Vino positive!!!

[Kalidurga]

Shouldn't this post have come with a "spoiler alert"?

It's been reported at CNN and in cyling news. Why would anyone want to maintain suspense at finding this out?

[Zen]

It's been reported at CNN and in cyling news. Why would anyone want to maintain suspense at finding this out?

Some of us (well, one for sure) were doing other stuff today, I only had one chance to use a computer.

It is unimaginable how they can do this day after day. They did it in 1903 without doping, if a rider has any moral standards and a true love of the sport for sports sake they wouldn't do it. I just don't get it, they're not exactly making pro football salaries.

[spazzdog]

I am absolutely and irrevocably disgusted...

Yeah, I know doping is far and wide. What gets me most is the arrogance and deceit. To sign an agreement to cycle clean knowing you're not, knowing that if you place anywhere near the top you'll be tested and randomly if you're in "the field"... I'm really pissed.

I'm thinking of following a new sport. What're the chances that shuffleboarders or croquet players dope?

It will be really interesting to hear the 4 muskateers take on this come 3:30 am (6:30 ET)... I'm imagining Phil Liggett will be be spewing all sorts of UK invective (like he doesn't personally know who's doping).

spazz

[emily_in_nc]

Some of us (well, one for sure) were doing other stuff today, I only had one chance to use a computer.

I initially thought the Astana news was a "spoiler" too, when my DH emailed me the news about Vino yesterday. Then I remembered it was a tour rest day, so there was nothing to spoil....except the tour for me, since I am/was a huge Vino fan.



Emily

[Bron]

It is unimaginable how they can do this day after day. They did it in 1903 without doping, if a rider has any moral standards and a true love of the sport for sports sake they wouldn't do it. I just don't get it, they're not exactly making pro football salaries.

Alas, they did dope even at the beginning of the 20th century - alcohol and ether to dull the pain were supposedly quite popular (as were other tactics like leaving broken glass on the road to burst opponents' tyres).

It still makes me very sad - I thought that this was going to be a clean Tour.

[jobob]

I'm with Kalidurga - this is hardly a "spoiler".

A debacle, yes.

[maillotpois]

Shouldn't this post have come with a "spoiler alert"?

It's been reported at CNN and in cyling news. Why would anyone want to maintain suspense at finding this out?

I think ZC was really more lamenting the fact that she'd rather not have found out about this. As all the rest of us probably feel.

[amymisk]

It is sad to see. I was a bit disappointed in Vino, but not shocked.

I also don't believe it could be a simple mix up with same type blood. There are all kinds of anitbodies in blood that have to be checked for compatability, not just the blood type and Rh pos/neg. It would be astounding to me that they accidently mixed up the blood and it just so happened that both riders affected had no antibodies or reaction to the blood.

I would like to see a doping free tour but like others have said the money and fame make such a tempting offer. Not to mention, the fans who have a huge desire to see their hero be super human.

I am still a cycling fan and will continue to watch. If nothing else, Rasmussen and Contador have added a thrill.

[margo49]

DS#2 brought this to my attention as soon as he saw it on a local news site a few minutes ago...
Checked the Eurosport site first and then came over here...

Gutted, just gutted...

[*Mg*]

It is sad to see. I was a bit disappointed in Vino, but not shocked.

I also don't believe it could be a simple mix up with same type blood. There are all kinds of anitbodies in blood that have to be checked for compatability, not just the blood type and Rh pos/neg. It would be astounding to me that they accidently mixed up the blood and it just so happened that both riders affected had no antibodies or reaction to the blood.

I would like to see a doping free tour but like others have said the money and fame make such a tempting offer. Not to mention, the fans who have a huge desire to see their hero be super human.

I am still a cycling fan and will continue to watch. If nothing else, Rasmussen and Contador have added a thrill.

Rasmussen is in the middle of controversy with a shoe box, and there was talk that Contador was tied to Operation Puerto. At this point, the only one I believe to be clean is Bob Roll!!

[Fredwina]

who?
where?
what?
why?
when?
you're probably familar with these questions
who? where? what? we know that
why? (if he did it) One explanation is that the program was team-wide, and a mixup was made, and Vino got somebody else's blood, which means somebody on Astana has Vino's blood.
The ASO(The company that runs Le Tour) and the UCI offers Astana a deal. the team leaves en masse or we test all your riders.
I personally don't look for pro to be motivaed, as Smiling Cat mentioned ( and some of my RealLife buddies have confirmed) , doping is everywhere. Besides, I have a buddy on bikejournal that finished RAAM with 80 some-odd stiches

[pll]

Thanks Fredwina! That clarifies it for me.

who?
The ASO(The company that runs Le Tour) and the UCI offers Astana a deal. the team leaves en masse or we test all your riders.
stiches

[Eden]

Wait! - the contract that the teams signed before the tour started - did that have a clause about pulling the team if a single rider tested positive? I will do some research. It would not suprise me.

[Fredwina]

Wait! - the contract that the teams signed before the tour started - did that have a clause about pulling the team if a single rider tested positive? I will do some research. It would not suprise me.

Could be that too. Spent too many years writing criminal records tracking system. Al othugh , most news source are reporting that they were "asked" to leave...