Originally Posted by DMF
Uh-uh. That the team knew *at all* was a leak! According to UCI protocol the B sample must be tested before the team and rider are contacted. If Phonak knew, then others knew, and they apparently decided to get out in front of the tabloids.
Huh? What two events? He isn't scheduled to ride again until 2007, and due to the hip operation nothing in 2007 could be taken as a certainty. You wanna be more specific?
DMF, Pat McQuaid has already said that it was irregular procedure but that UCI told the team and the rider after the A-Sample (allegedly because they feared it would come out in the press anyway). UCI then told the press that it had told "a rider" and "a team" and "a national federation" and "a national anti-doping org" about the adverse result of the A-sample.
So McQuaid, head of UCI, bears some responsibility for the way this exploded over several days in the media. They put out a little chum and the sharks responded. (including all of us baby internet sharks)