Millar Confesses

[David Lombari]

Millar confesses
According to Friday's edition of L'Equipe, World Time Trial Champion David Millar (Cofidis) has allegedly confessed to taking EPO. Millar allegedly made the confession to French police while he spent 48 hours in custody in Biarritz this week.

L'Equipe reported that empty ampoules of Eprex (EPO) were found by French police in Millar's house whilst he was being detained, writing "Millar recognised that he used Eprex (erythropoetin) in the practice of his profession which puts him in the same position as a positive rider in the eyes of the UCI."

If this is the case, Millar will likely be charged by Nanterre judge Richard Pallain, who is heading the investigation into the Cofidis team, with illegal possession and use of toxic substances. So far, eight others have been charged in the affair which began early this year: Cédric Vasseur, Philippe Gaumont, Robert Sassone, Médéric Clain, Marek Rutkiewicz and Daniel Majewski (all riders), Boguslaw Madejak (ex-Cofidis physiotherapist), Oleg Kozlitine (former directeur sportif of Oktos)

[Elliot M]

I don't know, but after reading "Breaking the Chain" and "Rough Ride", and just having finished "Put Me Back on My Bike", I don't thinkI have many illusions...

[Will]

I wasn't really expecting that, but I guess that's a bit naive

[Dan B]

Anyone can get tarred with a broad swipe of the brush. Proof seems to be passe these days.

Graeme Brown can be accused of taking equine growth hormone while never setting foot in South Australia.

Danilo di Luca can have his phone tapped, have done nothing to do with drugs, yet is banned from the TdF for merely being under suspicion.

Lance gets it in the neck for being the best for three weeks in July five years running. Now if he were the best year-round for five years, then I would be pretty suspicious. Talent, good genes, they mean nothing without hard work and a bit of luck. And hard work and luck mean nothing without focus.

If whispers meant truth, nobody would be riding the damn race at all. If to be clean is to be slow, it would be schmucks like us in the Pyrenees - who wants to see Dan Benson walking his Trek up the Col de Bargaguy?

How about we bring back tubes around the shoulders, no outside support or teams, wooden wheels, taking the back wheel off to shift, welding your own fork and, for good measure, raise Henri Desgrange from the dead?

Fer cri-yi, let 'em race, innocent 'til proven guilty.

[David Lombari]

I agree totally with you Dan, it's so easy to make accusations without proof.

As Di Luca said, why should he be banned from TDF on someone's suspicion?

And what if the French police suddenly tomorrow decide to investigate the allegations in David Walsh's book....would Lance be banned?

I guess it's different though if the guy actually comes out and admits doping (though I've not seen any direct quotes from Millar as yet).

[Will]

Article on BBC (saying he's banned from the Tour)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_s ... 836023.stm

And wranglings on Millar's site's forum
http://www.itsmillartime.com/forum/foru ... &forumid=2

[David Lombari]

For a light-hearted look at the drugs problem:
http://www.secretsofthepeloton.com/newshoundborder.htm