Again?! TDF Doping!

**chutch** · 07-17-2008, 05:19 AM

http://tour-de-france.velonews.com/a...tive%5B/url%5D

**Aggie_Ama** · 07-17-2008, 05:22 AM

I am not surprised when I saw which rider. Really sucks to see it though.

**Becky** · 07-17-2008, 05:23 AM

Didn't someone here speculate that Ricco would be found out as a doper?

I can't say that I'm surprised by this news, but it's definitely diappointing.

**Aggie_Ama** · 07-17-2008, 05:24 AM

I didn't on the board, but when he peeled off on stage 9 like a man possessed I said to my husband "There is the next doper".

**chutch** · 07-17-2008, 05:27 AM

Yeah, I'm not surprised. But frustrated. I just wonder what makes these people think that they're not going to get caught- and what makes them rationalize that it's worth the risk. Yeah, you may get a few wins but if you get caught you're reputation is ruined.

**Tri Girl** · 07-17-2008, 05:28 AM

All the VS announcers were slamming the first doper, calling him stupid and such. I agree. How stupid do you have to be to even try it during this race when they scrutinize everyone so closely. Such idiots. Very disappointing.

Makes me wonder if the sport will ever be clean...

**Blueberry** · 07-17-2008, 05:35 AM

*sigh*

What a disappointment.

DH and I were wondering whether he would have any blood left after they got done testing him following one of his stage wins. Of course, they need to be *very* sure that the tests they're using are accurate.

CA

**Becky** · 07-17-2008, 05:40 AM

Originally Posted by Aggie_Ama

I didn't on the board, but when he peeled off on stage 9 like a man possessed I said to my husband "There is the next doper".

Yeah, me too. DH came running down the hall this morning, saying "you were right!"

**rij73** · 07-17-2008, 06:25 AM

Crapola... I really didn't care when it was guys who weren't performing well anyway, but Ricco made that thrilling attack. I couldn't help wondering when I watched it if maybe he was doping. It's really too bad. I wish these guys would cut it out already!

**Kalidurga** · 07-17-2008, 07:22 AM

I'm to the point that I'm so astounded at the stupidity of these guys that I can't even feel frustration or disappointment, only amazement.

Perhaps the high altitudes at which they ride have addled their brains...?

**Eden** · 07-17-2008, 08:36 AM

Originally Posted by CA_in_NC

*sigh*

What a disappointment.

DH and I were wondering whether he would have any blood left after they got done testing him following one of his stage wins. Of course, they need to be *very* sure that the tests they're using are accurate.

CA

most of the testing is done with urine... I would bet riders would be quite unhappy if the testers were always demanding blood. They did all have a pre-race blood analysis to check for "anomalies". Apparently all of the people who have had positives so far were targeted for a lot of testing, because their original blood tests showed irregularities. (usually this means a higher than average hematocrit - which in itself *does not* necessarily mean cheating, but means they are a person to watch).

Now this means one of two things..... either its working and the extended testing is catching the cheaters, or they are testing suspects until they find what they want....

Still, its very disappointing to hear Ricco was probably doping. He was riding brilliantly and I was beginning to believe that he might deserve some of his self congratulations...

**GLC1968** · 07-17-2008, 09:11 AM

Originally Posted by Aggie_Ama

I didn't on the board, but when he peeled off on stage 9 like a man possessed I said to my husband "There is the next doper".

I said the same thing to mine! Now he thinks I'm brilliant.

It still sucks though.

**ilima** · 07-17-2008, 10:41 AM

Ricco (and possibly other SD riders) was using a new, third generation EPO. Just came out this year; not available in the US yet. Thought they could outsmart the testers. Word is folks were using this stuff in the Giro, as well, but the test isn't completely validated so the Italians apparently just picked up the evidence and didn't use it. Actually kind of nice that they didn't tip their hat to the fact that a test was available. Supposedly, the other two folks that got tagged for EPO in the tour were also tagged for this new type of EPO>

Vaughters has a nice piece on Garmin's website. Pointing out that it was 12 years between the introduction of the first EPO and a test for it. With the new stuff, WADA was supplied with the molecular signature at the get go. Big improvement.

**Zen** · 07-17-2008, 11:09 AM

What really p's me off is that the rest of the team is taken down with him.

And it's not just Ricco who's guilty. He didn't dope entirely by himself.

**ilima** · 07-17-2008, 04:09 PM

Originally Posted by zencentury

What really p's me off is that the rest of the team is taken down with him.

And it's not just Ricco who's guilty. He didn't dope entirely by himself.

I agree that someone enabled Ricco's doping. And I now must view the performances of Piepoli and Cobo on Hautacam as suspect. They scampered away from Frank Schleck, who was working so hard he was foaming at the mouth.

David Millar & you have it right--who's enabling Ricco? Who was the one that advised him this new EPO was undetectable? Doctors must be involved in this one.

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