"Systematic doping at Team Telekom"

(Link in German.) Freiburg University sports doctors Lothar Heinrich and Andreas Schmid are accused of running a systematic doping programme at Team Telekom/T-mobile, at least until 2006, by a report from an independent commission that has been in the works for 2 years. Andreas Klöden might be involved.

about 3 years ago tedvdw 10 comments 0 recs |

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Someone pour water on his pants before he gets hurt

“Since I was 11, I was always the best in my age category," said Klöden. "I worked really hard, I did not become a good rider overnight.

“I continually progressed, step by step, without resorting to drugs and despite all that I’m still subject to suspicion, I’m pigeonholed with all the cheaters, and it is annoying.”

Velonews Jul. 4, 2007

Moreover, it is my opinion that Alejandro Valverde is an asshole who should not be allowed to compete in bikeraces right now.

by Jens on Apr 25, 2009 10:35 AM EDT reply actions

I'd have more sympathy with Kloden's plight

if he hadn’t bolted with Vinokourov, et al, to Astana the minute T-Mobile announced a more rigorous anti-doping protocol for the team.

by Le Comte on Apr 25, 2009 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Good memory, or google skillz

Thanks.

by tedvdw on Apr 25, 2009 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions

And yet I'm convinced that he's riding clean now

Or at least that he was riding clean in last year’s Giro, and he seems to be at about the same level as then. I remember seeing him being interviewed one morning and he was making a not so subtle complaint about all the testing he and his teammates had undergone, and how they were being upstaged by a bunch of clowns in orange and green who had signed up to the bio passport scheme at the very last possible moment.

And oddly I have some sympathy for him, in part because Germany is taking the doping thing pretty seriously, but I can’t wait for Valv. to go down. Inconsistent, moi?

by Monty. on Apr 25, 2009 2:18 PM EDT reply actions

Klöden is doing everything he can get away with, of that I am sure

If his indignation is about anything it’s about other people getting away with more than he can. I’m sure it was a huge disappointment when Vino f****ed it up for everybody with his clumsiness pushing Astana into the Damsgaard program, which probably cramps Klödies style somewhat.

Moreover, it is my opinion that Alejandro Valverde is an asshole who should not be allowed to compete in bikeraces right now.

by Jens on Apr 25, 2009 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions

T-Mob

This is one of those loose, unproven stories that would surprise next to nobody. I’ve reached the point where I don’t really care what the answer is, since T-Mob morphed into Columbia, which seems pretty clean.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 25, 2009 11:21 PM EDT reply actions

Pardon; loose, unproven?

It’s way better than normal doping stories because it goes after doctors and team management, not the riders per se. Like it says, the research has been going on for two years; it’s all pretty serious.

by tedvdw on Apr 25, 2009 11:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Exactly , it may have been some facts and plenty of rumours before

but now we are actually getting real facts, charted and mapped by serious investigators. Thank god for german efficiency sometimes. And as tedvdw says, with the added benefit that they have had an interest in actually looking at the structures behind rather than hanging out the riders as scapegoats.

(Apparently the report of the commission is set to be made public sometime mid-May)

Moreover, it is my opinion that Alejandro Valverde is an asshole who should not be allowed to compete in bikeraces right now.

by Jens on Apr 26, 2009 2:46 AM EDT up reply actions