The Manifesto to Exit from the Nightmare of Doping

Five newspapers, including the Gazzetta dello Sport, published a manifesto today in their editions for "credible cycling". The other newspapers are L’Equipe, The Times, Het Nieuwsblad and Le Soir. More than 400 riders have been disqualified or involved in doping investigations since the 1990s.

The manifesto:

We are a group of newspapers in five newspapers from four different countries (Belgium, Great Britain, Italy and France). We’ve been part of the history of cycling for over a hundred years. We passionately love this sport and strongly believe in its future.

However we are very concerned about the current situation. The long list of doping scandals that have clouded the horizon of cycling in recent years now includes the Armstrong case, the confessions of several of his former teammates, the report of the American Anti-Doping Agency (USADA): that as points its finger at the malfunction or even complicity of the International Cycling Union (UCI).There are also disturbing reports filtering from the Padua investigation and the Operacion Puerto trial begins in Madrid in January.

This recent revelations show clearly that there was sick ‘cycling system’ and we can no longer put our faith in the UCI or the team managers who were complicit in the cheating. However responsibility lies with everyone in the cycling family: governing bodies, management, sponsor, organisers and athletes.

It seems that things have improved recently. We believe in the new generation of riders but we believe it is impossible to continue with the same structure, the same rules and the same people.

That's why we ask for/recommend that the governing bodies, sponsors, teams, organisers and athletes:

- That the UCI recognizes its responsibilities in the Armstrong case.

- The creation, under the responsibility of the Agency (WADA), of a neutral and independent commission to investigate the role and responsibility of the UCI in the Armstrong case and the fight against doping in general; to report errors, abuses and possible complicity.

- That the organization of controls at the biggest races is directly by WADA and the national anti-doping agencies.

- That the suspensions for serious doping cases are more severe and that teams pledge to terminate contracts and not sign for a further two years any athletes suspended for more than six months.

- The restoration of the ‘gentlemen's agreement’ that allowed the temporary suspension of riders involved in a doping investigation.

- A stronger involvement and accountability of the title sponsors of teams.

- The reform of the WorldTour, its points system and licensing, which remains closed and opaque. We propose that the licences are no longer awarded to the managers but to the sponsors.

- The organisation of a major ‘cycling summit’ before the start of the 2013 season in order to define the new organization and new rules.

We sincerely hope that the cycling world will seize the opportunity to make fundamental reform.



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"Just to win a salami in ridiculous races."

“Interest in doping has lessened,” Italian Olympic committee (CONI)head Ettore Torri said at an anti-doping conference in Faenza. “Before there were few tests and the penalties were light. Now it’s not worth it any more.”

He claims, however, that while the situation among professional riders has improved monumentally the situation in amateur racing is getting worse. "The situation there is serious. I’ve met entire families who dope. From lawyers to manual labor workers, they do anything just to win a salami in ridiculous races.”

It's not only in amateur races. Several of the major granfondo events have been tainted by doping.

On the subject of doping, the "my steak was tainted" defense by Alberto Contador begins tomorrow before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland. The hearing will last until Thursday, a decision is not expected until next year. This for Contador's positive for Clenbuterol in the 2010 Tour de France. If the finding is in favor of the UCI, Contador could be stripped of his 2010 Tour de France and 2011 Giroi d'Italia victory (more backgound here).



Follow on Twitter: ITALIANCYCJOURN

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Così Fan Tutte

Thus do they all.....Così fan tutte.

The disheartening news came late yesterday of Tour de France winner Alberto Contador failing a control carried out on July 21st for the substance clenbuterol during this year's Tour de France. July 21st was the second rest day, July 22nd Contador set up overall victory by finishing in the same time as Schleck on Stage 17 at the summit of the Col du Tourmalet.

Contador, at a press conference today in his hometown, blamed food contamination from beef a friend brought from Spain for dinner on July 20th and again on July 21st.

The UCI has formally and provisionally suspended Contador as is prescribed by the World Anti-Doping Code.

This morning also came news that Ezequiel Mosquera (and David Garcia Da Peña), who inspired fans in the battle with Nibali on the Bola del Mundo tested positive for Hydroxyethyl starch at the Vuelta a España on 16 September 2010.

With apologies to all those that are clean.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,500 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page. What I'm riding.