Giro 2008 Samples to be Tested for CERA

[John the Monkey]

Reported by cycling weekly;

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/giro_ditalia_news_roundup_article_282205.html?aff=rss

Italian police have seized the samples to have them tested for CERA. Zomegnan reported as "looking worried".

 

[andrew_s]

So are we going to have a guess the cheats sweepstake?
Bagsy Ricco

 

[Noodley]

Zomegnan reported as "looking worried".

Excellent.

and I bet a few riders as well.

 

[andrew_s]

I expect Zomegnan will be hoping that the catch will be limited to already identified dopers like Ricco and Sella. It won't look good if they get Bertie.

 

[Noodley]

Roll up, roll up it's the Noodley witch-hunt

 

[Chuffy]

<dusts off the Witchfinder General's picture>

 

[Skip Madness]

If it is true about Zomegnan being worried, well I am not sure what he was really expecting. Would he honestly rather take the ignorance-is-bliss route? It would be a shame if any riders - particularly big names - return positive, especially on the dawn of this year's edition, but this is a necessary step. It should have happened months ago.

 

[mondobongo]

Timing stinks. Inevitable really given the results of re-testing the Olympics for CERA. Not sure that I actually agree with testing retrospectively.

 

[Chuffy]

Timing stinks. Inevitable really given the results of re-testing the Olympics for CERA. Not sure that I actually agree with testing retrospectively.

Why not? The timing is just tough buns. Why let these cheats think they've got away with it?

 

[gavintc]

He could have called the tests himself earlier (last year) and avoided this 'late' embarrassment with the potential that a man in a pink jersey is led away by the police.

 

[Chuffy]

He could have called the tests himself earlier (last year) and avoided this 'late' embarrassment with the potential that a man in a pink jersey is led away by the police.

That's just a failure by the authorities. Surprise, surprise....

 

[yello]

Not sure that I actually agree with testing retrospectively.

Testing is always retrospective! [/anal]... but I don't actually have a problem with it as you mean it anyway.

I'm not sure how long samples can be kept without 'degrading' (or whatever the medical term might be) but that consideration aside, I think the 'when' of a test causes me more problems for the practicality of it rather than the ethics (or whatever) of it.

 

[mondobongo]

Why not? The timing is just tough buns. Why let these cheats think they've got away with it?

IMO there is currently a very good testing regime in place, would be even better if the UCI Passport scheme was up and running.

Therefore going back and retesting samples taken a year ago what will it achieve drag the sport through the mud again? Big legal challenges to any positive on the basis that the sample has degraded or not been stored correctly. Yes someone might slip through but in all probability they will be caught further on down the line.

I think we have to draw a line at some point and have the results stand.

 

[John the Monkey]

This article describes collection and storage procedures for samples;

http://www.ismj.com/default.asp?pageID=112475648 (International Sports Medicine Journal)

As the Science of Sport blog (where I ound the above) says;

the article makes for a quite a nice introduction to doping control, because the author's cover the basics of doping control, including why out-of-competition testing is so important, how athletes are monitored throughout the year, how samples should be handled and tested, and the value of integrating the testing programmes of all the various bodies now doing the anti-doping bit (and there are plenty).

 

[John the Monkey]

On the subject of retrospective testing, I think it provides a pretty good deterrent to those thinking of using today's "undetectable" PED, surely?