News for November 1, 2000

Festina: Day 7

UCI deny responsibility

Hein Verbruggen
Photo: © AFP

UCI president, Hein Verbruggen, was today questioned for five hours in Lille in the Festina trial. Delayed by heavy weather at Manchester yesterday, Verbruggen told Judge Daniel Delegove that the UCI "did not feel responsible if a rider is doping, or a soigneur gives them drugs."

Under oath, the UCI president admitted that they had mistakes that have been made over the years, but there was not one case of a doping coverup. "We may not be perfect, but the world is not perfect," he said. "If there is a culture of doping in cycling, there is also a culture of anti-doping. We have done the utmost against this plague for a long time. The most significant thing we have done was to set up the medical follow-up of the riders," emphasizing that the UCI were the only international federation to do so.

"I am convinced that there is a small group of hardened cheaters, a much larger group that feels it's OK to take things not in excess, a group that takes legal drugs and finally, a few who do not take anything," he added. "The rider has the choice - nobody decides for him."

Former professional cyclist, Erwan Menthéour stated that he had only known "two or three" clean riders during his career. Mr Verbruggen said that he thought that he knew more than this, but could not prove it. "I know the percentage (of officially doped riders) - who doesn't? If it is proven to me that this is in the large majority, I am ready to resign," he stated.

Verbruggen was also questioned about the use of EPO in the peloton prior to 1992/93, but was reluctant to comment. "I do not exclude that it was there...we found nothing," he said.

Judge Delegove grilled him further about the PDM affair that saw the team leave the Tour de France en masse in 1991. In addition, there were the deaths of seven Dutch cyclists in 1989 and 1990, including PDM's Johannes Draaier.

"Draaier had a serious heart condition, but he continued to race on the basis of an optimistic medical diagnosis," said Verbruggen. "The Dutch federation did not put his death down to EPO."

Anti-doping budget "ridiculous"

Judge Delegove questioned Verbruggen about the UCI's anti-doping budget. The UCI have spent FF 1.8 million ($US 250,000) in the past five years on fighting doping. On average, this is close to 400,000 francs per year, "as much as Festina spent on doping products," commented Judge Delegove.

The UCI's entire budget during this time has been FF 250 million ($US 35 million). Therefore, 0.7% of its budget has been used to fight the "plague of doping." Furthermore, since 1998, each team has to devote FF 16,000 ($US 2,200) per year to finance blood testing controls, again only a tiny fraction of a team's budget. "16,000 francs per year for a team, for example Festina, with a budget of 40 million francs, that is ridiculous," said Delegove.

Hein Verbruggen answered that the UCI took its own responsibilities. "We invested money against doping, but we are not a rich federation," he said.

UCI not up to date with science

Depending on who you believe, Erythropoetin (EPO) has been used and abused in the peloton for 8-13 years. Who knows how many "great performances" have been achieved with the drug? The fact that there has only been a reliable test developed this year (which still has not been accepted solely for cycling competitions) underlines the huge discrepancy between the cheats and the detection methods. Lack of money to fund research is the main barrier, and that is slowly being lowered. The suspension of the Human Growth Hormone 2000 project was a prime example.

It is not only lack of money that gets in the way: when drug testing methods are found, they have to gain acceptance from legal experts, to ensure that they are not able to be challenged in court. In addition, there are some laws that prevent valid tests from being used in sports drug testing.

For example, the method of hair analysis that was used in 1998 to test the nine cyclists suspended from the Tour had been developed by a laboratory in Strasbourg. It can detect most prohibited products (not EPO or HGH) for up to one month after their use, and requires only a one centimetre sample. However, current French Federation rules state that penalties for positive tests can only be given if the test was carried out at the national laboratory of Châtenay-Malabry in Paris.

It was pointed out during the trial proceedings today that the method of hair analysis had been used since 1991 in French criminal justice. Judge Delegove was "astonished" that the UCI hadn't adopted it. "If there is according to you, no infallible method to determine a sporting sanction, why not use these methods as a starting point for other investigations," suggested Mr. Delegove.

Hein Verbruggen's response: "No objection."

The hearing continues tomorrow with Daniel Baal (FFC president), Jean-Marie Leblanc (Société du Tour de France president), and Roger Legeay (directeur sportif of Credit Agricole).

Voet's wife wanted clean fridge

Sylvie Voet, wife of former Festina soigneur Willy Voet, testified during the trial on Monday. She claimed that her home refrigerator was full of doping products, including EPO and growth hormones during her husband's time at Festina.

She said that there were more drugs than food in the fridge, and that Richard Virenque always took them straight from her. "I did not want my refrigerator to become a transit station during the Tour," she stated in court.

Longo prepares

Jeannie Longo
Photo: © AFP

Jeannie Longo is currently in Mexico City in readiness for her attempt at the women's UCI hour record, which was set by Anna Wilson two weeks ago (yet to be ratified by the UCI). Longo will have to use a 'standard' bicycle according to UCI rules, however she is taking advantage of the altitude in Mexico City, where she set her absolute record of 48.159 kilometres in 1996.

She tested her new machine in Grenoble last week, and will aim to make an attempt later this week if the climactic conditions are right. After her first few rides on the track, she has said that she is feeling good but will take things slowly. She will stay in Mexico until November 12.

Memory Card name change?

Danish team CSC/Memory Card may have to undergo a name change if it intends on racing in France. The name "Memory Card" is a trademark owned by Frenchman Philippe Carlessi, and he released a statement saying that the team will be trading illegally if it chooses to race in France. "Memory Card, the name of the Danish sponsor of Laurent Jalabert's new team, is a trade mark in France, and used by a third party. To use it without permission is an offence," read the statement. "The Scandinavian team will therefore have to change its name to legally secure their French racing program for 2001, including the Tour de France."

Memory Card Technology (Denmark) had started legal action one month ago against Mr. Carlessi to try and cancel several trading names that he has registered. The courts have yet to rule on that and Memory Card's lawyer, Charles de Haas said that it was irresponsible that Mr. Carlessi was publicly claiming that the team was using the name illegally.

Vandenbroucke comments

Belgian Frank Vandenbroucke travelled to Brussels today to give a press conference after he officially signed with Lampre-Daikin for next season last Saturday. He has not spoken to the press since his retirement from the Tour de France this year, but did so today.

"I have signed with people who have demonstrated that they have confidence in me," he said. "That is what I need the most. As far as the rest, I know that I must work very hard to return to my top level," he said.

His 2000 season has not been fantastic: injuries, sickness, depression, and a poor relationship with Cofidis have not made things easy. However, he has no regrets about cycling. "It is my life, even if I have committed mistakes."

Nijs to return sooner

Belgian cyclocross star, Sven Nijs, will make his return to competition sooner than was first thought, with the Superprestige race in Asper-Gavere, on Sunday November 12. Nijs will miss this weekend's first round of the World Cup in Bergamo, Italy, but his knee injury has improved enough for him to train and race again.

During Nijs' absence, his Rabobank teammate Richard Groenendaal has taken the number one UCI ranking.

Clignet's new career

Quintuple World Champion and dual Olympic silver medallist, Marion Clignet, is currently working on her future career. The recent gold medallist in the women's points race in Manchester is today meeting with French minister for sport, Marie-George Buffet, to discuss ways of improving the conditions of female athletes, at all levels.

Clignet has been at the top of women's track racing for the past decade, winning World Championships in the pursuit (1994, 1996, 1999) and the points race (1999, 2000), as well as holding the 3,000 m record for four years until it was recently broken by Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel. She is another example of an athlete who has battled the odds to compete at the top level, suffering from both epilepsy and arthritis.

Llaneras looks

This year's dual Olympic and World points race champion, Juan Llaneras, returned home to Mallorca today from Manchester as the most successful Spanish track rider this season. Despite this, he is still without a professional team for next year although he certainly has the desire to ride for one. Most track riders do have contracts with road teams, and Llaneras has ridden with ONCE (1991-1995) and US Postal (1998). He actually left ONCE to concentrate more on the track after his relationship with manager Manolo Saiz became a little strained.

"All the cyclists who ride the points race have teams except for me. I don't understand it, because there is no rider in Spain who is more successful than me, except for the top stars," he said.

Meirhaeghe signs

Belgian Mountain Biker, Filip Meirhaeghe has signed a one year contract with the Belgian division II Tönissteiner-Landbouwkrediet team. He will ride a fairly extensive road season in addition to his mountain bike program where he will still ride for Specialized. During the summer season, he will combine both. In the winter he will try to keep up his condition both of road and on the track. His main goal for 2001 is the World Cup.

Italians poor showing

This year's World Track Championships in Manchester were the least successful for the Italian team in 63 years. They came away without any medals, although Roberto Chiappa's virtual bronze medal in the sprint should be taken into account. His disqualification from the men's after he pushed Laurent Gane of his bike, and the Italian Federation's formal apology were an added embarrassment for the team who did not get close to winning a medal.

National coach, Sandro Callari justified the situation in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. When asked to comment about Chiappa, he did not agree that it was a "disaster". "We have brought the boy back to the top. It is true that he lost his head, but he was provoked and the judges did not take this into account. Gane at least deserved a warning from the judges for the hook that he gave Roberto during the second round," he said, adding that the UCI seemed to have a vendetta against him in the keirin that followed.

With regard to the team pursuit, that qualified 9th fastest out of 10 teams, Callari said that it was a new squad and has to have time to develop. "France, Germany and Britain are light years ahead," he said. "We are forced to take the boys to foreign countries because there are no good training facilities. This is crazy. I said so in '96 that our velodromes in Italy were 10 years behind: the federation told me that with three gold medals in the Olympics I couldn't complain."

US Postal Jersey auctioned for children

The US Postal Service Team jersey worn by George Hincapie in this year's decisive Tour de France stage to Hautacam will be auctioned online throughout this week. The jersey, that has been signed by all nine members of the 2000 Tour de France winning team, will be auctioned off to raise money to fight the battle against pediatric brain tumors. All proceeds will go to The Brain Tumor Foundation For Children, Inc.

Also up for bid is Mario Cipollini's Saeco/Cannondale jersey as well as signed team jerseys from Mercury and AutoTrader.com. The 7-day auction began on October 30 and is hosted by Performance Bicycle at their online auction site.

Vale Cocky

Well known Carnegie-Caulfield veteran cyclist Bruce (Cocky) Cochrane passed away Sunday 29 October just hours after the end of his beloved wife Wilma's (Billie) long struggle with cancer.

Billie told, some years back, how she had been watching Bruce race since he was thirteen years old. He holds the record for the most wins on the fabled Nth. Essendon board track in the days when track racing drew huge crowds and big bets.

Cocky remained a regular member of the D grade "pension queue" and retained his fantastic sprint despite a knee replacement and recently cracking his pelvis in a race crash.

A joint funeral will take place at White Lady Chapel, 667 Glenhuntly Rd, Caulfield South, Friday November 3 at 10:30am. They will be making their last trip together.