Reforming the UCI

[oldroadman]

this blog doesn't seem to have any concerns about naming names..the name of his blog kind of gives you on idea of which direction it headed....

http://tennishasasteroidproblem.blogspot.com.es/p/the-case-against-tennis.html

That's a brave blogger. It could be that it's correct, along with other sports. Steroids? Old hat. A closer look at blood values as well might be interesting. But then, the old cry of "human rights" not to be disturbed and tested (when you are a professional sportman/woman?) is heard. If only the "testing pool" used for keeping a random view on many who can subscribe to clean sport could be extended to the top 100 in every single sport. The results may be fascinating, as would the wriggling. Then, I couldn't possibly comment.

 

[laurence]

that blog tallies with something i was told relating to a, quite serious, illness suffered by a major female tennis player. apparently the respiratory problem is related to steroid (ab)use.

 

[thom]

Ha ha ha : Matt Seaton suggests :
On Sept 7 McQuaid floats amnesty; Sept 22 he nixes it. Here's an idea: a Truth Commission for UCI. We can decide on any Reconciliation later

 

[johnr]

There was a discussion about the UCI at the end of the Radio 5 show yesterday. David Millar was interestingly conciliatory: acknowledging the changes which had come about under McQuaid's watch. He vacilated on the question of getting involved when he retires, but seemed open to it.

But it's still going to take some kind of deus ex machina to create the circumstances in which the honest get their hands on the reins.

 

[dellzeqq]

this blog doesn't seem to have any concerns about naming names..the name of his blog kind of gives you on idea of which direction it headed....

http://tennishasasteroidproblem.blogspot.com.es/p/the-case-against-tennis.html

wowser! And, yes, I've always thought that tennis was dirtier than cycling

 

[thom]

wowser! And, yes, I've always thought that tennis was dirtier than cycling

Even Wimbledon ? They're always so particular about their whites.

I found the Radio 5 prog yesterday very depressing. Ashendon spoke of doping stories he'd heard from other sports in a quite alarming way (he said he wasn't able to watch the Olympics).

 

[GrumpyGregry]

the solution is simple.

fugginsackemall

 

[johnr]

This from Cycling Australia:

"We acknowledge that there is now clear evidence that the UCI, until recent times, failed to fully and properly do its part to stamp out doping. We stand by our belief that the UCI deserves significant credit in a number of areas, namely its persistence in dealing with the Operation Puerto files and the ground-breaking introduction of the Biological Passport."

The link is on the Armstrong thread,

I wonder if the honourary president is spending some of Nike's cash on industrial shredders to help rationalise the UCI's filing system. The ozzies seem to be implying that enough's enough.

 

[thom]

If this report is true, what we've seen so far isn't close to the half of it:

In the spotlight are 20 teams in four seasons between 2008 and 2011: Liquigas, Lampre, Colnago, Geox, Androni, Katusha, Quick Step, Farnese Vini, Acqua & Sapone, Astana, RadioShack, Vacansoleil, Isd, Csf, LPR, Diquigiovanni, Tinkoff, Rabobank, Gerolsteiner and Milram. The prosecution has made all these contracts brokers for comparison with those deposited in the ICU and quantify evasion money.

The UCI will be utter toast - this is coming from a Padua investigation into Schumi.

 

[rich p]

If this report is true, what we've seen so far isn't close to the half of it:

In the spotlight are 20 teams in four seasons between 2008 and 2011: Liquigas, Lampre, Colnago, Geox, Androni, Katusha, Quick Step, Farnese Vini, Acqua & Sapone, Astana, RadioShack, Vacansoleil, Isd, Csf, LPR, Diquigiovanni, Tinkoff, Rabobank, Gerolsteiner and Milram.The prosecution has made all these contracts brokers for comparison with those deposited in the ICU and quantify evasion money.

The UCI will be utter toast - this is coming from a Padua investigation into Schumi.

Wowzer. This could be huge. Is it implying anything about the UCI though? It's unclear due to the clunky translation.

 

[thom]

Wowzer. This could be huge. Is it implying anything about the UCI though? It's unclear due to the clunky translation.

Not directly but for this to happen under McQuaid, with all the other pressure, he must be about to explode.

 

[rich p]

Not directly but for this to happen under McQuaid, with all the other pressure, he must be about to explode.

I take your point.

 

[oldroadman]

I take your point.

Not directly but for this to happen under McQuaid, with all the other pressure, he must be about to explode.

Hein is the one who should go off bang - believe it or not, things have chamged a lot with PM at the top. Balanced against that I understand he was Hein's preferred successor.
Always be careful of hat you wish for, if PM does go, who will replace him? Look east, I think, and then consider the record of teams from that part of Europe, and hope.....

 

[johnr]

You're right, Thom, this could be the start of a whole new adventure... and I agree it could be a fatal blow to the UCI.

I say this not because I think it threatens them directly, in fact it seems to be individuals engaging in possible criminal activities, but this on top of the Pharmstrong USADA report describes a sport run by crooks and cowboys.

Whilst presidents, past and present, may take the 'nothing to do with me, guv' line, the IOC, at least, and possibly lots of other governmental and non-governmental bodies will be raising serious questions about the UCI's ability to run a safe, clean, legal sport. (I wonder whether Cycling Australia's new found enthusiasm for clean cycling is inspired by their local funders.)

I do not know who handles the UCI's press relations, but Verbruggen needs to be silenced immediately. He's appearing in international media daily and it's no longer just us that see him as a complete fool. He needs to announce his immediate retirement on health grounds to spend more time with his lawyers. As the UCI stumbles from one crisis to another, they can do without their leadership making things constantly worse.

For the first time, I have some optimism that the UCI may indeed be reformed!

 

[ufkacbln]

The trouble now is there is no amateur cycling, the sport is open. Any breakaway organisation would have to be along the lines of the Premier League in football, with an elite core of teams forming the top tier.

But learn from the lessons in funding where this stripped money away from those outside the elite group