Basso in trouble again II

[Richard (Apples)]

Its just getting worse and worse

Although on the bright side if this carries on maybe ACC could enter a team

ROME, April 30, 2007 (AFP) - Another 49 cyclists are implicated
in the Operation Puerto doping affair which is threatening to cast
an even darker cloud over the sport ahead of the first two major
stage races of the season.
According to Monday's Gazzetta dello Sport, a new 6000-page
dossier from the Spanish doping affair, which has already ensnared
Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso, contains evidence which implicates a new
crop of suspected cheats.
'Operation Puerto' erupted in May 2006 when police uncovered an
alleged blood doping and doping network when they raided the
premises of a Madrid sports doctor Eufemiano Fuentes.
Police hundreds of small bags of blood, banned substances such
as EPO (erythropoietin), growth hormones and anabolic steroids, and
incriminating documents with alleged codenames and numbers for
Fuentes' 'clients'.
Some 200 athletes and 58 cyclists were reportedly implicated,
leading to the suspension of 13 riders - including Basso and Ullrich
- by their teams prior to last year's Tour de France.
Both Ullrich and Basso and many other riders implicated have
protested their innocence. So far, only Ullrich appears as guilty
following a recent DNA comparison test with blood found during the
raid.
Ullrich has since retired while Basso, who was initially cleared
by Italian authorities in the autumn, is to appear at a new hearing
scheduled by the Italian Olympic Committee's (CONI) disciplinary
commission this week.
The Italian sports daily did not reveal the identity of the 49
riders it believes are also part of the affair.
But Gazzetta's report said: "Until now we thought there was only
one dossier of 500 pages, but it appears the Spanish authorities are
ready to launch another investigation.
"This new dossier is supposedly 6000 pages long. It is said to
mention 49 riders, among whom are some of the biggest names in the
sport, adding to the 58 already implicated."
If would mean 107 cyclists have now been implicated in Operation
Puerto, leaving the sport's world ruling body, the International
Cycling Union (UCI), and major race organisers with a major
headache.
The UCI is battling to get to the bottom of the affair which
dragged on for most of last season, while the organisers of the Giro
d'Italia and the Tour de France are keen to prevent further scandal
on their races.
A recent DNA sample from Ullrich reportedly linked the 1997 Tour
de France winner to blood found in Fuentes' laboratory.
It led Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme to declare
last week: "The sport just cannot allow cyclists who are still
implicated in this affair to start the Tour de France if suspicion
still hangs over them." Basso will be asked to provide a DNA sample, which could prove
his innocence, when he appears at the CONI hearing on May 2.
After being suspended by his team, Discovery Channel, last week,
it appears his chances of defending his Giro d'Italia crown in the
May 12-June 3 race are hanging by a thread.
Giro director Angelo Zomegnan said last week: "As it stands his
(Basso's) participation in the Giro d'Italia will be difficult."

[-Adam-]

Ok, ive had enough, its time to get radical...

Option A. The UCI grows some balls and forces every licensed rider in the world to submit a DNA sample which will be held in a secure location. Thus 'Puerto' blood can be tested and compared instantly. They already hold info on heamatocrit levels etc, so why not DNA. Whats the big deal? The UCI needs to get a grip on the sport they are supposed to govern. Leave the race organisers to organise the races, and the teams and riders to race 'em. Then start upholding the laws they make, and stop pissing about with the stupid ones like a 6.8kg weight limit. And while there at it, ban race radio's. Wouldn't that make races exciting!?

Option B. Sanction that all races can only be contested by amateur riders until every professional has proven their cleanliness. Again, that would make life more interesting. Imagine a Giro or Tour where nobody knows whos good and who's not. Hmmmmm

I think the onus is really on the UCI to step up to this one. Tell WADA to f**k off and get on with it themselves. The teams shouldn't have to test themselves, surely this idea is wide open to fraud!? UCI need to find the cash to drastically upgrade their testing. Plus all concerned need to look at the fundamentals of why doping takes place, and do something about it. Does the tour need 240km stages? Does M-SR and P-R etc need to be so long, if they were a little shorter wouldn't the racing be more exciting and thus more appealing to spectators, thus TV, and thus Sponsors?

Argh, im so pissed of with the situation in our sport atm. How can i defend it to my friends and family when there's a new scandal every week?

All i know is i race clean, and always will do regardless of what level i reach. If my body can't do it through the acceptable means, then its probably not meant to is it...