Road Bike Racing - Garzelli found Non Negative

Current Giro leader Garzelli was found "non Negative"
during routine urine tests. reportedly he did test positive
for a banned diuretic which masks other drugs.

Faat Zakirov and Nicola Chesini (who was arrested)
were both found positive for NESP, both ride
for panaria.

Here we go again. :mad:
Marty

Boy, what is it with the giro anyways? Apparently, Garzelli didn't want to start but they insisted. Apparently, you can stay in the race unitl the test is confirmed. I can't believe Garzelli would be that stupid, but why not, Frigo was last year. And Panaria, boy are they in deep doodoo.

According to Ligget et al. the substance was as
they described "ancient", one that almost no one
uses nowadays. Theres speculation that
Garzelli's specimen may have been tampered with?
Apparently they gave Garzelli a second test and if that
one turns up positive (or non negative?) thats it. Its a
innocent until proven guilty kind of thing.
I don't know bout this Giro tho, one rider Arrested for
distribution, 1 charged and 1 totally missing.
I really hate this.
3 tapes going out Monday.
Marty

Although most of the accusations of drug use are false, there are those riders that do use those enhancement drugs. If there is good enough evidence to support that a rider is using enhancement drugs, then they should not be allowed to race ever again! The drugs might help them out in their races, but the long term effects like heart failure, shrunken testicle (steroids), and other damaging effects should be enough to scare them away from the drugs...but I guess some riders just want to be stupid:mad:

:rolleyes:
From the OLN's Bob Roll:
"Probencide is an archaic and useless substance associated with athletics more than 15 years ago. Firstly, it has no physiological effect on the body of an athlete in an endurance sport. It was suppossedly used years ago as a masking agent for steroids, but has since been supplanted by very senstive tests."

"In the wildest stretch of my imagination, I cannot see Stefano Garzelli, a great rider and class act as a person, using this product at any time, and most certainly not while in the lead of the Giro."

I agree with Bobke, and hope he's right.

Today there was some discussion of
other Mapei riders having to take frequent
"nature breaks" which is unusual. There is some
speculation of sabotage.

Marty

Now LeBlanc wades in, and demonstrates the dilemma faced by the sport.

On the one hand, apparently teams made a "pact" to drop riders in a race if found to be positive in doping tests. On the other, the belief is apparently very strong and widespread that this is an error.

So - live up to the pact and possibly destroy a good rider's career only to find out later it was a mistake? Or demonstrate your commitment to someone you believe in and chip away at the sport's credibility.

Glad I am not having to make the choice.

Of course there is the possibility that LeBlanc has other subtle motives. Naaahhhhh... :rolleyes:

Cheers...Gary