July 25th, 2007
The UCI Needs to Get It’s Act Together Too
While targetting the “Men in Black” Anne Gripper, director of the UCI’s anti-doping program made a statement that appeared to respect the process for dope-testing.
“we have to respect the process, the analysis of the B samples, before we can make any announcements.”
UCI goes after the “Men In Black” [cyclingnews.com, 21 June 2007]
Sadly, that all goes out of the window when it comes to dope tests in the Tour De France, and leaks to L’Equipe.
“It is amazing, how the results of doping controls are unpacked for the press. That was the case at the Giro and now it goes on that way. It is especially the French press, which has a very aggressive attitude.”
Theo de Rooij, Team Manager, (Rabobank)
Tour de France responds to Vinokourov disgrace [cyclingnews.com, 25 July 2007]
Or does it?
“L’Equipe quoted a senior French doping official who said that he did not know the identity of the rider, and spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to discuss the case with reporters. “
Those damned French doping officials need to make their mind up about whether or not to respect the process. Hint to them - that would be a good idea. Results should go to Tour Officials, then the riders concerned and only then to the papers.
Update
The officials did make up their mind. In the end they leaked the news of Moreni’s “non-negative” test results to L’Equipe five hours before they informed the rider. What’s the French for “fucktard”?
Such inconsistencies in the UCI behaviour is not only tawdry, but dangerous as it undermines their own attempts to clean up the sport and results in trial by media. By not following their own processes they allow cheats to divert attention away from their dope test results by questioning the UCI and it’s methods. The UCI instead of cleaning up the sport by prosecuting cheats ends up wasting time and money defending it’s own image and the testing labs and their results.
Talking of inconsistencies does anyone know why Astana were asked to leave the team after Vinokourov’s disgrace but T-Mobile are still racing after Sinkewitz failed a dope test earlier in the Tour? A question that might end up being asked in the Court of Arbitration for Sport? If I was Kloeden’s lawyer it’s a question I’d be asking.
In the meantime all parties are dragged down to the level of the gutter and the whole image of cycling suffers.
It is not just cyclists that need to be squeaky clean but the UCI too. While I applaud it for continuing to tackle the cheats it also needs to get it’s own house in order.
But lets put all this into perspective. I know it’s Wikipedia so must be taken with a large pinch of salt, but this list of people who have tested positive for banned substances* contains a lot of people from a lot of other sports.
Even golfers can’t manage to go for a little bloody walk without feeling the need for artificial assistance these days. If the millionaire Pringle-wearing spastics** had to do the equivalent of two marathons every day for three weeks I bet they’d be on all the gear they could lay their overpaid hands on.
* which includes salbutamol. Plenty of “asthmatics” in sport it appears. I’d love to compare peak flow with some of them.
** I’d like to apologise to all spastics for comparing them to golfers.
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July 26th, 2007 at 11:19 am
Sinkewitz didn’t fail a test earlier in the tour.
July 26th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
Ah, you’re right Simon - it was for a test on June 8th.
July 30th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
Now they just need to explain why they waited a week to expose Mayo.