FogVilleLad

Agreed, but 13 pharmacists + 8 assistant pharmacists seems like a high number for an operation that's confined to the Canary Islands.

ultraman6970

Of course he was!!!! Do you think Alberto "elmo" Contador lies??? no wayyy!!!

BengeBoy 

Hmmm....who used to train in the Canary Islands?

https://socialitelife.com/lance_armst...e_over-12-2008

Hezz

Some of the meat from there is brought into Spain from the article that I read. And isn't the island a Spanish possession. The people involved are likely to be tied to Spain.

Hezz

Chances are an organization on this scale would be bypassing the typical meat testing somehow. At least they would for meat brought into Europe. If this is the case the AC meat story becomes a little more of a possibility.

FogVilleLad

+1

It's too bad that the current rules amount to guilty until proven innocent. It's easy to accept that athletes should read labels, but how can anyone know what's in unlabeled food.

While trying to learn how long it would take for the body to metabolize clenbuterol, I came across the following on an Iron Man Magazine site: "Although now banned for use in livestock, clenbuterol used to be popular in Europe for changing animal body composition. Over the years the medical literature has documented what happened when people in Europe unknowingly ate clenbuterol-tainted meat products. The clenbuterol level was high because the amount needed to promote growth in animals averaged five to 10 times the therapeutic doses. In addition, clenbuterol is heat stable and survives cooking procedures, so humans easily take it in by eating meat containing the drug."

bikinfool

Poor little Alberto, hope he doesn't let the door kick his ass on the way out. Won't miss that mister personality, nor most of the rest of the "top" pros. Let the racing return to those who compete without the money!

Oostal

Well actually a lot of riders train there in the early season. It is still EU and easy to travel, while the weather is nice and warm. Last year the Schlecks for instance spent their spring there.

daytonian

I think they're gonna give Bert a free pass on this one. Esp after Pellizotti ruling. .02

HorsCO

I'm starting to think he might also get a free pass on this one, although I do not think that would go over lightly.

The Pellizotti ruling is very interesting. It is kind of BS that he missed an entire year of racing when he was set up to do incredibly well to boot only to have the ruling dismissed.

rusted_rider

not a good way to win the tour if Andy gets it though

daytonian

Ruh Roh

Lets see if Spain convicts there own.


https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uci-...g-for-contador

collegeskier

That is the system they have. Does this quote seem like he is saying that they feel like it will be advantageous for them to be in Spain.

“It is the normal procedure, indeed one we hoped for, that the Spanish federation would decide on the case,” said Jacinto Vidarte, chief press officer for Contador.
https://velonews.competitor.com/2010/...medium=twitter

learnmedia

The Spanish Federation will be under pressure to not appear to take AC's case too lightly. I predict a one year ban. If decided at year's end, almost half of the ban will have been served already given that AC hasn't raced since July. Question is whether AC's camp would accept one year and get on with things or appeal and drag it out.

DXchulo

What a stupid procedure they have. I mean, the UCI is the International Cycling Union, is it not? Seems like they should have an international panel of judges to try to weed out the bias.

ColorChange

The Spanish federation is going to ... ahhh ... here it is. What a nice broom. And look at that big rug over there. UghhH!

collegeskier

I suspect if it is a reduced sentence it will be like 9 months or something so that he can be back in France in July. But if the ban him he will lose his current TDF title and they don't want that. Although the 12 month suspension might interest the Spanish since then his return to a grand tour could easily be the Vuelta, that would be a nice draw for them and the forgotten grand tour.

Creatre

That is a good point. Sounds like a lot of the pro's aren't going to do the Vuelta this year because of the new Colorado stage race as well, so may reignite some focus for the Vuelta.

900aero

Perhaps El Pistolero could take a year off and do some community service for a nice, respected charity like the Red Cross & their blood donation services. .......

Ok, unfair to drag the RC into this but I couldn't resist.

Bacciagalupe

The anti-doping agencies had its origins in the Olympic movement. IIRC it's a WADA requirement that disciplinary actions and hearings are handled by the national federations.

If the UCI believes that the national federation has ruled improperly (or, if the athlete wants to appeal a ruling) it goes to the CAS, which is an international body.

By the way, many athletes don't think their national federations are on their side; Landis certainly didn't, for example. I believe Hamilton also took aim at the USADA. And of course, if there were any French citizens passing judgment on Americans, we'd never hear the end of it....

rogwilco

That's an interesting idea. Making his comeback in Spain certainly makes sense. I just refuse to believe it's possible he could start in the 2011 TdF; I think if that happens this will be the only thing anybody talk about in the race. They can't let him off that easy.

DXchulo

Yeah, the US seems to be tough on dopers, at least in Olympic sports. Then again, I'm American, so it's natural that I would think that. All the dopers seem to think everybody is against them unless they are found to be 100% innocent.

Things seem different in some countries, though. It seems that Italy has been pretty easy on a guy like Petacchi and you have to wonder about the Pelizotti case. On the other hand, they have suspended big-name guys like Basso. On the other hand (wait a minute, I don't have 3 hands), guys like Basso and even Ricco seem to have an easier path towards getting back into the sport than someone like Rasmussen.

As for Spain, the whole Valverde situation was pretty strange and that's the main reason I would doubt them on the Contador case.

collegeskier

If he is back by the TDF I am pretty sure he will be there, since I think that ASO and UCI have agreed that all Pro Tour teams will be invited. I think if ASO could they would not invite him but that will be pretty hard to do with the current agreements. I would however expect that he might be targeted for extra testing and a nice police raid at some point too. Little extra drama at the TDF.

collegeskier

I think the key to making a comeback successfully is to admit, you felt that you had and are sorry take your ban like a man, but of course mention how you did it by yourself and don't sully anyone else in your admittance.