Doping at Beijing Olympics?

[John the Monkey]

According to a news release issued Tuesday, CONI was informed of a positive A sample and has notified the rider of the result. Under the provisions of the World Anti-Doping Code, the rider has the option to ask that his B sample be tested to confirm the result

http://www.velonews.com/article/91343

ROME (AP) -- An Italian news agency says Olympic cycling silver medalist Davide Rebellin is one of six athletes who turned up positive for doping in the retesting of samples from the Beijing Games.


The Italian Olympic Committee confirmed a male Italian athlete had tested positive but declined to identify him. Italian cycling federation spokeswoman Monica Masini also would not confirm the report.

http://www.universalsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=23000&ATCLID=3729858

 

[Flying Dodo]

I wonder why it's taken them so long to release the tests?

 

[andrew_s]

They aren't original tests. They said beforehand that they would keep the samples and retest them as new tests were developed. That's what's just happened.

 

[mondobongo]

Ah for gods sake not Rebellin, can't believe it.

 

[John the Monkey]

Ah for gods sake not Rebellin, can't believe it.

Tell me about it

 

[zimzum42]

Rebellin's name is all over twitter, seems like 6 riders are involved

 

[John the Monkey]

Rebellin's name is all over twitter, seems like 6 riders are involved

Yes - 7 positives from the samples tested, two were from one rider.

 

[yello]

Please let there be athletes other than cyclists involved.

 

[robbowatson]

Rebellin has been confirmed...at least by BBC anyway

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympic_games/8024242.stm

 

[gavintc]

Please let there be athletes other than cyclists involved.

A bit more detail here:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2009/apr09/apr29news

2 cyclists.

 

[Will1985]

This is seriously slow. The "new tests" excuse is rubbish since the CERA test was already in operation for the Tour and caught 3 riders. The only difference is the volume of samples that would need to be tested.

Lefevere is right to complain (on cyclingnews today) about the delay, but the latest positives wouldn't have been so slow to be identified if a cycling body was in charge. This shows that cycling is more alert than other sports to the gravity of doping. The fact that only a cyclist has been named so far shows how the sport is ready to confront the issue unlike some of the others.

As an aside, a positive would probably re-write his Fleche Wallonne victory and make Schleck a double Ardennais.

 

[John the Monkey]

This is seriously slow. The "new tests" excuse is rubbish since the CERA test was already in operation for the Tour and caught 3 riders. The only difference is the volume of samples that would need to be tested.

847, wasn't it?

How many can be processed by the labs involved per day?

Lefevere is right to complain (on cyclingnews today) about the delay, but the latest positives wouldn't have been so slow to be identified if a cycling body was in charge.

That's an interesting assertion, given the UCI's record with the Bio Passport, isn't it?

The disappointing thing for me about that article is the rush to condemn the way the news has broken, and the conduct of the IOC as opposed to the (potential, 'til B sample in any case) existence of yet more cheats in cycling.

 

[mondobongo]

It is rumoured that the other cyclist is Schumacher.

 

[John the Monkey]

L'Equipe is now reporting that;

http://www.lequipe.fr/Cyclisme/breves2009/20090429_143647_schumacher-positif-aux-jeux.html

One of the other positives for CERA is reported to be Rashid Ramzi, 1500m Olympic champion and world 800m and 1500m champion.

http://www.lequipe.fr/Aussi/breves2009/20090429_142621_ramzi-controle-positif.html

 

[Will1985]

Rebellin:

I don't know what may have happened. It is certainly a mistake. It is impossible that I tested positive.

Yes Davide, believe what the guy who sold it to you says!!