Petacchi under investigation - again!

[rich p]

Petacchi has been accused of using Pfc (Perfluorocarbon) and human serum albumin. Pfc can be used to increase the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood without raising haematocrit level. Its use in the peloton was first rumoured in 1997 as an alternative to EPO, when the UCI introduced “health checks” preventing riders with haematocrit levels in excess of 50 per cent from competing. Human albumin can be used to reduce haematocrit levels.

Petacchi will still be able to race in coming weeks because the police activities are still in the investigative phase and no formal changes have yet been made. However Petacchi has also been summoned to appear in front of the anti-doping investigators of the Italian Olympic Committee on August 3 in Rome. He faces a two-year ban if found guilty of doping.

Full article My link

 

[Noodley]

Green for Cav?

 

[rich p]

I don't know if that would be the outcome. They didn't cancel all Valverde's results.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Well, just so long as they don't rescind the points from the road.cc fantasy TdF game...

 

[Chuffy]

He's refusing to answer questions apparently. Doesn't look good does it? Hmmm, is this another stunning performance that turns out to be too good to be true?

 

[mangaman]

The Italian Olympic Comittee should be commended whatever the outcome.

They were instrumental in investigating Pantani and it was the Olympic comittee that finally nailed Valverde.

If only other countries were so tenacious (the UK being an obvious example - doping remains not illegal as far as I know, and we just believe with awe when our track guys win virtually every medal on offer in Beijing.

Better preparation etc wears a bit thin when you see what other counties uncover.

We need a "sporting fraud" law equivalent in the UK to really make an impact on doping.

I suspect this wouldn'tbe that popular with the Football Premier and certainly the Rugby codes so will never happen here.

 

[mangaman]

He's refusing to answer questions apparently. Doesn't look good does it? Hmmm, is this another stunning performance that turns out to be too good to be true?

I fear so Chuffy - but as I posted above, I'm not a UK Cycling worshipper either.

If Petacchi is quick and dirty, Cav is considerably quicker...

 

[dellzeqq]

what strikes me about this story is that the allegation follows detective work, rather than physical evidence - indeed, there seems to be no physical evidence. Which, if it transpires that he's guilty, will undermine confidence in drug testing regimes

 

[Noodley]

If Petacchi is quick and dirty, Cav is considerably quicker...

seriously, if someone is dirty there is usually a 'trail' linking the suspicion to the fact....there is nothing to link Cav to anything.

..and ask anyone on here, I am the witchfinder general!!!

 

[gavintc]

seriously, if someone is dirty there is usually a 'trail' linking the suspicion to the fact....there is nothing to link Cav to anything.

..and ask anyone on here, I am the witchfinder general!!!

That is my take as well. There appears to be no whiff of suspicion against Cavendish and he appears to be doing it clean. Pettachi however has been mired in rumours and investigations for a number of years and only returned to racing in 2008 (I think) following a previous suspension. I agree with a previous poster that this investigation comes from a police detective work not a failed test. I think he will keep his green.

I have wondered about this year's tour. We have had no drug catches and I pondered whether either the cyclists are getting cleaner, the cheating is getting harder to catch or whether the TdF have decided to announce the cheats well after the race to reduce negative impact on the Tour.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

That is my take as well. There appears to be no whiff of suspicion against Cavendish and he appears to be doing it clean. Pettachi however has been mired in rumours and investigations for a number of years and only returned to racing in 2008 (I think) following a previous suspension. I agree with a previous poster that this investigation comes from a police detective work not a failed test. I think he will keep his green.

I have wondered about this year's tour. We have had no drug catches and I pondered whether either the cyclists are getting cleaner, the cheating is getting harder to catch or whether the TdF have decided to announce the cheats well after the race to reduce negative impact on the Tour.

Well, if you look at the power outputs in the mountains (see the last pages of the Stage 20 Spoiler Thread), it is pretty clear that the 'unbelievable' average power outputs are a thing of the past. However, for sprinters, it is slightly different. Petacchi getting over the mountains so well in itself raises an eyebrow. Clean points contenders generally come in two different forms: Thor has the kind of power which means he has some climbing ability and greater stamina on the smaller hills at the expense of pure speed in the final sprints; Cav has pure speed but can't really spare the effort to take on those smaller hills to get the extra sprint points. Petacchi, however, seemed to have both this year and at a more advanced age when most are slowing down a bit. That is reason to suspect, but not (yet) to convict. He may just be older and tactically wiser.

 

[Hont]

I'm not a UK Cycling worshipper either.

I'm prepared to believe in the UK track program, given David Millar's comments about how different he found the culture to be.

If Petacchi is quick and dirty, Cav is considerably quicker...

The reasons for which are well documented. In the lab Cav recorded lower power figures than some other sprinters but his small size and very aero position when sprinting more than make up for this.

I have wondered about this year's tour. We have had no drug catches...

I'm always a little bit happier when they do catch someone. Some riders must still be doping, so it's reassuring when they're caught that the controls are working.

what strikes me about this story is that the allegation follows detective work

Twas ever thus. Festina, Puerto, Oil for drugs...

 

[rich p]

Positives may come some time later these days. The Olympics busts came nearly a year after the event IIRC.

 

[Foghat]

what strikes me about this story is that the allegation follows detective work, rather than physical evidence - indeed, there seems to be no physical evidence. Which, if it transpires that he's guilty, will undermine confidence in drug testing regimes

Detective work sounds good to me - shows these morons and their management that at least even if the governing body is basically a toothless policeman there is some risk of accountability and that screwing with the credibility of the sport that provides their livelihoods, in a climate of decreasing public tolerance and increasing sponsor wariness, is irresponsible, ungrateful and stupid, not to mention unfair. Given that doping has been considered to be rife, the level of positives means that there can't be much more confidence in drug testing regimes already than them being simply means of catching a small proportion of those who cock up the dosing or are being rather dumb with their choice of rocket fuel or timing of application or are just unlucky with the randomness of testing.