Trouble for Valverde?

Operacion Puerto, take 2. From CN:
Following the lead of German organizers, who have said they did not want Alejandro Valverde competing in the UCI World Road Championships in Stuttgart, the UCI announced in a statement Wednesday that it was not only prohibiting the Spanish rider from starting the championship event, but that it was also starting disciplinary proceedings against him. Saying that it was acting in accordance with its regulations, the UCI requested the Spanish cycling federation RFEC "to open disciplinary proceedings against the rider as soon as possible." "During the meticulous studying of the 6,000-page Puerto dossier, the International Cycling Union (UCI) has concluded that several documents may show the involvement of Alejandro Valverde in the affair," said a statement from the UCI.

Quote of the Day - LeMond on dopes

Worth a good long read are Greg LeMond's thoughts on how to fix up the dopes. Here's just one decent quote, via CyclingNews, with some powerful resonances:
LeMond was also not afraid to take a thinly veiled shot at his fellow Tour winner Lance Armstrong, whose Discovery Channel team announced it would disband after ceasing its search for a new sponsor earlier this month. "I think we're fleshing out a lot of people who are leaving," he told the newspaper. "I think a lot of people are leaving not because they can't get sponsors, but because [investigators are] getting serious. The guys that have been getting away with it don't want to be caught."

Discovery's announcement is detailed here, by the way.

Cleared: Gil

Via CN: Spaniard Koldo Gil has been exonerated of any implication in the Spanish civil guard's Operación Puerto doping ring inquiry. The UCI has removed his name from the list of involved cyclists, meaning the rider can continue to compete with his Spanish Saunier Duval squad, according to Marca.com.

Plant extract of the day: Moreni

Wow. A plant extract, eh? Watch what you buy over the Internet, kids.

From CN: Cristian Moreni (Cofidis), who was handed a two-year suspension following his positive test for testosterone, declared to French paper Journal du Dimanche that he had a hard time accepting the ban. "It is like giving the same sentence to someone who stole an apple and to someone who robbed a bank," the Italian declared in light of the fact that riders caught for blood doping got the same suspension.

Clearance of the day: Petacchi

Really, deos anyone care anymore? Well yes, they do. Alessandro has been cleared of further pain over his Salbutamol over-use. From CN: CONI's appeal to force the Italian Cycling Federation to exact a sanction against sprinter Alessandro Petacchi for his 'non-negative' for Salbutamol was rejected on Saturday. The agency had hoped to overturn a previous ruling by the federation which cleared the Milram rider of wrongdoing after he went over the limit for the amount of the drug in his urine during the Giro d'Italia on May 23.

Mention of the day: Mazzoleni

I should have mentioned Mazzoleni a bit earlier, but here he is now, at CN, in an article on Astana:
Eddy Mazzoleni, who finished third in the Giro d'Italia, was investigated by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) for his involvement in 2004's Oil for Drugs case. Increasing pressure caused him to annul his contract after the team had already suspended him. He was also scrutinized for 'abnormally low' hormone levels in blood and urine tests after the Giro d'Italia stage to Monte Zoncolan on May 30.

Clearance of the day: Piepoli

From CN: Piepoli cleared Leonardo Piepoli has been cleared of doping charges by Monaco's cycling federation. The Saunier Duval rider had tested positive for the asthma medication Salbutamol during the Giro d'Italia, a medication for which he has a medical exemption. CONI, the Italian Olympic committee, had pressed the charges against Piepoli, and did not have an immediate reaction to his acquittal.

Dope of the Day: Kashechkin

It's still a closely fought battle, the Dope of the Day. Just when you think it's slowing down, along comes a new name to add to the list. From CN: "Astana suffered another blow Wednesday when Kazakh Andrej Kashechkin tested positive for a homologous blood transfusion following an unexpected control on August 1 in Belek, Turkey. Astana issued a statement saying Kashechkin was suspended effective immediately while waiting for the analysis of the B sample."

But wait, from the same source... "Freshly crowned Tour de France winner Alberto Contador is scheduled to issue a public statement Friday along with Discovery Channel Team director Johan Bruyneel at the offices of Spain's Superior Council for Sports according to the International Herald Tribune.

The rider has been tied to Operación Puerto, the Spanish doping investigation. He is expected to make a statement, but not answer questions. No information was provided about the content of the upcoming announcement."

The mind is boggling. Of course it's a denial, but why now? Why again?

Old doper rates the current state "somewhat cleaner"

Jorg Jaksche sounds like a nice guy, so did he have to dope in the first place? From CN: Despite of the spate of recent positive doping tests, Jaksche thinks the sport is getting clean. "It is somewhat cleaner than it was three years ago and significantly cleaner than it was 10 years ago. They are on the right way, but it is a long road. Nobody can expect cycling to change overnight after 35 years of problems."

Everyone gets a mention

Swiss cycling enthusiast and Astana main man Marc Biver appears to get a mention in for everyone, from Vino to Ferrari via Rominger... from CN:
Biver defended Michele Ferrari, whom he has known since the "EPO years [90's]." I always found him very direct, honest and nice. Back then he already made great training plans. I can't judge him by anything else, I don't have proof," said Biver, who also pointed out that Vino tested positive, which he didn't think was Ferrari's wrong-doing. Astana's general manager also said that his relationships with Tony Rominger had not suffered. The former professional was a client of Ferrari in the past and managed several riders involved in doping cases, including Astana's Kessler and Vinokourov.

Old dope: Camenzind

This goes back a little, but Oscar Camenzind has reserved the right to not name his EPO supplier. Good news for someone, I guess, who can continue to hide in shame and fear.

Dope of the Day: Libardo Nino tests positive... who?

Well he's Columbian and has tested positive, so he gets a jersey in the Dope of the Day comp. EPO, of course.

Diggin' the dirt: Rasmussen and CSC, 2002

If you look long enough and hard enough you start to see stuff you missed before. Reported via CN:

"Danish broadcasting company DR Sporten and newspaper Jyllands-Posten have reported that Michael Rasmussen had slightly irregular blood profiles in 2002 when he was still with Team CSC. He had been scheduled to take part in the Giro della Provincia di Lucca but he was sent home by DS Johnny Weltz after an internal blood test showed irregularities. Back then, Rasmussen told Danish news agency Ritzau that his withdrawal was due to stomach troubles and a fever.

The wheels are turning for AC

We really don't know who AC is, or was. He could be anyone. Jorg Jaksche doesn't know. The UCI doesn't know. But WADA would like to know... from CN: "WADA opens Contador investigation. The World Anti Doping Agency has opened an investigation on Alberto Contador (Discovery Channel), winner of this years Tour de France, and his alleged involvement in Operation Peurto. WADA is working with ex-Liberty Seguros rider Jorg Jaksche, who admitted that he worked with the Spanish doctor while he was a team-mate of Contador at Liberty Seguros, after it received documents from German Professor Werner Franke that supposedly links the Spaniard to Dr. Eufemiano Fuentes. Documents seized in the case are said to contain the letters A.C., which is allegedly the initials of Alberto Contador."

Of course it's denied by Contador and the matter was settled once before. It's opened up not because of new evidence but because of renewed publicity for the allegations. It had to be re-opened, surely, for the sake of our peace of mind.

Asthma medication story of the month: Piepoli

Lots of people have asthma and exercise often is attributed as a trigger. So inhaling via a "puffer" is surely to be expected, especially just before a race. The main question is how much salbutamol is an acceptable, reasonable level for individuals with breathing difficulties. Other questions may include what value is there in a medical certificate anyway, and why does it often look like a third of the peleton have these breathing difficulties? Have you been at a start of a race and seen all of the puffers out? Does this inhalation actually work, asthmatic or not, or is it a placebo? And lastly, do we care?

Via CN: Piepoli heard by Monaco federation Piepoli. Italian climber Leonardo Piepoli will be heard by the cycling federation of Monaco tomorrow for his post-race 'non-negative' doping control following the Giro d'Italia stage to Monte Zoncolan, May 30, won by Saunier Duval teammate Gilberto Simoni. The 35 year-old who races with a license issued by Monaco, where he has lived since 1999, recorded a reading of 1800 nanograms per millilitre versus the limit of 1000. Following the announcement of the result on June 13 a Barcelona lab was unsuccessful in determining if the asthma drug that been inhaled as normal or injected. "The summons arrived on Saturday," explained Piepoli to La Gazzetta dello Sport. The rider has a medical certificate which allows him to use Salbutamol above the 1000 limit. "Doping with Ventolin [a manufacturers name of Salbutamol - ed.] is impossible, there is a lot of scientific literature to demonstrate this. The certificate that I have does not have limits for use, and I have to say that I don't remember if on the day of Zoncolan I used it more than other days, it would be deceitful to give an indication as such."

Speculation of the day: Evans on Contador

Most Aussie bike racing enthusaists would have watched Cadel Evans be interviewed by Andrew Denton (a local comedian turned Parkinson-style interviewer) last Monday night. To be honest it was OK but not very revealing. Denton talked it up on ABC radio prior to the show and suggested that Cadel was unhappy about his team's support during the race but Cadel himself didn't say that in the interview. He did say that Contador was innocent until proven guilty, but that's hardly earthshaking, is it? He also regrets losing those 23 seconds, but it would be more surprising if he hadn't regretted it.

CN has a partial transcript on its site:
"Evans: Contador is "innocent until proven guilty"... 2007 Tour de France runner-up Cadel Evans took time out to conduct an interview on the Australian talk show, 'Enough Rope'... After discussing Evans' childhood and life growing up on a remote Northern Territory settlement, Denton moved into the hot topic following this year's Tour: losing by 23 seconds and doping. He was specifically asked if he believed that Alberto Contador (Discovery Channel) deserved this year's Tour de France victory, especially in light of comments made by German anti-doping activist, Werner Franke, that the Spaniard's victory was "the greatest swindle" in sports history. Evans said: "I think, like everyone, there is a bit of a shadow over his winning and his reputation. For me, innocent until proven guilty is always my attitude. "Just because you win the Tour de France doesn't mean you are a cheat. People have to remember that. If something comes out... solid evidence, yes... but 'til now, no solid proof has come out. So I'll leave him innocent until proven guilty," he said. "

Doping forum at Daily Peloton

There's an interesting forum on doping here, filled with the usual mix of useful and useless opinion, of course.

Ex-doper of the Day - David Millar

Reformed doper David Millar find that he can win and be clean. Nice one David. You'll recall that David was ashamed and bitter about his cheating and made it plain to all within earshot he was uncomfortable with his decision to use EPO. To take the penalty and move on is enough, but to become a role model for clean racing is even better.

From CN:
Millar takes second '07 win at British Championships. David Millar (Saunier Duval Prodir) took his second win of the 2007 season on Sunday at the British National Road Race Championships by overpowering fellow escapee Daniel Lloyd (DFL-Cyclingnews-Litespeed) on an uphill sprint finish. "This win is massive for me. It means a huge amount," said Millar. "I have wanted this jersey for the whole of my career. I've had close calls and I have spat the dummy out a couple of times in this race before. I think I have matured with age and managed to control my temper a bit better. I am pretty proud of being British. A week after the Tour I felt bad all day today. I was tired and my legs were bad. Your perception is weird. I was off the front and my legs were hurting but I was going damn fast. I can just keep doing it as well."

Old dope: Clean, but still pursued: Di Luca

Who knows the truth here? Danilo Di Luca is clean, he's not proven to have doped, but he is pursued.

Via Cyclingnews.com:
"Di Luca faces further inquiry.
The Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) said in a statement on its website Friday that Giro d'Italia winner Danilo Di Luca will be subject to further inquiry for alleged doping charges and may be sanctioned following the review of new evidence.

No details were available about the nature of the evidence, the case, or where it might be heard.

"It's news to me," Di Luca told the ANSA news agency on Friday according to the Associated Press. "I know absolutely nothing."

Di Luca's lawyer, Federico Cecconi, also told ANSA he did not yet know the subject of the investigation. "At the moment, we haven't received any communication on proceedings other than those thrown out by the Pescara prosecutor's office."

At present, Di Luca is awaiting a decision from CONI regarding his alleged involvement in a case with Carlo Santuccione, a doctor who accused of supplying doping products to athletes. The "Oil for Drugs" case was dismissed by the Italian judicial system in early July; however, Di Luca will have to wait awhile for any final decision from CONI; according to Reuters, CONI's doping unit is closed from August 10 to September 2."

Old dope - Non-doper Kloden rides again

He's clean, but his team suspended itself due to Vinokourov's indiscretion and their bike sponsor withdrew support. But Kloden rides on, in team kit.

From Cyclingnews.com:
"Klöden rides in Germany

Andreas Klöden will return to racing Friday evening at the 16th Bitburger-City-Nacht in Rhede, Germany, his first race after Team Astana withdrew itself from the Tour de France following Alexander Vinokourov's positive doping result.

Race organizer Uwe Hengstermann said that he had received a text message from Klöden's manager Tony Rominger "again confirming that Andreas Klöden will come to Rhede on Friday." On the race's website, central-rhede.de, Hengstermann said, "Andreas Klöden has not ridden any races since Astana's forced withdrawal from the Tour de France and, as far as we know, he will start racing again for the first time in Rhede."

Although the team decided to suspend its activities during the month of August Klöden is able to ride in this race because he signed a personal contract to appear.

It was not clear whether Klöden will appear in his Astana kit and what bike he would be riding. Bike sponsor BMC cancelled its contract with the team as of August 1."

And the kit he used was confirmed, btw.

Old dope - Ivan Basso makes an appearance

To recap, Ivan Basso came clean about his blood in the bag, then recanted somewhat saying that he'd never actually taken part in doping, as such. He made a deposit but not a withdrawal, as it were. He copped a suspension anyway.

Here's the latest on Basso from AFP via Cyclingnews.com:
"Suspension? Basso in Giro delle Valli Cuneesi Basso during CONI visit

Ivan Basso was handed a two-year suspension June 15 by the Italian cycling federation (FCI) for his involvement with the Eufemiano Fuentes doping ring but the former Discovery Channel rider continues to make appearances in racing-related events. Earlier this week, he was at the presentation of the Tre Valli Varesine and he will be on his bike in front of the fans when the Giro delle Valli Cuneesi starts today in Cuneo (Piemonte, Italy).

The 29 year-old Italian has been invited to ride pre-race for the fans in the first stage of the five-day amateur stage race according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. He will use the 145 kilometres from Cuneo to Carrù as training before the riders race the same parcours.

The appearance underlines Basso's love for the sport but it also sends mixed signals from a rider that has never fully admitted his guilt. Basso was faced with evidence contrary to his earlier statements to the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) during its investigation and was put in a position where he had to confess. The details of Fuentes' operations were sparse and the next day before the press he watered down his involvement.

"In my career I have never used doping products or resorted to blood transfusions," said Basso May 8. Investigators found blood bags in Madrid marked for the 29 year-old Italian but he claimed that although he had the blood extracted he never had it transfused."

Dope or no dope? Rate my dope?

If I took a guess it would simply be a guess. I know maybe 1 current pro "a bit", and 3 current pros "less than a bit". I have however known 6 or 7 pros in the past 20 years - all cyclists, mind - and have raced and trained with a couple, too. And I have a few MySpace friends who claim to be pro cyclists, past and present. None of them have said, 'oh yeah, I dope'. But how would you know, I mean really know?

Indeed, how do you judge whether someone is doping? Empirically, yes, by blood or urine sample; which may miss the smarties with the latest masking techniques. Or by feel, as in 'I don't know Floyd/Tyler/Ivan at all personally but I've seen them on tele and watched their careers unfold over years, and from their words and deeds I trust them completely'. Yeah, right.

So what about a man who has obvious, broad and deep contacts with riders past and present, including his own son? Say Eddy Merckx? Would he know, and do you trust that he would tell all?

From La Gazzetta dello Sport via Cyclingnews.com:
"Merckx convinced the majority of cyclists are clean. Legend Eddy Merckx, winner of nearly every race on the calendar, is forced to face the current doping polemics with the entire cycling community. The 62 year-old Belgian who reigned from the 1960s to 1970s believes that although the sport is going through a black period, three-fourths of the cyclists are riding clean.

"I hope that cycling rises again. The disease is terrible, the situation continues to be serious, but there are signs of life," said the five-time winner of the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia to Marco Pastonesi of La Gazzetta dello Sport. The sport has been rocked by doping related incidents in the last month involving Patrik Sinkewitz (T-Mobile), Alexander Vinokourov (Astana), Cristian Moreni (Cofidis), Michael Rasmussen (Rabobank) and Luca Ascani (Aurum Hotels)."

"There a lot of honest guys. I say that three-fourths of the gruppo is clean. The others are at risk. [Tour Director] Christian Prudhomme is right; the riders that are doping are playing Russian roulette with their lives."

So how about 25% still doping? That's a lot of riders slipping through the cracks...

Dope of the day number 3... Patrik Sinkewitz

We all know the story. That testosterone gel that we all have in our cupboards at home is just so easy to apply, so smooth and sweet on the skin that we almost forget it's a banned substance as we smear it on.

Why? Because we are really good bike riders anyway and all we need today is a bit of a lift, a bit like caffeine or Salbutamol really. Everyone does it, don't they?
Why? Well, it's more of a placebo than anything but it seems to improve recovery. I think.
Why? Because I want to take a risk. I'm a cyclist, we are all risk-takers.
Why? Because I feel like coming clean in public after getting caught. It's good for the soul.
Why? Because I feel like a bit of a break from cycling, y'know. A long break.

Once more, from Cyclingnews:
Sinkewitz' home searched The German Bundeskartelamt (federal police) searched Patrik Sinkewitz' apartment in Künzell, Germany, on Thursday, The search was connected to the BKA's investigation of the German cyclist for "fraud or damages against his contract partners", and is unrelated to his positive testosterone doping test. Both the BKA and Sinkewitz' attorney Michael Lehner confirmed the search. It was a routine matter, Lehner told the press agency dpa. "Herr Sinkewitz has nothing to hide and will answer all questions posed to him." A spokesman for the BKA said that it was acting on behalf of prosecutors in Bonn. It is alleged that the former T-Mobile rider used medications for doping purposes and in so doing would have "defrauded and damaged" business partners such as sponsors and sporting event organisers.

Dope of the day number 2... Alessandro Petacchi

Almost sorry to put Alessandro here, but he did fail a doping test - for Salbutamol - despite having a medical release registered with the UCI that allows him to use it legitimately. The problem is the quantity. Does it remind you at all of the old caffeine chestnut? Yes, caffeine wakes you up and gets you going, and it even mobilises fat use; but should we ban it outright at any level of use? What about coffee addicts? Aren't we human after all? Just insert "salbutamol" for "caffeine" and ask the same questions. Well, OK, we aren't all coffee drinkers - or asthmatics. And there do seem to be a lot of "puffers" out at the start of bike races though, eh?

Again from Cyclingnews.com:
CONI appeal on Petacchi set Alessandro Petacchi may return to competition this week, but he's not out of hot water yet. While the Italian cycling federation cleared the Milram man on charges stemming from a 'non-negative' doping control from the Giro d'Italia, the decision was appealed by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) which wants to see a one year ban. The date for the appeal has been set for August 11 according to the Italian federation. Petacchi was left off his team's roster for the Tour de France, and spent the month instead awaiting a decision by the antidoping authorities on punishment for a urine test which showed he had more than the allowable amount of the asthma drug Salbutamol in his system during the Giro d'Italia. The rider claimed that he had simply used too much of his asthma inhaler.

And the first dope of the day is... Luca Ascani

From Cyclingnews.com...
Luca Ascani positive for EPO The reigning Italian time trial champion Luca Ascani (Aurum Hotels) was suspended by his team following news that the rider had tested positive for EPO. The 24 year-old tested positive following his championship ride, according to the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), the country's antidoping agency. His team suspended him pending the outcome of the hearing on his case. Ascani thus becomes the next in a long line of recent doping positives including Saunier Duval's Iban Mayo, Astana's Alexander Vinokourov and Matthias Kessler, T-Mobile's Patrik Sinkewitz, and fellow Italian Cristian Moreni (Cofidis).

A new name, a new purpose

Well the abecedarian insult is no more. Instead I will dump my dope about doping here to cut the clutter in my cycling blogs. Well, that's the theory, anyway.

S is for Social networking

As in online social networking. If you know 10 people at work and 20 people in your community you'll know 152,000 in Myspace, 30,000 in Facebook and 3,000 in Tribe. And that's just the tip of this particular iceberg. You also have video and image sharing sites, plus school and family reunion type sites, and work or professional sites that offer most of the same profiling, sharing and chat features. It's becoming more common and the edges are blurring.

Here are a few interesting sites to play with... this Salon blog is full of links to explore... Wikipedia has a list... Meredith's blog offers an interesting take on libraries and social networking... check out Huminity, an agent that runs on your PC and connects with a server than connects with all other Huminity users. If you have friends you can "see" their connectedness. And chat. It's IM with maps I guess. You can also learn about social libraries here at this blog.