Professional Cycling For the Fans - Now Vino's positive?

Oh, this is getting bad.

http://www.lequipe.fr/

With Astana confirming it.

http://tour.ard.de/tdf/aktuell/kw30/vino_positiv_20070724.htm

Jesus...

"PAU, France, July 24 (Reuters) - Astana team leader Alexander Vinokourov failed a dope test after winning Saturday's Tour de France time trial, his team announced on Tuesday.

They did not give any further details but a cycling source said the Kazakh, who has won two stages on this year's Tour, tested positive for blood doping."

WTF!!!

Check it:


http://www.lequipe.fr/

"PAU, France, July 24 (Reuters) - Astana team leader Alexander Vinokourov failed a dope test after winning Saturday's Tour de France time trial, his team announced on Tuesday.

They did not give any further details but a cycling source said the Kazakh, who has won two stages on this year's Tour, tested positive for blood doping."

WTF!!!

According to l'equipe's blurb, it seems that VIno must have used someone else's blood right before the TT where he did so well....

Google translation:

Information the Team: The Kazakh Alexandre Vinokourov, 33 years, leader of the Astana team, was controlled positive with the transfusions homologous Saturday July 21 with the exit with against-the-shows individual Turn of France that it gained in Albi. The blood taking away operated on arrival showed, after analysis within the laboratory of Châtenay-Malabry, the presence of two populations distinct from red globules in sample A. What, in light, means that Vinokourov had recourse to a transfusion homologous very little with time before the stage, by using the blood of a compatible donor (blood group and rhesus).

The runner of Astana, opposite which the International Union Cyclist, by the voice of its president Pat McQuaid, had expressed its distrust after it had acknowledged to work with sulfurous Doctor Michele Ferrari, underwent day before yesterday Monday, at the end of the afternoon, a new blood control after its second victory at the time of the 15th stage with Loudenvielle it Louron. This new taking away is currently being analysed with Châtenay-Malabry and should confirm the first positive result as of tomorrow, since the two populations of red globules will be still observed.

The homologous transfusions, unlike the autologists (the proper blood of the athlete is transfused to him), are detectable since the Olympic Games of Athens, in 2004, by the means of a method developped at the point by the laboratory of Lausanne (STABLE-LAD). The American Tyler Hamilton was the first positive cyclist to be controlled kind at the time of Vuelta 2004.

Philippe the GUY and Damien RESSIOT

PS: following this revelation, the Astana formation, of which he was the leader, decided to leave the Turn.

So Vino tested positive.

F'n terrific. This guy is toast.

http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news;_ylt=AhdJTv5LBflhZPld0w8vjyl.grcF?slug=ap-tourdefrance-vinokourov&prov=ap&type=lgns


Report: Vinokourov tests positive for banned blood transfusion

July 24, 2007

PARIS (AP) -- Tour de France rider Alexandre Vinokourov tested positive for a banned blood transfusion after winning last weekend's time trial, the French sports daily L'Equipe reported on its Web site Tuesday.

The newspaper said the test took place after the Kazakh rider's victory on Saturday.

Vinokourov, who rides for the Astana team, also won Monday's 15th stage of the Tour. He is 23rd in the overall race standings.

Vinokourov, a pre-race favorite, seemed to drop out of contention after losing 28 minutes, 50 seconds to Tour leader Michael Rasmussen in Sunday's stage.

http://www.lequipe.fr/ reminds me of the Enquirer....

And now Astana may be rethinking that 10 more years of sponsorship pledge.

cant say i'm suprised he's of the doping generation hopefully as the younger riders come through they will be clean although i think the chemists and doctors will always be one step ahead

Incredible. Another blood doping scandle. What's the excuse this time? Beer, steak, twins???

If true he's an idiot of the first order. The organizers are looking harder than ever and to think that a rider could get away with it is just plain stupid.

Confirmed/repeated by the AP:

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/24/sports/EU-SPT-CYC-Tour-de-France-Vinokourov-Doping.php

In english:

http://eurosport.yahoo.com/24072007/58/tour-de-france-cycling-rocked-new-drug-shame.html

"PAU, France, July 24 (Reuters) - Astana team leader Alexander Vinokourov failed a dope test after winning Saturday's Tour de France time trial, his team announced on Tuesday.

They did not give any further details but a cycling source said the Kazakh, who has won two stages on this year's Tour, tested positive for blood doping."

WTF!!!

do you have a link to that reuters news clip? i can't find anything in english yet on the internets.

[edit] nevermind, i found plenty of articles.

1. Hire a lawyer
2. Make up stories
3. start a blog
4. raise money through a foundation
5. blame the French.
6. Write a book.

Seriously, when are you guys going to realize that EVERY single top GC rider of the Armstrong era was doped to the gills (except Lance, of course).

Next up: the chicken and contador.

http://www.lequipe.fr/ reminds me of the Enquirer....

What's your suggestion?? That they don't report the news??? :rolleyes:

eurosport

Lets count how many teams will drop their sponsorship this year.
So far T-Mobile and Astana make two.
Anybody care to guess on others?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19932813/

http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/7015224


http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/24/sports/EU-SPT-CYC-Tour-de-France-Vinokourov-Doping.php








Borat will be sad today no doubt

http://www.lequipe.fr/ reminds me of the Enquirer....

or FOX news.

Except that L'equipe is also confirmed by API:

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/24/sports/EU-SPT-CYC-Tour-de-France-Vinokourov-Doping.php

Damned liberal media.

How F'ing stupid are these pro riders...it is soo easy to detect non-homologous blood doping.
Vino also has an evil twin??

commence lame flames with "innocent until proven guilty" here

VVVV

You know,

with all of that nuclear testing that went on near Kazakhstan, at least the "twin" theory or defense has more legitmacy than when Tyler Hamilton used it.

1. Hire a lawyer
2. Make up stories
3. start a blog
4. raise money through a foundation
5. blame the French.
6. Write a book.

Seriously, when are you guys going to realize that EVERY single top GC rider of the Armstrong era was doped to the gills (except Lance, of course).

Next up: the chicken and contador.


Wait, wait, Lance was innocent, but Landis positive ? -- I thought all Americans didn't dope ?!? :rolleyes:

eurosport

Lets count how many teams will drop their sponsorship this year.
So far T-Mobile and Astana make two.
Anybody care to guess on others?

But everyone is upset at Millar for being angry at the people still doping.

We are getting to the point where there may not be a Pro Tour anymore. Seriously - what sponsor wants to continue to pay for bad publicity. You can usually get that for free.

I guess this is some reason for his 1/2 hour bonk the following day. I don't Rasmussen will see Paris either.

With the black cloud surrounding Rasmussen about his missed doping tests and now this, I think things have gotten worse since Landis.

(sigh)

Yep, there's still doping in the peleton. Hang onto your hats too...after watching the last couple of mountain stages my guess is he's not the only one.

If you really want to ruin any skepticism pick up Walsh's book. Not doubt this will bring out the Michael Jackson fan-like deniers, but it's worth reading.

I long for the days when you could at least know the majority of the guys were doping:rolleyes:.

Level playing field and all that.

Another pricless and self righteous quote by Millar:

"Jesus Christ, I'm speechless.

It makes me sad. I have the impression the riders will never understand."

Botto:

self-rightious and hypocritical no doubt. But he is correct. You guys always attack the messengers because you can never attack the message.

I think we are getting very close to the cliff here where the UCI and Pro Tour cease being what we know it to be today. Sponsorship money is going to dry up, and Millar basically is stating as such. All of these young riders who thought they would make millions riding are going to have a rude awakening. When only Shimano, Trek and Clif Bar are even remotely interesting in sponsoring you, better get used to $60k a year.

Dipsh*t.

Oh, I seriously give up.

I now pronounce Vino the dumbest rider in the entire peloton. Seriously with the organizers looking harder than ever wtf was he thinking. How f'n desperate is this guy?

http://www.velonews.com/tour2007/details/articles/12910.0.html

Wow........That's all I can say.

We are getting to the point where there may not be a Pro Tour anymore. Seriously - what sponsor wants to continue to pay for bad publicity. You can usually get that for free.

i think the bike and component manufactures are at least getting something out of sponsorship. afterall, i can see that people are buying treks, specialized bikes, dura ace, SRAM, etc..

as for the benefit to companies that are not directly related to cycling...i'm not so sure it's gonna last. t-mobile looks ready to fold.

He signed some form before the race. Now his whole team's out & his fine is a year's salary. Kloeden should take him behind the bus & have a "talk" with him. Another rider I admired has let me down. Think I'll watch baseball from now on.

Damn.

That sucks.

this is huge... if guilty- at least he doesnt hold the lead for GC. still this is disastrous. now sponsors will continue pulling out. kiss it goodbye

This is SOOOO 10 minutes ago.

http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=324619

Botto:

self-rightious and hypocritical no doubt. But he is correct. You guys always attack the messengers because you can never attack the message.



+ 1, 000 and Botto says he likes the sport of pro-cycling... :rolleyes: But it is his kind of attitude -- intellectual dishonesty about doping -- that is killing the sport...

He signed some form before the race. Now his whole team's out & his fine is a year's salary. Kloeden should take him behind the bus & have a "talk" with him. Another rider I admired has let me down. Think I'll watch baseball from now on.

I don't think the statement has any legal value, though I would love them to hold him to it....
Uh, baseball ?! Surely you jest :D

This has got to be the last thread for a lot of stuff.

Good-bye, UCI Pro teams. Good-bye, team sponsorships.

Good thing I can still race, I sponsor myself!

*sigh*

And it continues...

]i think the bike and component manufactures are at least getting something out of sponsorship.[/B] afterall, i can see that people are buying treks, specialized bikes, dura ace, SRAM, etc..

as for the benefit to companies that are not directly related to cycling...i'm not so sure it's gonna last. t-mobile looks ready to fold.



I agree with the above. But there is a big differece in money when your sponsorship comes from cycling specific companies versus huge multi-national conglomerates. If you want to see where road cycling is going, look no further than the fortunes of mountain bike racers or professional triathletes. The money is so little, that these guys all have to look for jobs immediately after retiring from the sport. And this is for the top guys. The domestiques if you will: they have to hold second jobs or essentially live like bike bumbs. You can forget having that second home in the Pyrenees like so many riders do. They will be staying at hostels.

I bet you that the Disco team management is pissed. They may have to disband the team after this year.

Millar's comments are an honest assessment of the situation. He sees the writing on the wall, and this is now the final straw. If I were ASO/UCI, I would kick out Rassmussan now, and get all of the bad news out of the way. Send a message to Rassmussan that while UCI may have rules, the ASO and Tour have their own. Act suspicious, and your toast.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !:eek: :eek: Unbelievable.

Yeah, I've really started ramping up my mileage this past two days in case I get called to race in the TdF 2008, sponsored by "Gold 4 Ya Mouth" in Dayton, OH.


Just in case you think I made this up:

http://www.gold4yamouth.com/online/

I used to tell people how exciting watching cycling can be, as long as you realize how it works and the ammout of physical stress these guys are under...

Sadly, these past two years I have been too ashamed to raise one word in defence of pro cycling...

To the dopers--you suck!
To the non-dopers--the dopers make it look like you suck too

This has got to be the last thread for a lot of stuff.

Good-bye, UCI Pro teams. Good-bye, team sponsorships.

Good thing I can still race, I sponsor myself!

it's a weird situation isn't it? at the top level, the sport is crumbling and falling apart...but at the amature level, it's doing pretty well.

Cyclingnews coverage: http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2007/tour07/news/?id=/news/2007/jul07/jul25news

Pro cycling is in such a horrible state of affairs at the moment. :o

So Vino shot up someone elses blood minutes before he left the gate? Talk about pre race rituals!

+ 1, 000 and Botto says he likes the sport of pro-cycling... :rolleyes: But it is his kind of attitude -- intellectual dishonesty about doping -- that is killing the sport...

What is Millar right about? Are there any deniable comments in his statement? He's right about the fact that he's speechless? Obviously not. And he has a feeling? Why is it so noble to follow anyone that makes this type of comment? I say that people don't understand what it's like in the pro peloton. Someone else said it best, saying that you're in complete denial to think that everyone else has to dope just to keep up with your favorite rider, who is not doping. What it's going to take is an agreement among ALL riders to not dope or cheat in any way. But then, there will always be the one guy that breaks the agreement and wins by doping. The likelihood that an agreement like this would exist is pretty small. We all feel like movie stars and sports stars get paid too much, but we aren't willing to sacrifice our music and television and buying tickets for the cause, are we? I think you have to be there before you jump all over someone for doping. And as far as Millar - who's to say he isn't doping? This could all just be a very effective cover-up.