Everyone has heard by now that another TDF rider tested positive today. He was two-stage winner this year and dominant in the Pyrenees. He tested positive for a new EPO-type of drug - so new that it has only been available at the beginning of the year.
The doping labs said they are working with pharma companies to get an early look at drugs that might be used by athletes. This drug, Micera, is a more convenient form of EPO. The labs said they had the molecule some time ago to develop a test.
I bet some riders are nervous now thinking they could get away with this drug.
This is good news.....
It's all so sad. Despite my love for cycling, I can't watch the Tour anymore because of things like this. In 2006, my son, seven at the time, and I watched the Tour. It was so hard to explain to him what happened to his hero, Floyd Landis. In 2007, it was Team Astana that broke our hearts. We adopted our son from Kazakhstan in 2000, so he was thrilled to see a team from his home country in the Tour. Once again, I had to break some hard news to him and it was not fun. I didn't want to have to do it again, so I haven't been following it this year.
Who has the yellow jersey now?
As drug testing equipment becomes better, maybe they will go back to test armstrong's samples to see what he used all those years.
What if he didn't use ANYTHING for all those years?
Dan, here's one for you...
Martin on my left, Tyler on my right. The argyle guys are my team.
I'm envious Alison. I saw your picture on Facebook and thought it was awfully cool that you got to meet some Slipstream guys. I have been promised an argyle jersey for Christmas!
He used. He could not be competitive during those years without doing so.
Former teammates have confessed that U.S. Postal doped. His former teammates have tested positive. All of his major rivals, have either tested positive or have strong links to doping. His coaches and team leaders over the years were also linked to rampant drug use. There is a mountain of substantial and compelling evidence that Lance was on the PED's. Just like everyone else. Surprise.
I have not seen any confessions by former Postal teammates that there was systematic doping on that team. Just because some of his former teammates have been caught does not make the man guilty. The whole thread about whether or not Dara Torres was cheating was based on supposed questioning. My complaint with most of the 'questioners' was that they were no longer questioning, but they were instead accusing. And I would strongly disagree that there is a mountain of evidence against Armstrong.
I have not seen any confessions by former Postal teammates that there was systematic doping on that team. Just because some of his former teammates have been caught does not make the man guilty. The whole thread about whether or not Dara Torres was cheating was based on supposed questioning. My complaint with most of the 'questioners' was that they were no longer questioning, but they were instead accusing. And I would strongly disagree that there is a mountain of evidence against Armstrong.
Agreed! Watch out Keith or else you will get another Dara-type thread going!
Jim posted the link below in another thread which was almost lost (by the way Jim, sorry for the big ass comment on the other thread):
www.kansascity.com/.../710243.html
With the testers having come up with something to detect this mutant form of EPO I'm hoping a few people get a clue...so do you think the rest of Ricco's team pulled out onlly to show support or for fear of further test failures?
About Lance...uuuggghhh...I watched almost all of his last 3 tours...stunned at the power/grace and beauty of this guys riding...and as has been my problem since the East Germans...wondering. We'll never know and just as with Dara innocent until proven guilty.
His personal coach Chris Carmichael has been linked to PEDs, former riders in the early 90s have alleged he doped them.
Lance's involvement with Mr. Ferrari, the EPO kingpin of Cycling.
Frankie Andreu and another (unnamed) teammate at U.S. Postal admitted using EPO with U.S. Postal when Lance became champion.
Witnessed testified that Armstrong admitted to taking EPO and HgH during his hospital stay while being treated for cancer. A former friend, Michael Anderson testified to finding steroids in Lance's home.
Stephen Swart, a former teammate of Lance's with Motorola testified that he, Lance, and the rest of the team took EPO and that it was systematic use on the team.
Tyler Hamilton, Roberto Heras, Manuel Beltran, and Floyd Landis have been busted for doping. All former teammates of Lance.
Various Links:
www.cbc.ca/.../instantmessage.htmlwww.npr.org/.../story.phpsportsillustrated.cnn.com/.../www.guardian.co.uk/.../cycling.cycling1www.nzherald.co.nz/.../story.cfm
Uuugggghhhh from me too. That's just nasty. Somehow I don't think Lance is going to get a free pass ... But why does a control freak announce his drug use in public?
As for the Israeli swimmer, I really hated this dimwit quote: "If you test positive for something, many people aren’t interested in your truth. They’re only interested in the positive drug test.” I'm actually not very interested in his "truth."
Cool. From the team's website:
Every rider is tested every 14 days. That’s over 600 annual reminders to the world that Slipstream stands behind its mission of clean sport.
The Agency for Cycling Ethics (ACE) independently administers the program. ACE tests Slipstream riders 20 times more often than is required by the Union Cycliste International (UCI), pro cycling’s governing body. True to its dedication to total transparency, Slipstream provides access to the riders testing results to approved 3rd parties.
The ground-breaking testing program breaks away from trying to play catch up with the latest drug. By testing attributes unique to each rider-blood composition and hormone levels-the program establishes baseline biological markers for each rider. Once established, any variance from this baseline can be immediately identified without needing to detect a specific banned substance.
They "publish" the results on the webpage to people with press credentials. Very impressive.
What if he didn't use ANYTHING for all those years?
He used. He could not be competitive during those years without doing so.
Former teammates have confessed that U.S. Postal doped. His former teammates have tested positive. All of his major rivals, have either tested positive or have strong links to doping. His coaches and team leaders over the years were also linked to rampant drug use. There is a mountain of substantial and compelling evidence that Lance was on the PED's. Just like everyone else. Surprise.
