Vino positive!!!

[Susan126]

As David Millar said . . .

"I just feel like crying right now."

What was he thinking?

I just don't understand!

[SadieKate]

I'm wondering if many of the pros are motivated by the Slipstream offers so that they have the possibility of being remembered as clean riders and not having their results questioned. Yes, you still stand the risk of competing against doped cyclists and losing, but the credibility and respect you'd gain.

Think about it. Barry Bonds is always going to have a question mark after his name.

[HappyAnika]

Honestly I can't say I'm surprised. Not a Vino fan here. I thought he was evil . . . Ok, maybe evil is a strong word, villain-esque? Rassmusen on the other hand, I like him. I hope his tests continue to come back clean.

I still think there are serious flaws in the testing procedures. More samples need to be sent to independent labs (outside of France). One lab doing all the testing, when it's been shown there are problems with their protocols . . . how are we supposed to believe their results? That's why I'm still on the fence about Floyd. Honestly not a huge Floyd fan either, but I have a hunch he was set up by the lab.

I should add that I think Floyd was framed simply because he's an American.

[Kalidurga]

I still think there are serious flaws in the testing procedures. More samples need to be sent to independent labs (outside of France). One lab doing all the testing, when it's been shown there are problems with their protocols . . . how are we supposed to believe their results? That's why I'm still on the fence about Floyd. Honestly not a huge Floyd fan either, but I have a hunch he was set up by the lab.

I should add that I think Floyd was framed simply because he's an American.

Yeah, the fact that they continue to use that lab bothers me, as well. I don't see any reason to frame Vino, as he's not a GC threat, but that lab's integrity has been called into question repeatedly so it just throws suspicion over any of their findings.

[slinkedog]

We have very good friends who live in Paris and they say it's hard for Americans to understand how much the French hate the fact that Americans have been dominating the sport. It's a little scary, according to them.

[Grog]

Yeah, the fact that they continue to use that lab bothers me, as well. I don't see any reason to frame Vino, as he's not a GC threat, but that lab's integrity has been called into question repeatedly so it just throws suspicion over any of their findings.

Considering the heavy stakes, I can't imagine a lab whose integrity wouldn't be questioned after its results were used to accuse riders of doping.

Of course the lab has had cases with Americans: they've been winning. Back-of-the-peloton French riders don't get tested as often because they don't win very often.

[xeney]

Don't think about Vino - think about the guys like Alberto Contador and how awesome he is....and hopefully clean and honest!

I love Contador, too, but remember he was already implicated in the Operacion Puerto scandal. I have no illusions that any of them are clean.

[maillotpois]

Recall that Vino will be the first rider to test positive under that new charter they made everyone sign before they could ride in the Tour. Under that agreement, he will forfeit his 2007 salary for a positive test.

[Darby361]

Here is a question... why was the entire team asked to leave? If the rule is that the entire team goes from one positive, then why didn't all of T-Mobile get asked to leave when Sinkewitz tested positive?

Trish

[li10up]

The idea of it being a "mix up" is totally ...bull$hit.
HE NEVER SHOULD HAVE LET SOMEONE PUT A NEEDLE IN HIS ARM WITH A BAG OF BLOOD ON THE OTHER END!!!!!!! That in itself would show he knowingly participated.

[BadgerGirl]

I love Contador, too, but remember he was already implicated in the Operacion Puerto scandal. I have no illusions that any of them are clean.

I hate to condemn all cycling athletes because of a few cheaters. Just like not everyone on the street I deal with is a criminal. It is flawed to think like that. If you read several articles about Operation Puerto, you will see that the investigators rushed to conclusions about riders possibly involved in it. Contador was one of the riders the investigations committee said they rushed to judgement and cleared him. Does that mean he is not doping, no. Does that mean he is doping, no. Think and say what you want because that is just my opinion.

[Eden]

Any molecular biologists out there? I was just thinking about the flow cytometry test and with the way it is done I was wondering if a high white count or the presence of antibiotics could yield a false positive. I have heard that Vinokurov's knee is infected.

[Zen]

I should add that I think Floyd was framed simply because he's an American.

I posted something awhile back (and it ticked someone off) that said "I blame the French"

I don't entirely blame the French on this one.

[smilingcat]

Well, I had a whole day to let the news sink in. I'm really disappointed with the scandal.

Who knows why Vinokurov did what he did. I can't second guess. Maybe when he signed the agreement about doping, his heart was in the right place. Maybe when he was shattered the other day, he panicked and doped so that he wont jepardize next year... Sad. I do feel sad for Vinokurov for his desperation to stay in the game by doping.

Yup, the temptation is just too great for some of them. Honesty and moral value is severely lacking these days...

Smilingcat

[emily_in_nc]

Who knows why Vinokurov did what he did. I can't second guess. Maybe when he signed the agreement about doping, his heart was in the right place. Maybe when he was shattered the other day, he panicked and doped so that he wont jepardize next year...

His positive test came after Saturday's time trial, before he blew up on Sunday....not after his win in the Pyrenees. So, if he did it, he did it before he had his really bad day.

Emily