Kessler fails suprise drug test

Holczer: "I think we are standing before the 10 worst days in cycling"

In an interview with the Tour website of German tv station ARD, tour.ard, Gerlosteiner team manager Hans Michael Holczer was asked if he thinks that there will be new 'Operacion Puerto' developements before this years Tour de France. Holczer said: "A clear yes. The rumour mill says for instance that some bigger story concernig 'Operacion Puerto' is to come. Since a couple of weeks I am convinced that there are people who have certain documents in their drawer and who will maken them public in the week before the Tour or during the first days of the Tour. Then we had the report of Anne Gripper [UCI anti-doping director] about the 'Men in black'. And now it looks like there are mysterious values of top Giro riders. I think that we are standing before the 10 worst days in cycling."

My first impression of the Giro drugs stuff is that it is a non-issue. I think blood doping and hormones became the PED du jour because they are hard to test for. Now, the tests aren't better, but the suspicion is higher.

I'm more suspicious of Astana, but I hope Vino gets a shot at his TdF, and at least isn't yanked on a technicality, like last year. If Vino tests positive, exclude him. If he doesn't, but one or more teammates do, don't force him out.

You know, it also seems like it'd be in the UCI's and ASO's interests to quickly and quietly and IMMEDIATELY sanction riders with positive test results --- man, another Puerto-style eve-of-destruction-type of revelation would have to count as an absolute PR disaster.

Makes me wonder, too, if some things are going to be swept under the rug. When are the cover-ups going to begin?

---j