Gusev fired by Astana over suspected doping

by orangekick on Jul 25, 2008 3:16 PM EDT Comment 63 comments

Russian Gusev fired by Astana over suspected doping

MONTLUCON, France, July 25 (Reuters) - Russian cyclist Vladimir Gusev has been fired by Astana on suspicion of doping, the team said on Friday.

Astana, who are not taking part in this year's Tour de France, carry out internal tests on their riders and when the data is considered abnormal the cyclist is fired.

"Astana has terminated the contract of...Gusev due to irregular values," the Kazakhstan-funded team said in a statement, underlining that Gusev had not failed a dope test.

"The values were gathered during internal out-of-competition tests under the supervision of Dr Rasmus Damsgaard."

Astana, the team of Tour de France champion Alberto Contador of Spain, were not invited to this year's race because of their past doping record.

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let me be the first to say...

THE GUSE IS LOOSE!

by PopUp Rolen on Jul 25, 2008 3:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

...

aboot this hoose!

Blame my wife!

by sir eccles on Jul 25, 2008 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Looks like JB is serious

about getting an invite back to the Big Show.

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew... on Jul 25, 2008 3:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

My thoughts exactly

I’m not saying that he didn’t do it, but I’m thinking sacrificial lamb.

by zegnotronic on Jul 25, 2008 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hrm.

Can’t wait for the other side of this story to come out.

by Sui Juris on Jul 25, 2008 3:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I've been thinking that maybe these irregular blood values

were published as a responce to the surprise dope testing at CSC…? Damsgaard wants the TdF to know that they mean business…hopefully the Schleck brothers didn’t have irregular values, something that Damsgaard didn’t catch…?

anyway… I smell politics.

live to ride, ride to live

by orangekick on Jul 25, 2008 3:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

got a link to add?

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Jul 25, 2008 3:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

here's the notice on lequipe

http://www.lequipe.fr/Cyclisme/breves2008/20080725_213316_gusev-licencie_Dev.html

by gavia on Jul 25, 2008 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

nope... copied it off my trading platform which has real time streaming news feed.

live to ride, ride to live

by orangekick on Jul 25, 2008 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

OK cool

Do you know who the source is??

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Jul 25, 2008 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

source...?

(Reporting by Julien Pretot, editing by Tony Jimenez)
((tony.jimenez@reuters.com; +442075427933; Reuters
Messaging: tony.jimenez.reuters.com@reuters.net. For the latest
Reuters Premier League and international football news see:
http://football.uk.reuters.com))
For more cycling:
[CYCL-LEN]
Keywords: CYCLING GUSEV/

live to ride, ride to live

by orangekick on Jul 25, 2008 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

thanks

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Jul 25, 2008 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nothing up yet

on Reuters’ website.

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Jul 25, 2008 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

no byline at lequipe

just the breif notice.

by gavia on Jul 25, 2008 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yahoo Sports picked up the Reuters story

link to story

by PopUp Rolen on Jul 25, 2008 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

good enough

link added

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Jul 25, 2008 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not the Goose

I really liked the Goose, he sure knew how to suffer. Oh well, I guess the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree. A Russian busted for doping, say it ain’t so.

If I just had one more gear, I...

by SpunOut on Jul 25, 2008 3:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

suspected doping...

certainly his career isn’t over—he isn’t banned from anything just yet.

live to ride, ride to live

by orangekick on Jul 25, 2008 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Suspected is just code for

Not officially suspended yet.

If I just had one more gear, I...

by SpunOut on Jul 25, 2008 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well...

they did fire him. so he’s definitely suspended.

by gavia on Jul 25, 2008 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

which means he'll be racing

for a much smaller team next year.

live to ride, ride to live

by orangekick on Jul 25, 2008 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

probably

and i should have said, he’s suspended until he finds another team, since he can’t race without one…

by gavia on Jul 25, 2008 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, I meant suspended by the UCI, not from the team.

If I just had one more gear, I...

by SpunOut on Jul 25, 2008 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

it says abnormalities

in an out of competition test. also, the team specified it was not a positive control.

l’equipe adds the line: “by this policy, the team certainly wants to demonstrate its new policy, far from the doping affairs of last year”

by gavia on Jul 25, 2008 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't like him at all

He was a total deusche at the ToC this past year. Glad to see him gone.

by EuroPeloton on Jul 25, 2008 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If he's not suspended

do we see him at Katyusha (or however you spell it)?

by Katiek on Jul 25, 2008 3:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I would think so

by australopithecine on Jul 25, 2008 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

not if they're gearing up

for the TdF.

live to ride, ride to live

by orangekick on Jul 25, 2008 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Could you imagine

The reaction if Astana had been invited to the tour and Gusev had been “suspended” during the race?

by johnw on Jul 25, 2008 4:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

yes, "I told you so" comes to mind

this makes ASO decision to exclude Astana a prudent one.

live to ride, ride to live

by orangekick on Jul 25, 2008 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

or at least

a lucky one.

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Jul 25, 2008 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

They were sure lucky to dodge that bullet.

If I just had one more gear, I...

by SpunOut on Jul 25, 2008 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

More lucky than good

Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.

by johnw on Jul 25, 2008 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My thoughts exactly.

No matter what type of internal testing program is in place, there can always be some jackass that thinks he can still slip under the radar. This is exactly the reason ASO did not want to let the squad back in this year. It had nothing to do with liking or disliking JB, but the risk was simply too large to ignore. Had Astana been in the Tour, and had Goose been in the race, this news would have been catastrophic.

Is there anyone who can honestly say that had Astana been invited, and then had something like this happen, that this would not have been THE STORY? It would certainly have ruined the race this year. I’m glad they are not partipating.

by The Team Chef on Jul 25, 2008 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You are 100% correct

It’s all we would have heard about

If I just had one more gear, I...

by SpunOut on Jul 25, 2008 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

the IF/THEN

statement there is the catch. I don’t think Astana would have brought any dopers to the dance, this year. JB (not out of any moral decency, but a sense of self preservation) would have tested them six ways to Sunday before letting them line up. Either Gusev wouldn’t have doped, or he’d never have seen Brest.

by Sui Juris on Jul 25, 2008 9:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed,

but no amount of pre-race testing is going prevent some ignoramous from biting into the forbidden fruit during the race. Any positive from an Astana rider, regardless of the best intentions of JB to field a clean team, was far too great of a risk for ASO. There was absolutely no way to prevent something like this from happening, other than excluding the team from participating. As unfair as this may seem, it was the only way to protect the race this year.

by The Team Chef on Jul 26, 2008 1:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

hmm..

i’m guessing they’ve been sitting on these results for a bit, and timed their announcement appropriately.

when better than at the end of the tour when lots of people will notice? that rumors are circulating in the press about the schlecks – and frank in particular – and the extra testing of csc, eh, astana running for the pr high road here.

by gavia on Jul 25, 2008 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

schleckies

Dear Gavia, please I have been wondering much about these rumors concerning the Schleck boys. I rest assured, however, that your gossip du jour will be the first to break any news of Frankie’s downfall.

So hoping this one never pans out.

by kimchi on Jul 25, 2008 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If they wanted to lend credibility to this story

they would have dredged up the old dirt on Kim Andersen. He’s the DS who is is closest with the Schlecks, he lives and trains with them in Luxembourg, he if anyone is the “fatherfigure”. I surely don’t think they are above suspicion but to drag this weak-asssed shit up at this point in time just reeks.

If it had been Menchov who had exelled you can bet your butt-tocks it would be "news" about the Humanplasma-story that surfaced at the appropriate time.

by Jens on Jul 25, 2008 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

si..

Of course, if there is anything concrete, I will put it up pronto.

So far, there isn’t. I’ve been debating putting up a post about the rumors, ie, what’s being said, on what basis. Hmm. I haven’t really decided whether it’s worth the effort – the most credible story comes from suddeutsche zeitung, but even that thingy is pretty thin.

And yeah, agree with Jens, the stories about Menchov haven’t seen much light, ie, his reported training adventures with Rasmussen.

Eh, maybe after lunch. Hard to write abour such things on an empty stomach ;-)

by gavia on Jul 25, 2008 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

about such things

sigh, the typing, so complicated.

by gavia on Jul 25, 2008 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh come on

At least say something incendiary about how Bjarne Riis is involved in CSC and his past with doping?

Blame my wife!

by sir eccles on Jul 25, 2008 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

if you're going to start listing which DS was involved in doping

in the past, well pretty much all DSes will be listed.

by lyne on Jul 25, 2008 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

good point

Blame my wife!

by sir eccles on Jul 25, 2008 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks!

wow, so quick like. much appreciated!

by kimchi on Jul 26, 2008 8:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol, any time

true confessions? i already had some ideas about that one going, so it went a little faster than it otherwise might have ;-)

by gavia on Jul 26, 2008 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

timing

June 28, 2008: National Time Trial Champion

July 25, 2008: doodjammer

by Softie on Jul 25, 2008 4:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Gusev just took 2nd in GC at the Tour of Austria on 07/13, too. From CN.

Final general classification

1 Thomas Rohregger (Aut) Elk Haus – Simplon 26.54.28
2 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Astana 0.39
3 Ruslan Podgornyy (Ukr) LPR Brakes 1.05
4 Chris Anker Sørensen (Den) Team CSC – Saxo Bank 2.02
5 Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli 2.47
6 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner 4.09
7 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Astana 4.23
8 Walter Fernando Pedraza (Col) Tinkoff Credit Systems 5.31
9 Jure Golcer (Slo) LPR Brakes 5.42
10 Thomas Frei (Swi) Astana 5.59
11 Michael Barry (Can) Team Columbia 6.05

Damn it, I really liked to watch that guy race. Grrrrr.

by Ruthann on Jul 25, 2008 4:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

3 Astnai in the top 10 - not too shabby

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew... on Jul 25, 2008 4:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It will be interesting to hear what JB says about it tonight during

VS’s prime time show….

And note, I had to list Michael Barry’s performance there, finishing 11th in GC. Oh, I wish, I wish he was at the Tour….

by Ruthann on Jul 25, 2008 4:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The shows are usually pre-recorded in the morning.

I would be surprised if they had it on tonight

by roadside on Jul 25, 2008 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He wrote a nice piece on TTing in today's NYT

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum."

by Drew... on Jul 25, 2008 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Link? I so heart reads from Mr. Barry. :-)

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Jul 25, 2008 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Article..

I found the link for others who want to read.

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Jul 25, 2008 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Guardian picks it up

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/feedarticle/7678663

"I won! I won! I don't have to go to school anymore." -- Eddy Merckx, after winning his first bike race

by ELVISGOAT on Jul 25, 2008 5:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Is he the first?

Maybe it’s because it’s 5:30 on a Friday, but I don’t recall anyone from the other teams with internal doping controls getting fired for “irregularities” before.

Does anyone know of another?

by rocketpress on Jul 25, 2008 5:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs