News for August 26, 2000

Magnien...

By Jeff Jones, online editor

Despite being given a six month sentence with deferment by the FFC disciplinary commission yesterday, Olympic candidate Emmanuel Magnien did not give up hope that he could make it to Sydney. He considered appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, had the support of the UCI and was even kept on the French Olympic Team list when it was first finalised today. However, it appears that after several about-faces, the Francaise des Jeux rider will not be making the trip.

After Magnien was initially found positive in a drug control during the Tour, he was taken off the French Olympic team in favour of Francois Simon and a hearing was immediately launched by the FFC. Magnien, who had received a corticosteroid injection prior to the Tour claimed that he was unaware that this was illegal, and he had noted it in his health booklet. He placed the blame on Doctor Gerard Guillaume, of the FdJ team for not knowing the correct regulations and giving him an unauthorized injection.

The French disciplinary commission (LCPF) then meted out a six month sentence with deferment, meaning that could go to the Games subject only to an appeal by the UCI or the CPLD (French Council for Prevention of Doping). As it turned out, the UCI had the last word.

"A deferred sentence does not prevent him from starting in the Games," said French president Daniel Baal after he first examined the punishment. According to the rules, "a deferment may be granted for half of the suspension time [i.e. three months], not by the national federation but by the anti-doping commission of the UCI or the Court of Arbitration for Sport."

When the final French team was announced earlier today, Magnien was acutally still on the list, along with Jalabert, Brochard, Moreau, and Virenque. However, the cyclist gave a late press conference where he said that he decided to not to appeal the sanction after discussing it with the UCI, who had ruled that the suspension should not be given with deferment, but right away. So, Francois Simon can breath a small sigh of relief that he'll be on the plane.

The UCI added that due to inconsistencies in the rules, between 1996 and 1998 many riders had ended up with lighter suspensions and they regretted this. They noted that in France in particular, there were cases at "rather worrying intervals of contradictions of behavior and irregularities in the law...in a country where public opinion occupies the first line in the fight against doping."

The UCI also criticised the French for being hypocritical, after they "pushed the UCI" for the fast tracking of the EPO detection method although the method had not been fully validated. It clearly remains a political battle as well as a fight against drugs.

55th Vuelta a España

Jimenez OK

Jose Maria Jimenez' accident last week gave his Banesto team director Eusebio Unzúe some nervous moments, however 'El Chaba' will definitely take the start in Malaga today. Despite the number of time trials in the Vuelta, Unzúe considers Jimenez to be one of the favourites although we probably won't see him in the golden jersey after stage one. Jimenez is well known for being noncompetitive in time trials, and this race will be no exception. He can go up hills though.

His small thigh wound, as well as a slight cold have made it a tough final week for Jose, but every day he is feeling better according to Unzúe. "He has tried to avoid the use of antibiotics so as not to debilitate his body, although in the end it was necessary to resort to them to accelerate his improvement," said Unzúe.

"We know that he is a great climber who in the Vuelta usually is up there on the general classification. But we can't forget that there is 90 kilometers of racing against the clock. That greatly limits his options of victory," he added.

Banesto's hope is Alex Zülle, winner in 1996 and 1997, who was definitely off form in the Tour de France this year. "Although from what we have seen him in August, we can concede a certain optimism. We have are hopes of victory with him," said Unzúe who did not of course dismiss Jan Ullrich, who "far from relaxing after the Tour has completed his preparation in August. He arrives in good form and for me that turns him into the big favourite. He is the best rider of the peloton."

Minguez denies ONCE involvement

Embattled director of Vitalicio Seguros, Javier Minguez, has confirmed that he will leave cycling at the end of this season, at the same time quelling rumours that he would be joining ONCE. The past few days have been full of these as people are wondering what Minguez will get up to when the money runs out. The Spanish press published a number of stories that had him as Manolo Saiz' assistant team director for 2001, all of which are false according to both parties.

"I cannot deny the news that is not true," said Minguez to European Press. "Only those who have written it can do so." He had other concerns on his mind when asked prior to the start of the Vuelta, a race in which he wants the team to "play a great role, so Vitalicio Seguros can leave by the front door."

ONCE director, Manolo Saiz was fairly critical of the press stories as well, one of which had appeared in "El Pais". The link was made between ONCE and Vitalicio because of all the ex-Vitalicio riders going to that team, including many of Minguez' favourites like the Galdeano brothers, and Ivan Parra.

"In this country only the press can lie and it does not mean anything," he said. "I I will retire when I want and it is unjust that this is being spoken of and not of the race the day before the beginning of the Vuelta."

Peña denies Minguez mistreatings

The man Minguez seems to be surrounded by rumours. According to Victor Hugo Peña, the Colombian who was quoted in his country's newspaper 'El Tiempo' of accusing Minguez of "mistreating him",this was not the case. Peña assured journalists in Malaga today that his relationship with Minguez is nothing like what has been published in the Colombian press of late.

"Javier Mínguez has had to correct many of my faults, but he has always done it treating me like a man and not a boy," said Peña who is one of the favourites for the time trials.

Steels out (and Museeuw)

Belgian rider, Tom Steels will not be able go to the Olympics. The announcement was made by the specialist at the hospital in Antwerp after the first results of his blood tests, "Steels can't get back his top condition before Sydney. The viral infection will take at least six weeks and the season is over for him now."

Steels commented that "the complete results of the blood tests will be available in a week, but the doctor was clear about the Olympics."

However, there was better news for his compatriot Johan Museeuw who will be able to leave the hospital in Gent on Saturday.

Groenendaal unhappy

World Cyclocross Champion, Richard Groenendaal is not satisfied about his proposed Superprestige contract and said under the current conditions, he will not start in the competition this coming season.

"This offer gives no respect for what I did in the Superprestige. As World Champion, Mario de Clercq got 10 percent more last year. OK, it's about a few hundred guilders but I won't start for less than De Clercq."

Superprestige organiser, Etienne Gevaert said that "I gave a proposal to Richard for two seasons. It's correct that De Clercq received more, but he was twice World Champion and World Cup winner. I hope that I can come to an agreement with Groenendaal."

Veneberg moves up

23 year old Thorwald Veneberg, the Dutch champion in the elites without contract division, will make the step from amateur to professional in the Rabobank team. He had a chance earlier, but postponed the move until he was finished with his school studies.