Bike Forums - View Single Post - Is the doping storm coming?

07-28-09 | 10:15 PM

#31

HigherGround

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[QUOTE=chrisvu05;9373586]

Quote:

Originally Posted by erader

The below link is in regards to 2008 Astana

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?...ing&id=3243633

"ASO, which organizes the Tour, said Astana won't be invited to any of its 2008 events. That includes Paris-Nice, Paris-Roubaix, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, the Fleche Wallonne, Paris-Tours and others.

Astana wasn't among the 20 teams selected Wednesday by ASO for the March 9-16 Paris-Nice race.

In 2006, Astana-Wurth couldn't field the minimum six cyclists required -- after the implicated five riders were withdrawn -- and pulled out on the eve of the Tour.

ASO said Astana could be allowed back in the future if it has a 2008 season "without suspicions."

Bruyneel stated..."We have done everything to change the dynamics of the team," Bruyneel said. "New management, new riders, new philosophy. Only the name of the sponsor remained.

"Many other teams, with similar suspicious pasts that did not change management or structure, can participate without problems. Where is the consistency? Is Tour de France not losing all credibility now?"

I truly believe if anyone on Astana was caught doping the whole team's results would be nullified. Besides I think if Contador was caught doping (as this post was initially talking about) they would be catching the rest of Astana as well.

There's a huge difference between not inviting a team to start an event (such as Astana in 2008), and nullifying an entire team's results after the fact. If I remember correctly, the reason why Astana-Wurth (Liberty Seguros at the time) was prevented from starting in 2006 is that the 5 riders were barred from starting the race, and the cut off for substituting riders had already passed. I would think that inviting teams is at the discretion of the Tour de France organizers (Pro Tour drama aside), where as changing the results after the event would be an issue for the UCI.

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