Blaireau

Remember that guy? Radioshack Chinese cyclist? Got busted for Clenbuterol in 2010... Guess how long it took for Johaan the B. to kick him out, and guess how much the cycling press and the cycling blog wrote about it?

Until now, check out this article: https://www.podiumcafe.com/2011/2/15/...2/free-fuyu-li

Or read below:

Free Fuyu Li

Like, right fricking now.

Fuyu Li's case is as follows: Li, a 32-year-old rider for Radio Shack, tested positive for clenbuterol during 2010 Dwars door Vlaanderen. The amount of clen in his system was in the range of 0.05-0.10 nanograms, approximately the same minute amount in the Contador case, and like Contador Li disputes any intention to dope. Unlike Contador, Li comes from a country (China) where clenbuterol routinely does occur in meat, so if anything his defense that he accidentally ingested clen through normal food rings particularly true.

Logic... or attempted logic, on the flip:



Li was suspended by Radio Shack, as is the ordinary reaction, and there have been mutterings about the Chinese cycling federation imposing a two-year ban. I have googled the matter several times and can't turn up any evidence of the Chinese federation taking action. It does appear he was fired by Radio Shack in August following the B-sample.

Li is the epitome of a powerless rider. He's not an up-and-coming star, his federation is a minor player in most respects (apart perhaps from probably owning the debts of all the other federations), and he has no current team. Nobody is going to fight for him, except maybe at home where he was a star. Perhaps the Chinese federation was waiting for a precedent to work with and will follow along with what Spain just did.

If they do not, or worse, if the UCI accepts the Contador decision but pursues punishment for Li, then the sport is little better off than it was in the freewheeling doping days of yore. Just my opinion, as usual, but a big part of the challenge is for cycling to remove the cynicism exemplified by, say, Landis as discussed in his Kimmage interview [shorter Floyd: resistance was futile], that there's no point in trying to fight an unjust system. If the "system" (can you even call it that?) continues to treat Alberto Contador differently than Fuyu Li, then it's as messed up as it was when Hein Verbruggen allegedly made positive tests disappear for certain guys. The next person to come along and implore us fans to believe should consider this matter. And this. And this.

Right now, China has the chance to set things partially right, though for amends to be complete I think Radio Shack should reach out to Li, after prematurely zapping his career. Then we'll see if the UCI has any sense of justice or at least consistency.

ultraman6970

The only thing that china has to do is forbid importations of 250 bucks chinarello frames, orbeas and cycling stuff to spain and you will see how contador bites the dust big time hehehe

Now seriously? it was wrong what they did with him but u have to think also that a lot of stuff happened all together, and since the feds were after u know who around the same time, they just had to play safe, bye bye china man.

Dubbayoo

Sadly, the Chinese will have no use for a busted rider. He may well be a dirt farmer for the rest of his life.

Cat4Lifer

I liked it.

kleinboogie

I agree that if the UCI treats them differently then it has a major problem going forward.