UCI Prepares to Prosecute First Biological Passport Cases
by majope on Apr 21, 2009 7:31 AM EDT
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PrintIn a story published in The Guardian today, the UCI announced that it is preparing to prosecute its first cases under the biological passport system.
"With the first case we need to be absolutely sure," the UCI spokesman Enrico Carpani told the Guardian. "We need to be sure we can defend ourselves in a court, so it has to be safe, reliable. So the [anti-doping] experts are working on it, but also the legal department. But before the Giro I expect the first [doping] cases to be confirmed."
The "biological passports," which involve long-term profiling of riders' blood for abnormal fluctuations that might indicate doping practices, were instituted in January, 2008. At a press conference during this year's Tour of California, Patrick McQuaid of the UCI said that they were moving closer to prosecution but refused to give the number of cases involved, saying only that it "may be one or three or six riders."
The Giro begins May 9, so expect the first case or cases to be announced within the next three weeks.
UPDATE: Carpani says he was misunderstood. Thanks to Monty for finding and translating this from tuttobici:
“I don’t want to start passing the buck, but there must have been some misunderstanding with the journalist from the Guardian, especially on the usage of certain terms. I never spoke – and let me emphasize that – of definite positive cases. I simply said to the interviewer that there will probably be before the Grand Tours some communique from the UCI regarding the progress of the biological passport. But the contents of this communique could also be, and we all wish it would be thus ‘All fine, nothing to report, let’s carry on like this."
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Article says UCI expects to announce before Giro
Sounds like there should be some nervous riders out there…
Also reported (and tweeted) today by Cycling Weekly.
Smaller fish if we are to believe McQuaid's earlier statements
(can’t believe i just wrote " believe McQuaid’s …..statements")
Moreover, it is my opinion that Alejandro Valverde is an asshole who should not be allowed to compete in bikeraces right now.
I can't believe it either
;-)
After his pathetic whining, which even made it to BBC’s flagship news radio programme last week, I wouldn’t want to listen to anything he has to say. Gripper OTOH, with a name like that you can guess she ain’t one for platitudes and defending the indefensible (with apologies to
Original comment posted under my old ID (in case anyone noticed). I knew I shouldn’t have ticked the ‘remember me’ box thingie or run 3 browsers….
Formerly known as ruralwales.
Is it just me, or does
this quote:
“With the first case we need to be absolutely sure,”
make you think,“Oh, man. This is not going to go well.”?
as in?
“by the time we get to nr 3 or 4 we’ll just be fuelling up with a coupla’ brewskies and picking names out of a hat like we normally do”
Moreover, it is my opinion that Alejandro Valverde is an asshole who should not be allowed to compete in bikeraces right now.
Why aren't all casses simply done like this?
No leaking names?
Making sure they got their info rock solid?
Isn’t that how every case is supposed to be?
Oh, and I love the just before Giro timing too.
I give it until tomorrow evening before someone blurts it out
Moreover, it is my opinion that Alejandro Valverde is an asshole who should not be allowed to compete in bikeraces right now.
So true
Well, the Giro timing does nothing for me; I’d rather not ruin that wonderful month. But the rest of it sounds suspiciously professional. How can this possibly go wrong?
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 21, 2009 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions
I've noticed that too
usually they are calm , collected , low key and suddenly he spikes with an OSCARITO!!!! ? These are the things they pick up on in the BPP.
Moreover, it is my opinion that Alejandro Valverde is an asshole who should not be allowed to compete in bikeraces right now.
Re: Goat boy's OSCARITO!!!! tic
Notice the chain of events:
1) Goat boy for years yells OSCARITO!!!!
2) UCI announces BPP
3) Goat yells OSCARITO!!!! much less in the past year
4) UCI announces that they are taking their time; they want the first case to be a stone winner
5) Freire gets hurt. Goat goes silent.
6) People wonder when UCI is gonna do something.
7) Freire finally comes back to racing at Amstel.
8) Goat can’t help himself: OSCARITO!!!! returns.
7) Two days later UCI says they are ready to proceed with their first slam dunk case.
Superb timing!
Right before the 2009 Giro. It’s almost as if cycling’s governing bodies are taking an active interest in promoting doping in cycling. “Hmmm, haven’t had a story about doping in a while, maybe now is a good time to reveal the names of all those riders we knew were drugged for the past year”, j/k.
I guess the timing would have been better
If they would make the announcement on the day before the last Giro stage. Preferably taking the pink jersey down.
TAKE RACE LEADER DOWN! TaKE raCE LEaDeR Down! DOWN!!!
(Must – stop – primeval – urge – to – bring – down – jersey – wearers – that – is – so – typical – for – Dutch – people…)
What?
I’m new here but I hope this is just a joke and sarcasm. I have seen a lot of anti Dutch on the web relating to cycling recently..why? Typical internet idiocy!!
No way you're on to us
We have come up with something like the peat ship of Breda, only completely different. We will soon take over the world! Narf!
The peat ship of Breda....why do I find that funny?
But what an excellent tactic. Perhaps the Rabo riders could try something like this, you know, come bursting out of some peat filled team vehicle when the rest of the peloton least expect it and romp to victory….
How strange! It was a straight Ipon!
Welcome btw… Don’t feel offendend.. Eveybody is nice… Most of the time… When you are not Dutch… Or you can spell… Or when you’re grammar is ok….
Crashdan: "Veni Vidi Vici beats Wing Kong Exchange... … and I’ll change my signature to a backwards smile for a month."
Franzoi wins Parijs-Roubaix and I win a date with the VDS of Team Txirrindulariak..
Fear not
We heart our Dutch peeps. We heart them so much, we feel free to heckle them on a regular basis.
Just ask Frinking the difference between there and their ;-)
You guys make me so fast grey :)
Crashdan: "Veni Vidi Vici beats Wing Kong Exchange... … and I’ll change my signature to a backwards smile for a month."
Franzoi wins Parijs-Roubaix and I win a date with the VDS of Team Txirrindulariak..
OOoooohh
didi someone get late to the bar and have to make do with the not-so-super-pingels
I want to go on the record
that I, in fact, personally do not like Dutch people. They are tall, and blond, and they have nice teeth, and they wear a lot of orange, and those wooden shoes (?), and they let people take drugs without locking them up for years on end… and… and… wait… on second thought, I love the Dutch!
More Muur...
Yeah, the clogs
Oh my, I've just fallen in love with Roger De Vlaeminck's sideburns.
by TheFigurehead on Apr 21, 2009 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree
No intelligent design there
Oh my, I've just fallen in love with Roger De Vlaeminck's sideburns.
by TheFigurehead on Apr 21, 2009 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions
They really did wear them
on the catwalk two years ago in the Viktor & Rolf winter show for Paris fashion week. Sorry, off to open a manly beer now. Argh!
Jimbo didn't mention the beer
And the beer is, of course, excellent. How is the Oranjeboom nowadays?
Oh my, I've just fallen in love with Roger De Vlaeminck's sideburns.
by TheFigurehead on Apr 21, 2009 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions
I'll never get over this language barrier.
I thought this was Oranjeboom:
You need to do this race two or three times before you can win, despite what Cunego showed us last year: winning in his first try--Frank Schleck, on Amstel Gold
They used to sponsor Kent County Cricket Club.
Nothing like lounging around in Canterbury in the summer swilling Oranjeboom….
And the mice
in the Windmill
going clip-clippety-clop on the stair
agreed
well except for the nice teeth part
by plinytheelder on Apr 21, 2009 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh?
I rest my case.
You need to do this race two or three times before you can win, despite what Cunego showed us last year: winning in his first try--Frank Schleck, on Amstel Gold
Huge is not the same as nice
Oh my, I've just fallen in love with Roger De Vlaeminck's sideburns.
by TheFigurehead on Apr 21, 2009 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Nah...too easy.
You need to do this race two or three times before you can win, despite what Cunego showed us last year: winning in his first try--Frank Schleck, on Amstel Gold
Such is the life of a Dutch stagiaire
you even have to break in the boss’ second set.
clearly that kid's teeth are totally crooked
hasn’t visited the German dentist yet like the other 2
by plinytheelder on Apr 21, 2009 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, I'm not sure I'd go that far,
but it appealed to me. It’s wonderfully melodramatic. It’s all about the quest to grow the first black tulip, and the efforts of a political prisoner to do it in jail….of course he’s also involved in a love affair with the jailer’s daughter.
I hope it's not...
any huge name. With something like 900 riders tested, 18000 tests, and collaborative work with the drug companies to make new testing procedures, I like to think that we can rely on fairly high degree of accuracy with the testing. If only 3-4 riders are caught, this SHOULD be seen as a huge victory for cycling. There are probably very few sports with that low of a cheating rate. I suspect that if the names are a bunch of nobodies, then people might start to see this as evidence that cycling is cleaning itself up. However, if someone like Boonen, Contador, Cavendish etc. I can’t help but expect that we’ll be hearing more in the media about how cycling is corrupt.
Ohh don't even think of the name Boonen coming up tisk tisk!
I highly doubt there will be sprinters names involved. I hate this shit…just tell us and lets get it over with.
by cyclingdiva on Apr 21, 2009 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions
It's Boonen
They came to his house to collect a hairsample and he cried like a little girl “don’t take the´hair , I have so little left” and now they’re going to take him down like Lance.
Moreover, it is my opinion that Alejandro Valverde is an asshole who should not be allowed to compete in bikeraces right now.
What is it with you and Boonen's hair?
I know you’re suffering from the same hair-loosing something as him but at least you can take Romario-drugs, can’t you?
Det må være hårt.
by Forstoppelse on Apr 21, 2009 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions
The man has won Flanders and Roubaix five times
I do what I have to to be able to bring him down among us mere mortals.
Moreover, it is my opinion that Alejandro Valverde is an asshole who should not be allowed to compete in bikeraces right now.
hee hee at least Boonen is letting it go with dignity, not trying any scary comeovers.
Oh lordy please don’t let them take what is left. ;-)
Oooh, oooh, like . . .
say, this dude?
http://www.bike-zone.com/photos/2004/news/dec04/vuelta/12-AlejandroValverde.jpg
(note, photo is from 2005, so the thinning is at a Carpenter’s phase . . .)
or
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.rosecantine.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/valverde.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.rosecantine.com/2007/08/14/valverde-unwanted-at-world-cycling-championship-will-miss-vuelta/&usg=__2_gry2JxDvlM9MRavLyZMj4sEYQ=&h=368&w=249&sz=15&hl=en&start=87&sig2=fEEDp86uzgDKkLmELt3bIA&tbnid=4BXh6XxfnSrhiM:&tbnh=122&tbnw=83&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dalejandro%2Bvalverde%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D80&ei=ZgHuSdOYFMLdsga-_s31Bg
That must be an old one. He has less hair now.
But really it’s more a bird’s nest than a combover. And he’s still yummy ;-)
Great discription...it is more of a birds nest huh?
Ivan and Thor have the Boonen receding hair line and they are still Yummy!
Oh yes, agreed!
Receeding hair isn’t necessarily the kiss of death to hottitude ;-)
btw, I hope you’re proud of me for shouting so much for Tom in Arenberg last week that I went hoarse?!
I'm proud and jealous. ;-)
And so worth it right?
by cyclingdiva on Apr 22, 2009 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions
If there aren't any huge names
I’d have to suspect it’s because of a cover up. Perhaps I’ve become too cynical.
What would be good news for me is if it’s a bunch of big names who I’ve already mentally tagged as dodgy.
Have you considered...
that they will announce:
Kohl,
Schumacher
Ricco,
and Piepoli
The wheels of the UCI bureaucracy finally catch up to reality.
I kinda doubt it
if that were the case, why the “With the first case we need to be absolutely sure” qualifier? Unfortunately, that does make me think that one of the names is pretty big.
My take on the "with the first case we need to be absolutely sure"..
Is not that they are being careful because they caught a big fish, but because the program is new and it has to be above reproach if it is going to be taken seriously. They need their shit to be buttoned up and bulletproof or they will spend the next five years dealing with the fallout of their sloppiness…
More Muur...
I think that's just good PR
They figure if they say enough times that they won’t proceed until a case is iron-clad, everyone will assume when the first case comes out that it’s solid.
That’s good PR whether they’re going after a big fish or a guppy.
by Susie Hartigan on Apr 21, 2009 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree
But that doesn’t make me wrong… the defense team for whomever they go after first, assuming they can even afford a defense team, will almost certainly attack the credibility of the process using their PR campaign, and then sick the lawyers on the details. A tight process with rigor and impeccable controls are the best defense, and also the best offense if your goal is to make the dopers talk…
More Muur...
I wouldn't be surprised
When it comes to doping, the UCI has always liked taking the easy way out.
My guess is the first (and perhaps only) cases will either be riders who are already suspended, or small-timers without the resources to mount an expensive legal battle.
by Susie Hartigan on Apr 21, 2009 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions
I see your reasoning
but i don’t believe they will go after someone already suspended. There has been too much noice about the in-effectiveness of the BPP for them to add fuel to that fire. Going after the poor, the tired the huddled masses, I believe. That goes in line with Pat’s statement about there not being any big scandals in 2009 too.
Moreover, it is my opinion that Alejandro Valverde is an asshole who should not be allowed to compete in bikeraces right now.
or fake-Merckx who fires up the crowds on the Muur
he rode that thing like five times last year while the pros did it just once and seemed knackered when they reached the top. Fake Merckx was breathing mouth closed, that freaking ET.
Moreover, it is my opinion that Alejandro Valverde is an asshole who should not be allowed to compete in bikeraces right now.
I'd even like to be a fake Merckx for a day
good sensations in the legs …
formerly known as cyclingchallenge
My sources tell me
that Gert Jan Theunisse will have been conclusively shown to have been using hair extensions.
It's a like a golden ticket but
you win something crappy. I just wait to find out who the first cases involve.
But on the other hand.....
Tuttobici got in touch with Enrico Carpani today and he was backpedalling a bit:
“I don’t want to start passing the buck, but there must have been some misunderstanding with the journalist from the Guardian, especially on the usage of certain terms. I never spoke – and let me emphasize that – of definite positive cases. I simply said to the interviewer that there will probably be before the Grand Tours some communique from the UCI regarding the progress of the biological passport. But the contents of this communique could also be, and we all wish it would be thus ‘All fine, nothing to report, let’s carry on like this. These are not the droids you’re looking for.’ "
OK I may have made up one sentence in that.
Oh. That's very different.
Never mind.
You need to do this race two or three times before you can win, despite what Cunego showed us last year: winning in his first try--Frank Schleck, on Amstel Gold
Ah
That sounds much more like the ineffectual UCI I’ve come to know and despise.
by Susie Hartigan on Apr 21, 2009 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions
BOOOO! HISS!
And I thought the UCI might actually be achieving something
Outside of who they name,
the case will get truly interesting once the appeals begin. A precedent making case like this will surely examine the science and conclusions.
The UCI sure doesn’t want to make any mistakes and produce the wrong precedent.
I bet we never see the passport used as the primary way someone is caught
If was going to be it would have been by now I bet they are using it to target specific riders to get OC positive on other tests. But that is my cynicism on this I think. I hope they actually act on one of these case soon.
Just spinning the pedals in the hills of Western Maryland
That is what Michael Ashenden said
in this really, really, really, really long interview at NYVelocity that you can find here. The passport is just a way to identify those people who need to be tested more rigorously.
More Muur...
IF the BPP really worked
then perhaps it was the impetus for the extra testing that cracked the CERA cases last year, but on the other hand; cycling is miles ahead in terms of acceptance of testing compared to most professional sports. Read THIS by Randy Starkman of the Toronto Star on his Olympics Blog, paying special attention to the quote at the end by Sidney Crosby, one of the biggest stars in professional hockey (who plans to play for Canada at the 2010 Olympics)
The UCI should rename this project Bio-Passports to Nowhere if the backpedaling continues like this.
Mon coeur appartient à les forçats de la route.
Even if they never name a rider
then it might still have been a success. In Jimbo’s reference to the really, really long Ashendon interview above he identifies that one of the purposes of the BP is to identify riders who need additional attention from the testers. If enough pressure and additional testing is applied to a rider then if the rider is cheating, and thinking, then he would logically stop as a continuation of the behavior in conjunction with more testing will greatly increase his chance of working in a paint factory after he gets busted.
We are quick to call the BP a failure because, standing alone, it has not caught a cheater yet. I see it more of a funnel of suspected cheating than as a strainer.
by australopithecine on Apr 21, 2009 9:23 PM EDT reply actions
Passports real goal isn't to catch cheaters
It is to prevent cheaters, or at least prevent any huge advantage for them. We’ll see how it works, so far so good. In fact the drug enforcement of cycling was actually very good over the last year if you think about it. All the people doing unearthly rides were caught within the year. There are undoubtedly others, but I think the passports are helping. Riders know that nothing can get too whacky or it will show up.
More bad news?
Cycling Weekly tweet yesterday evening:
We’ve just heard a shocking story coming out of Spain. I really, really hope it’s not true. If it is, Whereabouts testing could be dead.
Oh dear.
Formerly known as ruralwales.
ot the most reliable source... Has they already somethin up on their site?
Crashdan: "Veni Vidi Vici beats Wing Kong Exchange... … and I’ll change my signature to a backwards smile for a month."
Franzoi wins Parijs-Roubaix and I win a date with the VDS of Team Txirrindulariak..
Nothing on CW yet, 9:40am UK time
By the tone of it they’re waiting for confirmation before they publish.
Formerly known as ruralwales.
Probably this
Moreover, it is my opinion that Alejandro Valverde is an asshole who should not be allowed to compete in bikeraces right now.
That doesn't look good
The controls will now focus on testing players defined as “at risk” – such as those recovering from injury or who previously used a banned substance.
So everyone else is “presumed clean”. What about a Chicken-type scenario?
The invasion of privacy defence doesn’t wash with me, I’m afraid. Are they trying to say WADA officials come with a convoy of paps? While I’m not for making life unnecessarily hard for anyone, this stinks somewhat.
Could it, if things were not resolved suitably, end up with no Bert at the TdF?
Formerly known as ruralwales.
I think you are misreading it
The Spain-thing is just about ahletes in Spain not being allowed to be tested between 11 at night and 8 in the morning.
The qoute you have is about the agreement on testing in the joke-sport known as soccer. Those nimrods think testing recovering riders and previous offenders constitutes a serious anti-doping policy. That quote has nothing to do with cycling.
Moreover, it is my opinion that Alejandro Valverde is an asshole who should not be allowed to compete in bikeraces right now.
I'm not so sure
Okay, I just checked the whereabouts testing rules
And while athletes are required to say where they will be sleeping (which I assume is the invasion of privacy that’s being protested), the tests are supposed to be carried out during the one-hour window specified by the athlete, currently mandated for sometime between the hours of 6 am and 11 pm.
So doesn’t this just affect the two hours between 6-8 am? In which case it’s more of a burden on the athletes who want to schedule their hour availability early in the morning. The other thing that might be affected—testing after night games that run late—wouldn’t apply to cycling much (except maybe some of the six-day stuff?).
You need to do this race two or three times before you can win, despite what Cunego showed us last year: winning in his first try--Frank Schleck, on Amstel Gold
Hmm. From today's FW live ticker:
There were a total of 31 doping controls before the race. Lampre, Astana, Milram and Barloworld were tested this morning, between the hours of 6:45 and 8:15.
So theoretically, Spain’s morning races might have trouble if they wanted to test beforehand? It seems ridiculous that the rule would apply to in-competition testing, but the article linked says: “The Spanish decree, which is expected to come into effect in a few weeks’ time, will apply to all controls, whether ordered by a national sports federation or an international body.”
You need to do this race two or three times before you can win, despite what Cunego showed us last year: winning in his first try--Frank Schleck, on Amstel Gold
There are two parts to the location rules
First, you have to nominate an hour each day. If the testers turn up and you aren’t where you said you’d be then that’s a little stamp in your passport. But the authorities still can do random testing, just like (I imagine) the notorious random test the French carried out on Lance. The difference is that if they can’t find you then it’s tough. There’s no official sanction.
A bigger problem is that apparently the new Spanish law also says that you don’t have to tell the testers if you go away for up to three days. We know that some of these drugs clear from the body very quickly, even if the effects last a lot longer. Didn’t Tyler Hamilton pass a drug test two or three days after the one that he failed? So if you want to dope, then all you do is inject yourself Friday night before disappearing for the weekend. It’s a complete joke. They should make this the new national anthem.
Wow, hadn't seen that three-day thing. That is big.
You need to do this race two or three times before you can win, despite what Cunego showed us last year: winning in his first try--Frank Schleck, on Amstel Gold
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