UCI says unidentified rider tested positive (Tour de France)

Fox Sports ^ | 26 Jul 2006 | AP

[commish]

AIGLE, Switzerland (AP) - A rider in the Tour de France tested positive for doping, the sport's governing body said Wednesday.

The UCI said it wouldn't disclose the rider's name, team or nationality pending completion of the testing process.

"The UCI received today a report of the anti-doping laboratory of Paris stating an adverse analytical finding following an anti-doping test carried out at the Tour de France 2006," the statement said.

***snip***

[Ready4Freddy]

I would suspect that they've completed testing on the 'A' sample, just haven't tested the 'B' yet. Doesn't look like they're trying to smear someone's name per this report - they haven't released the name. ;>)

...If the testing process isn't complete yet, then no riders have tested possitive yet....The only purpose to doing it this way is to smear someone's name before all the evidence is gathered.

[Ready4Freddy]

It wasn't steroids that were the main doping agent under suspicion, it was EPO and other blood-packing techniques. I still think LA had the best doping doctors & regimen that $$$ could buy.

The French had been trying to catch Lance Armstrong using steroids from the first year that he won the Tour de France

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Hmmm, could be. I'm definitely no expert.

[Ready4Freddy]

I'm not suggesting that LA's record deserves an asterisk, I think all the top dogs were playing with their blood in one way or another. Can't remember exactly what they popped Tyler Hamilton for at the Olympics, but I seem to remember him either being suspected or actually being caught at one time w/ someone else's blood in his system - total transfusion before a big race. Supposed to be a mistake, they used the wrong rider's bags o' blood, but the technique of transfusing your own blood is illegal in its own right.

My gut tells me that a protestation of '[insert favorite rider here] has never had a positive!!!' speaks not so much to their innocence, but more to the sophistication of the techniques used.

If the wall of silence ever gets a chink in it...

[Ready4Freddy]

The UCI site still doesn't show any news update on this.

[Ready4Freddy]

Yup, last paragraph of the article confirms that. The names of the riders associated w/ each blood sample aren't known at the time of the 'A' testing, and they only look up the names of any who have a positive in the 'A'. Rider gets a chance to forego the 'B' test (essentially 'fessing up), or can require that the 'B' is tested.

I would suspect that they've completed testing on the 'A' sample, just haven't tested the 'B' yet.

[untrained skeptic]

I would suspect that they've completed testing on the 'A' sample, just haven't tested the 'B' yet. Doesn't look like they're trying to smear someone's name per this report - they haven't released the name. ;>)

The name usually gets leaked sooner or later. If the name doesn't get leaked, the report is used as a basis of rumors and used as the basis of a conspiracy theory that there was a cover-up if the final report says that there wasn't a problem.

Releasing this kind of report before the testing is complete serves no legitimate purpose.

[Aeronaut]

They also found other materials with him that are illegal in France...deoderant and shampoo.

...and toothpaste.

[leilani]

other big news breaking... Astana Team have been cleared of any wrongdoing in the investigation

Which means that Vinokourov was prevented from riding the TdF for no legitimate reason. I don't know who to be more disgusted with: the intransigent dopers on the bikes or the callously indifferent bureaucrats entrusted to administer the "cleanup" of this sport...

[Quark606]

...and backbone and a pair of balls.

[Ready4Freddy]

Waa Astana the team that simply didn't have enough riders left after the Puerto list came out?

Which means that Vinokourov was prevented from riding the TdF for no legitimate reason.

[leilani]

Thought so. Did I remember incorrectly? I thought Vino couldn't ride because Astana lost most of it's members to the OP dragnet. No?

[Ready4Freddy]

Here's the Astana list from Eurosport:

"Notably absent is Astana-Wurth rider and Tour de France hopeful Alexandre Vinokourov, but nine of the Kazakh's team-mates were implicated.

Astana Wurth:
Michele Scarponi (ITA),
Marcos Antonio Serrano (ESP),
David Etxebarria (ESP),
Joseba Beloki (ESP),
Angel Vicioso (ESP),
Isidro Nozal (ESP),
Unai Osa (ESP),
Jaksche Joorg (GER),
Giampaolo Caruso (ITA)"

Tho commish' post says that some of the guys on the list have been exonerated, looks like Astana simply didn't have enough peeps to field a team (gotta have 7 to play in the Tour). Bear in mind that most European squads have many riders on them, but only 10-12 that are Tour-quality at any given time. The rest are the 'farm team', and ride in other minor races, some even held in July.

I guess my point is - even w/ these exonerations, it doesn't mean that Vinko was not allowed to ride for 'no good reason', or however you put it. I just don't think they could put a team together. Unfortunate for him, to be sure.

[Ready4Freddy]

Ooops, meant to post #33 to you, m'lady!

[Ready4Freddy]

Just saw this on eurosport.com - Levi Leipheimer is to be the new leader of DSC...

Leipheimer joins Discovery

[nutmeg]

Must be a French rider. If he were American, they'd release his name immediately.

Yup.

[nutmeg]

Thanks for the ping, and for the news on Levi and Discovery. Pretty cool! :o)

[nutmeg]

Tour de France ping!

Check out Ready4Freddy's post #35... Levi Leipheimer is to be the new leader of Team Discovery.

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my Tour de France 2006 list.

[Ready4Freddy]

'meg, looks like you didn't hit the TdF ping list for this?

[nutmeg]

Yes I did... in post #38 (I'm only online a short time tonight).