Mayo B sample Negative
 

From Velonews:
The Spanish cycling federation on Monday cleared Spanish cyclist Iban Mayo, who tested positive for doping during the 2007 Tour de France, after a second test proved negative, his lawyer and the federation said.

The federation informed Mayo "that the B sample had come out negative and for this reason it had ended" its inquiry, Mayo's lawyer, Jose Rodriguez, told AFP.

The cycling federation confirmed the news and said there had been a mistake with the first sample.

Mayo, a specialist climber, tested positive for blood-booster EPO during the Tour on July 24 and could have been suspended for two years if his B sample had proved positive.

The online edition of sports daily Marca quoted Mayo as saying he had gone through a bad period but "everything has turned out as I expected."

He finished 16th in the Tour. His team, Saunier Duval, suspended him without pay while it awaited the results of the test on his B sample.

It is not the first time that Mayo has been implicated in a doping case. In June he was suspected of having failed a test for testosterone, the banned male sex hormone, during the Giro d'Italia. He was later cleared by the UCI, which decided he had not breached any doping rules.



Makes me look at the whole doping problem a little different.

Well good for him I guess. Too bad he's been an underachiever of late.

Where's our resident drug troll http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v223/botto/images.jpg when we need her?

wow someone in the testing administration finally manned up and admitted they made a mistake instead of lying about it and ruining another career?

There IS light at the end of the tunnel!

I might be wrong, but I think Mayo has a documented, naturally elevated testosterone count/level.

Seems like an odd mistake to me.....

Testing positive for EPO and then not...gives me little faith in the test....so he was tested in July....his retest took until Oct 22 to be announced, that is bull*&^%, that is a 6 month suspension in my book...

That is a carrier ender as well....I believe he had a 1 year contract....suspended in July and no racing until today....so now he is without a team..

My faith in baby Jesus has been restored.

Well thats because the test isnt really for EPO its about the crit count.

"According to AFP, the federation confirmed that there had been a mistake in the testing of Mayo's A sample, which was carried out at the Châtenay-Malabry anti-doping laboratory in Paris. The B sample was tested by a separate laboratory in the Belgian city of Gent, and was confirmed by another test done in Australia."

In other news...

The dissent by attorney Christopher Cambell, who has a long record of finding against athletes in doping hearings, was scathing of the anti-doping hearing procedures and severely critical of the Parisian drug-testing lab at the centre of the Landis case. The other two panel members were also critical of the French lab, throwing out the original screening tests

"Given the plethora of laboratory errors in this case, there was certainly no reliable scientific evidence introduced to find that Mr. Landis committed a doping offence."

Floyd should have at minimum been given the procedural option of having his samples tested at another lab. Might not have changed the outcome, but at least we wouldn't be relying on these clowns.

Professional cycling needs to try NFL-style dope testing and not release results until both the A *and* B samples fail, both at independent labs. By the time someone has been accused (without secondary verification), the damage has already large been done. Dammit, I hate this part of our sport. 8(

The WADA rules state that both the A and B samples must be non-negative to make an announcement. Why should anyone follow the rules if their so poorly enforced?

OK thats everything you need to know about the human condition right there.

We live in a faith based society whether we want to recognise it or not. Politicians can NEVER admit to mistakes because it would damage the publics faith in them and faith is everything. Also loss of face is the greatest disgrace that anyone can suffer. Often politicians aren't just thinking about themselves actually because if a politician admits to a mistake when that decision was popular then they are subjecting all the supporters of that decision to loss of face also. Spending TRILLIONS of dollars and causing enormous loss of life is a cheap price to pay rather than ever losing face.

Regards, Anthony

Anthony,

Just when I'm ready to bail on BF someone comes up with a well reasoned viewpoint that isn't just a "did not!" reaction.

Perhaps one of the best things a parent can do is to teach a child how to admit they were wrong, and that the apocalypse won't come because of such an admission.

Thanks,

Politicaly you would have to call me left wing and I get mad and incensed by what's going on in the world lately but then I stop and think. The problems bigger than one man or two. Getting rid of them isn't going to solve anything.

If we were brave enough to admit to our mistakes and forgive others for their mistakes then the world would be a better place. Ultimately isn't that what real religious faith is suposed to be about.

And sorry for the hijack. We all make mistakes.

Regards, Anthony

Nominee for best BF post ever..

I thought Mayo had a exemption for high TE ratio already?

Regarding Mayo's contract with Saunier Prodir Duval his contract is good through the 2008 season and they are expected to honor that contract once they receive official notification of his being cleared of which they haven't. A rep stated that they'd only heard or read about the news via the media and internet.

I'm a huge Mayo fan and this season was almost like a rebirth for him inspite of his eventual slide in the gc standings at the Tour. I can only imagine the suffering he was going through.

What I can't understand is how and why any disclosure isn't held off until the testing is verified: A, B same positive test THEN announce to the public.

The labs and officials complete lack of concern over the leaks to the media of these test results is very disturbing.

Mayo's reputation was sullied and I'm willing to bet that he will now be targeted
for at least most of next season with continuous out of and during competition testing and with the incompetence of these labs there is a chance they'll jack up another test and then it just becomes a vicious cycle.

Floyd didn't have his sample tested at two different places? That's just wrong and it makes it that much easier for an organization to fake an outcome to save face.That's just wrong.

I didn't follow his case because I was sure he was going to be made an example out of.

I've been saying this to anyone who will listen and am delighted that this is proof of my position: The tests are not reliable! The UCI's strategy was to ignore this and sacrifice a few riders for the health of the overall sport. I'm not sure how, but they didn't realize that the problems with the tests would become obvious and the whole system would be turned on its head. It's scarey that people don't get this.

I agree that the two samples should be tested at different labs but don't forget that Floyd's lawyers (and other representatives) were present when the B sample was analyzed. Hard to fake anything when you've got people looking right over your shoulder.

It sucks that they release A sample results before the B is analyzed, but its Europe and most rules there are taken as suggestions, so I doubt we'll see much change on that front.

not so fast:
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/231020...-analysed.html
cant trust another lab so u have to go back to the original ? for what reason? to justify yourself?

I guess I didn't write that clearly enough.I tend to do that.

What I meant is that the A sample should be done at two different places.
The B sample should also be done at two different places.

Skinnyone - Nacho Libre quote is legend! - Strechy pants - brilliant! Red Sox for World Series!!!

Yes...but don't let pcad find out. The wailing would be legendary.

Why is Pat McQuaid still head of the UCI? Why hasnt Sean Kelly taken him out behind the pub and caved his head in the heel of his boot?