Just when I thought things could not have gotten worse with the doping allegations that broke out yesterday with the withdrawal of Astana after team captain Alexandre Vinokourov tested positive for blood doping, two more thunderbolts struck. Team Cofidis withdrew following Cristian Moreni's positive hit for exogenous testosterone. Moreni admitted his guilt and did not ask for his B sample to be tested. The second thunderbolt, absolutely rocking the Tour's foundations, is that Rabobank fired overall leader Michael Rasmussen, kicking him out of the tour. He was dismissed over the administrative violations for missing two surprise tests before the Tour, but apparently could not even provide a good enough accounting of his whereabouts to his team managers. After an amazing mountaintop battle between the Discovery Channel riders Alberto Contador and Levi Leipheimer, it appeared we knew who the winner of this year's Tour was. Now we don't. Leipheimer was trying so hard to put time into Cadel Evans so he could get that third place finish, but now all that work and worrying doesn't matter. He's third because Rasmussen told his team he was in Mexico when he really was in Italy. And here's the ironic quote of the day, with just that hint of hubris: "'Maybe I changed a few minds today,' said Rasmussen, when told that a poll taken back in Denmark found that most didn't believe he could hang on for the overall win."
Hey, Joe!
ReplyDeleteSo here's my question - what does it matter where he was training? Why do the racers have to provide a schedule ( according to UCI rules)?
Brenda:
ReplyDeleteThey need to know their whereabouts for surprise out of competition testing. The doping tests don't just happen at the races.