Missing three, out of competition doping tests is considered to be a 'doping offence' and should result in the immediate suspension of the rider.
But once again we see cycling's premier event being less than consistent and strong minded in its bid to put its house in order. The Danish Cycle Union held its hearing over a month a go where Rasmussen had his right to reply and now they have concluded that a violation occurred. The TdF should throw him out and he should start his minimum 1 year suspension.
Out of competition testing is a contentious issue and everyone knows it is not applied consistently across the world. All sports have problems with people who choose to go and train in Ethiopia, some Caribbean countries, Kazakstan or in Rasmussen's case, Mexico, but here we have someone that the system has court, and the TdF is not doing its part in enforcing a key component of the world wide fight against doping.
But then the TdF can't even follow the basic dope testing procedures for in competition testing. WADA has again this year pointed out that the procedures in force for testing the top riders and random others is still woefully inadequate and poorly conducted. I know that procedures in this country at national level events in sports such as sailing and orienteering are much higher than ASO can be bothered to instigate at cycling's best known event.
Its pathetic.
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