Chiappucci has his licence backClaudio Chiappucci has had his licence returned. Since October, he has not been allowed to ride any competition races. This was because he failed a blood test when it was detected that his hematocriet level was above the allowable 50 per cent.Chiappucci was thrown out of the Italian World Cup team. Now he had new test and his blood count was well under the maximum allowable levels. You have to wonder! More rumours from AdelaideIt was overheard in an Adelaide bike shop today that the 6 year old Adelaide Superdrome track would be taken up and replaced with an indoor ice arena soon after the Sydney 2000 Olympics. State government employees who run the Superdrome are at wits end to make ends meet mainly due to fickle Adelaide spectators and a jilted racing fraternity. After promises of seeing the great AIS riders compete at the recent world cup only to see second rate riders compete has caused the crowds to stay away in droves.Although this had nothing to do with Superdrome organisers they are feeling the brunt of the let down. This may be the last year that there is international standard competition at the track. In future it will possibly only be used for AIS and SASI training and for pre olympic training for visiting nations. Keep in mind that the USA don't have an indoor velodrome and will be using the Adelaide track (at a price no doubt) prior to Sydney 2000. Adelaide clubs can't afford to run races there because of the > $500/night hire charges and with an outdoor track at Hanson Park not 10 minutes away, they prefer to run their races outdoors for nothing. UCI has introduced blood tests for Cyclo CrossThe UCI has now started taking blood tests at Cyclo Cross. This seems logical given that they have already taken blood samples for road riders, MTB riders and track riders. The tests are aimed at detecting the percentage of red blood cells that a rider currently has. If a particular riders has a reading that is too high, then a suspension follows. The UCI hopes to stop EPO use. EPO increases the number of red blood cells and therefore the oxygen capacity of the blood. The team leaders agreed to the tests on October 26, during the first World Cup race at Eschenbach. |