Latest Cycling News for August 1, 2006Edited by Hedwig Kröner UCI source confirms exogenous testosterone in Landis' A sampleThe New York Times edition of Tuesday, August 1 has published information which substantiates previous reports in French L'Equipe newspaper, according to which exogenous, synthetic testosterone was found in Floyd Landis' A sample of July 20. A source "within the UCI anti-doping department, with knowledge of the result" Landis' probe returned, said in an interview that some of the testosterone in his body had come from an external source and was not produced by his system. The Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry test (IRMS), which differentiates between natural and synthetic testosterone, was done after Landis' ratio of testosterone/epitestosterone was found to be more than twice what is allowed under World Anti-Doping Agency rules, the person said. Landis' personal doctor, Dr. Brent Kay of Temecula, California, told the New York Times he hoped that the results of the test and of the initial T/E test were false positives. He did, however, confirm rumours that the initial test found a ratio of 11/1 in Landis's system. He and Landis are seeking an explanation for that high level. The result of Landis' B sample is expected to be known before the week-end. Landis affair hits grassroots cycling in AustraliaBy John Kenny The Floyd Landis doping scandal has had an impact on cycling in Australia, according to race promoters, but the sport has the resilience to survive if appropriate steps are taken against drug cheats. Phill Bates, organiser of the Commonwealth Bank Cycling Classic for almost two decades, said the Landis affair would have a greater impact on all levels of cycling than the 'Festina Affair' of 1998 - when nine Festina cyclists were detained by Lyon police after large quantities of doping products were found by customs agents earlier in the Tour. "The impact is larger because it's the winner of the Tour," said Bates. "Riders have lost world championships retrospectively after they have been found to have taken drugs, but nothing compares to this. "The Commonwealth Bank [stage race] ended prematurely in 2000 because the [title] sponsor got nervous and pulled out after the Festina Affair. This was a sponsor that had been with the race for 19 years. They withdrew despite the fact that the Bank classic had a good record [on doping]." Victorian race organiser, John Craven, said that there has been some negative feedback from sponsors and that members of the media have repeatedly asked him to make a comment on the Landis affair. "It [the Landis doping scandal] is something that we [as race promoters] could do without", said Craven. "The fact that this has happened could cause terrible damage." Conversely, Gennie Sheer of Cycling Australia said that its sponsors had not offered any negative feedback. "Our sponsors recognise that we have an outstanding record and they are obviously happy with the way that we are running things." Despite the bad press that the sport has recently received, Craven believes that cycling has done more to fight doping than most other sports. "As long as cycling pursues the corrupt elements then cycling in the long term will be a giant winner," he said. "The metropolitan newspapers [in Melbourne] carry stories on the back page about [Australian Football] players who take pain-killing injections to get through games. In cycling this would be considered doping." The best way to deal with drug cheats was financial penalties, according to Bates. "The UCI should pursue Landis aggressively for damages if he is found guilty. Bans do not work, riders should be [made financially accountable] for the impact that they have on the sport." Craven said that he had spent up to $300,000 on drug testing the riders who have attended his events.
Cyclingnews' coverage of the Floyd Landis case May
29, 2009 - French authorities summon Landis and Baker Cyclingnews' complete coverage of the Floyd Landis case Italian federation waiting for Puerto dossierFour weeks after the exclusion of Ivan Basso, Jan Ullrich and Francisco Mancebo of the Tour de France, it would seem that the national cycling federations have not yet received the full dossier of the Spanish doping scandal. Internet media outlet tuttobiciweb published a letter from the Italian cycling federation president Renato Di Rocco, in which he complains about not having received the documents regarding Italian riders linked to the Spanish doping affair around Dr. Eufemiano Fuentes. "We do not understand why the UCI is so gravely late in transmitting the documents relative to the Italian cyclists involved in Operacion Puerto," Di Rocco wrote to UCI president Pat McQuaid. "Another week has passed uselessly. It is truly strange to note that your office seems to be working at two different speeds." Citing the "immediate" action taken against the former team Liberty Seguros, thought to be heavily implicated in the scandal, the federation president wondered why the International Cycling Union was delayed in delivering "the documents concerning the other cases" and offered to withdraw the dossier directly at UCI headquarters "in order to gain time." The world governing body of cycling, meanwhile, could not be reached for comment. The German cycling federation has not yet received the documents relating to the Operacion Puerto affair, either, as was confirmed to Cyclingnews. Caruso case dropped by Spanish federationGiampaolo Caruso, Italian rider of the former Spanish Liberty Seguros team heavily involved in the doping affair which led to the exclusion of the team at the Tour de France, has received a letter from the Spanish cycling federation which authorizes him to return to racing. In the letter, federation officials are reported to tell Caruso that the doping charges against him are dropped for lack of evidence. However, tuttobiciweb reports that the UCI still opposes Caruso to return to competition. Cyclingnews' recent coverage of 'Operation Puerto' May 18, 2009 - Valverde to start Catalunya Cyclingnews' complete coverage of Operation Puerto Milram for GP Città' di CamaioreTeam Milram has announced its roster for the GP di Camaiore on August 3, 2006. Directeur sportif Vittorio Algeri will lead Mirko Celestino, Volodymyr Dyudya, Michele Gobbi, Andry Grivko, Matej Jurco, Mirco Lorenzetto, Elia Rigotto, Fabio Sabatini, Alessandro Vanotti and Giovanni Visconti in the Italian one-day race. Tatt's cup gets underway in GippslandBy John Kenny The five-day Tattersall's Tour of Gippsland in Victoria, Australia gets underway today with a criterium in Mallacoota. The 108 entrants will compete over nine stages. The tour marks the start of the Tattersall's cup series with ten points available for each stage winner. The race has attracted a quality field including world pursuit champion Steve Wooldridge, Commonwealth Games points champion Sean Finning, Ashley Hutchinson, Chris Jongeward and Robert McLachlan. "We're running a legit race with a quality field," said race promoter John Craven. StagesStage 1 - August 2: Mallacoota, 25.5kms Iron Spinner Marathon leads up to Post Danmark RundtThe Iron Spinner Marathon of Helsingør will take place on August 5, just prior to the pro race tour Post Danmark Rundt in Denmark. 120 spinners are expected for a 2hr, 3, 5 or 10 hours ride during the day, supervised by spinning instructors from Fitnessdk Centers of the Copenhagen area. Former world champion Catherine Marsal will be part of them, teaching from 9am to 10 am. The Post Danmark Rundt will start with the time trial at 6pm just after the Marathon ends. Wexford Cycle Challenge for animal rightsOn Saturday, August 5, Slaney Cycling Club will hold the third circuit of Wexford cycle tour in aid of the Wexford Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (WSPCA). The event will start at 10.00am from the Wexford Rugby Club, Park, Wexford where ample car parking is provided. This is a new start point and due to roadworks can only be approached from the N11/Ferrycarrig Bridge and will be signposted. The ride will be at a controlled touring pace with a short stop to regroup if necessary in Enniscorthy and a longer stop for refreshments at the Boat Club in New Ross. The tour will finish back at the rugby club at about 2.30pm. The event is open to experienced cyclists who wish to complete the whole course or recreational cyclists who may just want to ride a single leg of the cycle. The route is from Wexford to Enniscorthy along the N11, to New Ross along the quieter Rathnure/Ballywilliam road and from New Ross to Wexford along the N25. In contrast to the Mount Leinster Challenge cyclo sportif in May, this route is mainly flat with some rolling roads but no nasty climbs. The entry fee is 20 Euros which riders can pay themselves on the day or by collecting sponsorship. A sponsorship card is available and riders are encouraged to collect as much as possible for this worthy cause. (All rights reserved/Copyright Knapp Communications Pty Limited 2006) |
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