News for May 27, 2000EPO test: June 20 deadline to be metThe head of the French laboratory of Châtenay-Malabry, Jacques de Ceaurriz has told the media that he will meet the UCI's June 20 deadline to validate his EPO test. In an interview with French newsagency, AFP, he said that "the publication of the method in an international journal is imminent. As for the results of the 220 samples that we will analyse, they will be ready by June 20." These are the two main conditions that are to be met if the test is to be used for the Tour de France. Additionally, UCI president Hein Verbruggen said that the test results would have to be independently validated by three members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This would take a day, according to Mr. de Ceaurriz. The AIS in Australia, who have been working partly in collaboration with the French, are set to publish the method of their blood based test in an international journal by the end of this month. Their test is aimed at the Olympic Games in September, although it is possible that the IOC may use the urine test as well. The latter would serve as a secondary confirmation of the blood test. This will be subject to approval in July, when the French meet the IOC. The tests have been in the developmental stages for the past two years, and are needed more than ever if the sport is to progress healthily into the future. A urine test is much easier to administer in terms of legal and ethical technicalities than a blood test, although the blood test has been given approval by the IOC for the Olympics. The subject of the speed required to publish scientific findings is once again raised by this issue. It is interesting to compare it with say, cyclingnews.com, (or any other daily/weekly news service). From experience, it takes several months to get your exciting new discovery published in a major journal. Backwards and forwards between reviewers, corrections, proofs etc., then a couple more months until the journal finds enough space to print it. Hence, the reason why many use the internet to make things available quickly, even if it is just an abstract. Of course, if you are collaborating with several other labs, then 'jumping the gun' to get it published is not looked upon kindly by those colleagues unless it can be a completely coordinated effort. Also, in cases such as this, it is imperative that the test be properly approved before it is used in such a large event as the Tour. There is also the fact that EPO has been used for over 10 years in the peloton without any real form of control. It is still an effective drug, but in the meantime, others are continually being developed.
Priem team want GermansFormer TVM-Farm Frites director, Cees Priem, has been trying hard this year to find enough money to start a new first division team in 2001. The budget he wants is not small: 10 million Dutch Guilders, (about US$4 million). German weekly, Der Stern writes that the team will be German based and sponsored, with the aim of being a real rival to the pink, purple and black Telekom outfit. "We want orient ourselves firstly on the German market. At this point, a lot of good German riders ride for Italian, French, Belgian and Dutch teams. You can make a beautiful team out of these riders." Priem has already had talks with Andreas Klöden and Johan Museeuw, although the former has signed a contract with Telekom for next year, and the latter will likely ride for Mapei.
10 freed in PerpignanMeanwhile in France, the ten people connected with the Southern French doping affair that started in Narbonne, have been freed today. The subjects were imprisoned in Perpignan in relation to trafficking, possession and use of drugs. They included former professional Thierry Laurent, Jérôme Laveur-Pedoux, Frederic Morel, and a doctor and pharmacist from the Isère region. In total, 14 people were implicated in the affair, and Judge Francis Boyer met with them in court last Wednesday to decide their immediate fate. He released them on several conditions, that they remain under legal control and did not communicate with each other. They were also forbidden to take further part in any sporting event.
U.S. World MTB Squad namedUSA Cycling have announced the team that they will take to contest the World Mountain Bike Championships in Sierra Nevada, Spain from June 7-11. They have named the cross country squads, but will wait until after this weekend's World Cup Downhill even in Cortina, Italy before naming the downhill squad. Several riders have already automatically qualified (see list below), while others have moved into the squad based on their results this year. The squad is as follows: Automatic qualifiers Elite Women's Cross-country Elite Men's Cross-country Espoir Cross-country Junior Cross-country Elite Women and Men's Downhill Junior Women's Downhill Junior Men's Downhill Coach's selections (pending USA Cycling selection committee approval) Elite Cross-country Espoir Cross-country Junior Women's Cross-country Junior Men's Cross-country Elite Women and Men's Downhill Junior Women's Downhill Junior Men's Downhill Moore appointed to Pan-Am MTB commissionNational Off-Road Bicycle Association (NORBA) Director of Competition Eric Moore has been appointed as the US representative to the Pan American Mountain Bike Commission (CPMTB). The commission was founded in 1993, and comprises members from cycling federations and mountain bike commissions of the American continents (North and South America). The objective of the CPMTB is the promotion and development of mountain biking in the American continent, and it is recognised by the UCI Moore has 12 years experience with Mountain bike promotion and 5 years with NORBA and was happy with the appointment. Responsibilities of the CPMTB include coordinating the annual continental mountain bike race schedule, organizing and planning training of commissioners and technical personnel, sanctioning and organizing the annual Pan American Championships and establishing standards regarding the organization of mountain biking in the American continent. The Pan-Am Championships are an important factor in USA Cycling's Olympic qualification for mountain bike start positions. In 1999, USA Cycling sent a cross-country squad to the Pan American Championship in Manizales, Columbia, to maximize UCI points for top riders.
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