Kohl: Auf Wieder 2011

Riccò was questioned on Friday by a judge in Foix France. He faces up to three years in prison and a fine of up to 40,000 euro. The judge has until the end of December to decide whether to proceed with a case against the Italian. The charges? Trafficking, Using, Possessing, importing, illegal substances. The French authorities are also reportedly investigating whether Riccò made false statements to police during his arrest in July at the Tour.

Source is radsport-news.com. Their story is based on a report in the print edition of Gazzetta dello Sport.

A few things interest me about this case. Kohl cheated and deserves to get punished and I don’t have a problem with the sentence.

Right now, my feelings are that I hope Kohl is welcomed back like David Millar after his time is served if he indeed did “tell all.” While Kohl “cheated to win the polka dot jersey,” Millar cheated to win the world time trial championship. This big welcome back also assumes Kohl appropriately demonstrates he is not cheating when he returns. I guess if he truly shows contrition, I hope he gets to ride again.

What I find even more interesting is the news from a few days ago on CN:

In contrast to Kohl, his former Gerolsteiner teammate Stefan Schumacher has continued to declare his innocence and denying having used doping. “At the moment there is no suspension or investigation by either the German cycling federation (BDR) or the UCI,” his attorney Michael Lehner told Cyclingnews. “There is nothing to stop him from getting a license for the 2009 season from the BDR or UCI.”

This may be an optimistic slant by his attorney, but if Schumacher is able to sign with a team next year – even a lesser team – it would seem to confuse the whole anti-doping controls.

Kohl wouldn’t name names.

“He was asked where he got the substance (CERA) and who helped him but would not give any answers,” noted Austrian NADA chairman Andreas Schwab.

—link

So much for cooperation.

Just a couple years ago I sadly had in my mind that a major majority (I typed it that way) were involved in some sort of doping something or other. However, after all the hoopla and talks and pretty solid (at least felt that way versus previous attempts) to help get things on a cleaner platform, I am pissed and sickened by the asshats who played dirty this year. I find I have much less compassion for excuses (and they all had them). To me, there just is no excuse good enough at this point. I feel as though I drew my line at the end of last year and going forward, you dope, you suck.

Let’s not forget the fashion report – jeans Bernhard? How gauche!

and I’m not sure about the jacket either – zippers as a fashion statement are always risky..

bringing the total to 16, clearly the Pro Tour will live on, for now. Le 7 teams are: Cofidis, Française des Jeux , Katusha , Quick Step , Saxo Bank-IT Factory , Silence-Lotto and Rabobank.
(via VeloNews)