)
 2. S. Flower (Vic)
 3. D. Stephens (SA)

Div3 62 kms:

 1. R. Hadley (NSW)
 2. J. Giles (SA)
 3. K. Hanson (NT)
 4. I. Lovell (NSW)

Division 4 62 kms:

 1. B. Howell (SA)
 2. J. Salter (Vic)
 3. W. Van Seton (Qld)

Division 5 62 kms:

 1. D. Issel (Vic)
 2. D. Hoffman (NSW)
 3. G. Teague (NSW)

Division 6 31 kms:

 1. L. McGarry (NSW)
 2. B. Robbins (NSW)
 3. W. Biddle (NSW)

Division 7 31 kms:

 1. F. Moore (SA)
 2. C. Appleyard (NSW)

Division 8 31 kms:

 1. K. Anderson (SA)
 2. W. Whitefield (SA)

Division 9:

 1. H. Burdon (SA)