News for August 12, 2000UCI versus CPLDThe fight against doping has temporarily devolved into a battle between the International Cycling Union (UCI) and the French Council for the Prevention of Doping (CPLD). After the CPLD released their own assessment of the Tour de France drug controls last Tuesday, the UCI has once again responded with a press release, accusing them of "intellectual dishonesty" and "petty attacks". To recap, following the end of Tour, the UCI released a statement saying that "all the anti-doping controls carried out during the 2000 Tour de France have proved negative for banned substances. The presence of substances, whose use is subject to certain restrictions (e.g. glucocorticosteroids, beta 2 agonists) detected in some urine samples, were in fact justified by medical prescriptions duly noted in the rider's health record booklet, in accordance with the Anti-Doping Control Regulations (AER). The cases of two riders, who do not appear in the top section of the final general standings, who used substances subject to certain restrictions, are currently being investigated further." Using the same results, but without knowledge of who was permitted to take the substances, the CPLD said that 45 percent of the 96 samples taken from 71 riders were "positive" for corticoids, salbutamol and terbutaline. Although not in the league of EPO, these substances may be considered performance enhancing (or at least maintaining), and corticoids in particular can have some serious side effects. But, there is the issue of concentration... The UCI have responded twice, firstly "deploring the lack of precision in the wording used in the [CPLD] press release... there is a fundamental difference between banned substances and those authorised with certain restrictions. In 26 of the 28 cases for the use of corticosteroids, the therapeutic justification was checked and accepted. The two remaining cases are currently being investigated further. Salubutamol and terbutaline are authorised by inhalation with a medical prescription. The 10 cases mentioned by the CPLD were all justified in the rider's health booklet...Of the 9 cases for salbutamol, only one revealed a concentration between 100 ng/ml and 1000 ng/ml, which is authorised by the IOC Medical Commission. The laboratory informed us about the 8 remaining cases, all less than 100 ng/ml, purely for information, which according to the norms imposed by the IOC (February 2000), is not obliged to report cases revealing such concentrations. The same therapeutic justifications logically apply to the 5 cases in which both corticosteroids and salbutamol were detected." Their latest release was along similar lines, accusing the CPLD of intellectual dishonesty. "The official statement of the CPLD gave the impression that 43% of the antidoping controls carried out at the last Tour de France were doping cases. That is not correct, they are even false and one wonders whether one could not speak about intellectual dishonesty," it reads. "If its intention was to seek publicity, that goal can be considered attained. On the other hand, if the objective was to show its competence and its objectivity, its success is much more modest and the cycling world must unfortunately, once again note that it has been used and deceived for reasons which have nothing to do with an equitable battle against the plague of doping." A prominent French antidoping campaigner is the French minister for Youth and Sports, Marie-George Buffet. She said that it will take time to look for an end to doping in sport, and criticised the UCI calendar for being too full (editor's note: she is not the only one!). "It is known that doping exists, and it's also known that today's sporting calendars require the need for a medical followup. Let us not make too big an issue out of this business with the UCI," she said. "We should pay attention: the fight for the health of sportsmen and the fight against doping are a serious business. It is 45% of the analyses, and not the riders because there were samples taken from the same riders several times. Prohibited substances were detected, but there are medical regulations and rules, therefore a good deal of attention should be paid: a rider has the right to be sick as well." She said that she was "not surprised" by the 45% figure, but that the percentage was meaningless. More importantly, she wanted the CPLD "to state their view on whether the current medical regulations are valid or not." However the National Council of French Doctors (CNOM) criticised the ease that professional cyclists and other sportsmen could manage to obtain potentially harmful and illegal drugs. They declared in an official statement that they were surprised by the "abnormally high number of sportsmen having recourse to drugs such as corticoids and bronchodilators, normally reserved for the treatment of serious diseases." "A drug must be prescribed by a doctor and exempted by a pharmacist. However it appears that certain sporting teams travel with their own doctor, their own drugs and that their use is not in line with French law," implying that perhaps independent doctors registered with the National body should be taken along for the Tour. "Team managers and sporting leaders who encourage and tolerate these unfair trading practices could also be taken to court," they added. The bottom line seems to be the definition of "therapeutic justification" against "doping".
100 Pour 2000Following on from the above, this French antidoping initiative (refer to Monday's news for more detail) has their information and more available on their website, http://www.dopage.com/. Their manifesto can be found at http://www.dopage.com/manif-pres.htm, and a list of the first 100 members at http://www.dopage.com/manif-prem.htm. To sign up for the mailing list, then go to http://www.dopage.com/manif-inscrip.htm. But wait, that's not all. There is also a searchable database of substances, yielding information as to the effects (and side effects) of each one, whether they are banned or not, other names etc. In addition, there are interviews and news articles related to doping on the site. It's in French, but it is certainly useful even for confirmed anglophiles.
Beloki OK for San SebastianLast Tuesday, Joseba Beloki (Festina) had a routine medical check up when some disturbances in the right part of his chest were noticed. An x-ray showed that there was nothing seriously wrong with Beloki however, and he is able to start in the World Cup race in San Sebastian today. It seems that he has a fracture in one of his ribs after his fall on the Mont Ventoux stage during the Tour de France. Despite that, he finally ended up on the podium in third position. The end of Farm Frites as head sponsor?According to Dutch paper, Algemeen Dagblad, Peter Post has advised Farm Frites ('in the interests of Dutch cycling') to become a co-sponsor of another team. The new Domo team is a serious candidate, but Patrick Lefevere denies he's spoken with the Dutch sponsor. Farm Frites' director Piet de Bruijne and Peter Post will keep all options open, but De Bruijne said that he needs six weeks before a definite decision. Team leader Johan Capiot reportedly said to his riders during the Tour of Burgos that they are 'on the street' after the end of this season. De Bruijne however has assured his riders that Farm Frites will meet their obligations, so they don't have to worry about their money. "We'll stay in cycling, but I know for sure that our budget will not grow above 7,500,000 Dutch guilders (this year's budget)," said De Bruijne. The possible end of Farm Frites as a head sponsor is negative for Dutch cycling if they are to sponsor a foreign team, but Peter Post says "We do the best for the company. Business-wise." In the meantime, commercial director Albert van der Vlies isn't available for comments, and public relations manager Ardie den Hoed had to offload a big part of his job to Peter Post. De Bruijne added that "We will talk with the group of riders and leaders. I want to listen to the riders, but I have more confidence in the judgments of Peter Post. We will do our best to start afresh next year, and I believe that chance is big with Peter Post."
Etxebarria signs with Euskaltel-EuskadiONCE's David Etxebarria will definitely leave the team at the end of the year after Euskaltel-Euskadi announced that they had signed him for 2001. Euskaltel, a Basque telecommunications company, has offered the 27 year old two years with them, with the likelihood of him being team leader. Etxebarria is a proven performer at the top level, winning two stages of the Tour in 1999, as well as the Euskal-Bizikleta. His addition will boost the team's chances at getting starts in races outside Spain, including their main goals, the World Cup and the Tour de France. Spanish moves - Vitalicio shaky once moreONCE's manager Manolo Saiz is reported in the Spanish media to have cast his eyes on Giro winner Stefano Garzelli, who has found Mercatone Uno "a bit crowded" after Marco Pantani's serious return to racing. The deal might be closed during the Vuelta in September. Santiago Blanco (Vitalicio Seguros) is another top rider that will get an offer from ONCE. With Garzelli, the team can get a man for the Grand Tours. Current stars Jalabert and Olano are excellent points pickers on the UCI list but have always had problems in the Grand Tours, although they both have won the Vuelta in less demanding versions. The acquisition of German Jörg Jackshe the other day will also strengthen the team for the future in the Grand Tours. Other names mentioned in the circles around Saiz are Blanco's team mate Colombian ITT specialist Victor Hugo Peña, although he might end up in US Postal. Igor González de Galdeano, last year's second in the Vuelta is also mentioned for ONCE as well as Banesto. However, he might very well stay with his team manager Javier Mínguez if he can find a new sponsor for next year. This is by no means as certain as it was last week, when Minguez told his riders that he had "almost secured" a sponsor. He informed them that he would announce it before the Vuelta a Espana, but not it appears the deal has either fallen through or been delayed. So the latest news from Minguez is "you are free to go," and the above riders will no doubt be making themselves available for offers. However, he still wants them focussed on the job during the Vuelta. Minguez holds out hope for another sponsor, but his team next year won't be as big as planned. The negotiations during August and the best part of September will have to be curtailed due to team managing duties. Another Spaniard on the move is Bingen Fernandez who goes from Euskaltel-Euskadi to American Mercury for reasons sportive and economical. With an American fiancée it seemed a good idea to ride his bicycle for an American team.
Polish Olympic teamThe five member Polish men's road squad is likely to be the following: Piotr Chmielewski (Mroz-Supradyn Witaminy), Grzegorz Gwiazdowski (La Francaise des Jeux), Piotr Przydzial (MAT-Ceresit-CCC), Zbigniew Spruch (Lampre-Daikin), with Tomasz Brozyna (Banesto) and Zbigniew Piatek (MAT-Ceresit CCC) as reserves. It has raised a few eyebrows with regard to its composition, namely the absence of Route du Sud winner Tomasz Brozyna (Banesto) amongst the top five. Brozyna is probably the best Polish time trialist at the moment, but it seems that Mroz rider, Piotr Wadecki got the not for that position ahead of him. The other question mark was over Piotr Chmielewski (Mroz) instead of Zbigniew Piatek (MAT). The latter placed around the top 30 in the last three World Championships and is considered a more capable rider that Chmielewski. Some experts believe that having Mroz manager, Piotr Kosmala as a National selector may have had something to do with the choices. However, Brozyna will ride La Vuelta a Espana and may be given a chance in the top squad after these races. The other members of the squad will ride the Tour of Poland. Polish Olympic team Road Piotr Chmielewski (Mroz-Supradyn Witaminy) RR Track Konrad Czajkowski (Kilo/Olympic Sprint) Mountain Bike: Marek Galinski Thanks to Daniel Marszalek for the information Colombian Olympic snippetsHaroldo Camacho reports that so far there is only one qualifier in the Colombian mountain bike team for men and women. For the men it is Diego Garavito, 28 years old who took up MTB only four years ago, but in this year's Pan-American games in Puerto Rico he bested his rivals in 38 C degree heat. He is currently training in the USA, but will be returning for final preparations in Colombia in a couple of weeks. National MTB races in Colombia this month will help fill out the Olympic roster. Flor Marina Delgadillo heads the women's MTB team. She's 27 years old and is the strongest women's MTB'er, at only 7 seconds from the national record in the 3,000 meters individual pursuit held by María Luisa Calle. Further racing this month will fill out the squad. In the road squad, there are three pre-qualified members: Victor Hugo Peña (Vitalicio Seguros), Santiago Botero (Kelme), and Iván Parra (Vitalicio Seguros), with the remainder to be announced shortly. Australian Junior World's road squadCycling Australia announced the names of the cyclists chosen to contest the 2000 Junior World Road Championships in France. Kate Bates (Parramatta) is one chosen from the track squad, where she garnered silver in the individual pursuit at the recent track World's in Italy. The team Women Jessica Amy (Vic) Men Ashley Humbert (NSW) |