Skull-duggery? Take a look at the Washington Post and the article on the US Federal investigation into alleged doping practices and fraud. What stands out is not that Armstrong and Co. face questions and potential trouble, for me it was the following. Novitzky immersed himself in his new job by spearheading efforts to crack down … Read more
Falco’s Wiener Blut Wiener Blut means “Vienna blood”, but also “Viennese spirit”. Austrian cyclist Bernard Kohl got caught but there seems to have been an industrial scale doping network here and few other clients of the clinic have been investigated, yet alone sanctioned. Anyway, it’s an excuse for a bit of Falco. Note the “wir … Read more
US rider Matt DeCanio is a former pro on the US circuit, he published a taped conversation that apparently incriminated a former team mate, Kayle Leogrande. Since then he’s started an outspoken – to say the least – website at stolenunderground.com which advocates a militant stance against doping and dopers. DeCanio is now racing in … Read more
The story is now doing the rounds in the mainstream media in France. It’s been debated on several radio stations and establishment newspaper Le Monde is even asking about it. Cancellara has openly denied it now. Indeed there have been many new readers here thanks to this story, a welcome to all of you. But … Read more
Following Iván Gutiérrez’s letter, printed in many places, I feel like having a word with the Spaniard. So here’s a letter addressed to him. Dear Ivan, I read your letter in defence of Alejandro Valverde and have to say I’m quite surprised. You seem trapped in a bubble, unaware of the world outside cycling. Alejandro … Read more
It took time but as expected, the Court for Arbitration has ruled against Alejandro Valverde and the Spanish Federation, the RFEC: On 29 August 2007, the UCI requested the RFEC to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Alejandro Valverde on the basis of the evidence gathered within the Operación Puerto proceedings, including the blood bag blood from … Read more
Here’s a screenshot of the UCI’s rulebook, online at UCI.ch. Note rule 1.3.010 was introduced in 2005. Propulsion from any source other than your legs is banned. Does motorised doping exist? Yes, it is possible the technology is out there. But is it being used in the pro peloton? Well there are only rumours and … Read more
Just a word on Michele Scarponi. He was rumbled for involvement in Operation Puerto and suspended for two years. I have some sympathy for him as unlike many others, he confessed and took a ban. All whilst he was on a team programme: he was busted and banned yet few team mates got the same … Read more
I wrote about the rumours of Cancellara’s electric bike and it’s been one of the most popular postings here. Now further rumours of “motorised doping” exist. A TV report on Italian channel RAI, who cover the Giro, describes how their commentator tried the system. See for yourself here, it is part of the report (in … Read more