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Ã￾lex Marque tests positive for Celestine

May 14, 2009
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4 months until the result came out....

Makes me wonder if he hadn't signed for Movistar, would he be accused of doping.
 
Pathetic to say the least. Who is it going to be next year? There is so much to pick from.

Now if OFM knew about this, they must get sanctioned. And also, how on earth was this revealed by a Spanish newspaper instead of the right authorieties? Wasn't the control made DURING the Volta? This whole thing smells. The FPC-UVP and whoever is responsible for the controls have to give an explanation.
 
From Marque's facebook page:

''Ante la diversidad de informaciones aparecidas en los medios de comunicación, en el día de hoy, relativas a la detección en mí orina de la sustancia Betametasona, quiero hacer las siguientes matizaciones, aclaraciones:
En primer lugar informaros que la Betametasona, es un glucocorticoide que se utiliza en medicina por sus propiedades inmunosupresoras y antiinflamatorias, es una sustancia permitida, sólo se ve limitado su uso dentro de competición y así aparece recogido en las Lista de Sustancias Prohibidas de la AMA S9.
Como consecuencia del proceso patológico sufrido en mi rodilla derecha y después de habérseme administrado tratamiento fisioterapéutico y oral, sin resultados favorables, ante la proximidad de la prueba más importante del calendario portugués, la Volta a Portugal, y viéndose seriamente comprometida mi participación en la misma, fui infiltrado con este principio en dos ocasiones, tanto mi equipo, como la UCI tenían total conocimiento del uso de esta sustancia, tal y como aparece debidamente justificado en la correspondiente AUT, así mismo, cuando fui sometido a control antidopaje, se lo comuniqué oralmente al comisario competente, e incluso, yo mismo lo he reflejado de manera escrita en el formulario de control, por tanto no existió por parte de mi persona intención alguna de ocultación o reserva en el uso de la sustancia mencionada( betametasona).
Durante la celebración de la prueba he tenido que ser atendido como mínimo en dos ocasiones por los médicos de carrera. Mis allegados y la gente más cercana, eran conocedores de que la situación de mi rodilla era crítica, algo que oculté a los medios de comunicación para no despertar alarma ante mis rivales. Durante el transcurso de la última etapa el dolor era tal, que casi me veo obligado a bajarme de la bici (de eso existen documentos gráficos que lo acreditan). Una vez finalizada la Volta, tardé 10 días en poder salir a rodar un poco y, durante ese tiempo, incluso mis amigos bromeaban con mi cojera.
Hasta no hace mucho he sido tratado por esta lesión de cara a la próxima temporada.
Por todo ello y habiendo puesto la debida diligencia por mi parte, considero que la aparición de dicha sustancia en mi organismo está suficientemente acreditada, ya que no existió por mi parte ningún tipo de intención o engaño en el uso de la betametasona, que el uso de la misma ha sido siempre bajo prescripción médica, observando todos y cada uno de las disposiciones y mandatos de la Unión Ciclista Internacional, sin más propósito o intención que la cura de mis afecciones en la rodilla, asegurando mi participación en la Volta a Portugal.''

Copy paste here. I won't post the google translation in this post because it is quite poor.
 
trevim said:
Even for such a small race like the Volta is nowadays there is a doped winner. Yiiiikes!

Fortunately, it is only the lesser talents, those that are in such smaller races, that dope anymore.

The bigger talents don't need doping, as they already have more than enough natural benefit, and there is no advantages of doping in the big races.

You may have noticed the work crews that have been on the Champs Elysees, and even Alpe d'Huez and other important race sections, for example.

Unknown to new President Cookson, but thanks to a legacy fund established by Hein Verbruggen and Pat McQuaid, in turn funded initially by Festina and then by past champions like Lance who didn't truly deserve what was coming, and overseen by experts in impartiality like Emile Vrijman, the UCI backed a secret plan to finally do the necessary road work to remove any crown in the road bed and thus guarantee that the race is a level playing field.

Phil and Paul have been out there with spirit levels, secretly taping a special pay-for-episode that will run alongside coverage from the 2014 Tour.

Dave.
 
Bye Bye Bicycle said:
I can't remember any Volta winner who was not doped. :eek:

This race proudly sits in the triumvirate of The Worst Races In The World: Vuelta Asturias, Tour of Turkey and this race.
I wouldn't go as far as saying it's the worst race in the world but I certainly could have made a better sentence. I can't remember much clean riders there either :D Although as far as I know, 5 time winner David Blanco as never officially tested positive.

D-Queued said:
Fortunately, it is only the lesser talents, those that are in such smaller races, that dope anymore.
If you're being sarcastic, that's not what I meant. If that's your opinion, I disagree.

Fearless Greg Lemond said:
''He has been “a renowned time triallist since becoming a pro, yet excelled in the last few seasons as an all-rounder capable to get over the big mountains when in his best form''[/I]
I can think of a bunch of other riders that fit that exact description. What a great sentence :D
 
Mar 10, 2009
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He was popped for corticosteroids and declared it in advance of the test. Trouble is injectable and oral treatments are not permitted even with a TUE. I assume his doctor was not too clear on the rules for these drugs. Seems like a lesser offence but pro riders should be a lot smarter about treatments with controlled substances
 
Apr 27, 2012
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The news is the Movistar´s contract is gone, and the source of the news is actually Movistar. He was already inquired about this adverse analytic finding, and the fact that it was not made public makes me think that what he says is actually true and he will not be suspended...

He says he did two infiltrations that are accepted as a TUE for this drug, what is not accepted is intramoscular injection.

Perhaps this was just a ****ty way Movistar had to open a slot for a better, desperately cheap rider like Lulu, Antón or Samu...
 
trevim said:
...


If you're being sarcastic, that's not what I meant. If that's your opinion, I disagree.


..

I am not a troll, so that is not my opinion.

It was sarcastic, but I was not taking what you said literally. Just saw a glimpse of a gem of great humor and exploited it.

Remember, though, there has been no doping in the pro peloton since 2006. We have been assured of this many, many times.

Thus, if one buys that story then this must be an isolated incident by someone who is not eligible for the pro peloton and someone who obviously never received the memo.

I hope it doesn't break his heart to find out he is the only doper left. ;)

Dave.
 
Aug 21, 2011
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BigMac said:
Pathetic to say the least. Who is it going to be next year? There is so much to pick from.

Now if OFM knew about this, they must get sanctioned. And also, how on earth was this revealed by a Spanish newspaper instead of the right authorieties? Wasn't the control made DURING the Volta? This whole thing smells. The FPF and whoever is responsible for the controls have to give an explanation.

Couldn't agree more. Also if he did have an exemption why has this come out at all?
 
Apr 27, 2012
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mariposa said:
Couldn't agree more. Also if he did have an exemption why has this come out at all?

The story was leaked by "fuentes del Movistar".

Actually, Marque´s former team back his version of the facts, and says he always took the TUE with him for every control.
 
One things is for sure, he won't ride for Movistar.

Abarca Sports, en vista de las informaciones aparecidas en la prensa en el día de hoy, y realizadas las comprobaciones oportunas, comunica que D. Alejandro Marque, ciclista que debía integrarse en la plantilla de Movistar Team para la próxima temporada, no formará parte del equipo, por lo que el contrato suscrito entre las partes no entrará en vigor el 1 de enero de 2014.

-from Movistar's website.
 
Oct 16, 2010
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D-Queued said:
Fortunately, it is only the lesser talents, those that are in such smaller races, that dope anymore.

The bigger talents don't need doping, as they already have more than enough natural benefit, and there is no advantages of doping in the big races.
agree :D

Fearless Greg Lemond said:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/marque-to-movistar-in-2014

''He has been “a renowned time triallist since becoming a pro, yet excelled in the last few seasons as an all-rounder capable to get over the big mountains when in his best form''

Oops.
lol. sounds like a weaker version of wiggins.
 
Oct 16, 2010
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roundabout said:
Would have crushed the field by minutes without his bad knee
probably.

Mis allegados y la gente más cercana, eran conocedores de que la situación de mi rodilla era crítica, algo que oculté a los medios de comunicación para no despertar alarma ante mis rivales.
sounds like BS.
why would you want to hide an injury from your opponents? to keep them from attacking? sounds like a strawman.
 
Jul 22, 2011
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sniper said:
sounds like BS.
why would you want to hide an injury from your opponents? to keep them from attacking? sounds like a strawman.
Well, probably. But still, would you just go out and say "okay guys, so my knee's bad today, ease up on the throttle today so that i can win it on the TT, okay?"

The only time you want your opponents to think you're weak is when you aren't.
 
Master50 said:
He was popped for corticosteroids and declared it in advance of the test. Trouble is injectable and oral treatments are not permitted even with a TUE. I assume his doctor was not too clear on the rules for these drugs. Seems like a lesser offence but pro riders should be a lot smarter about treatments with controlled substances

In other words, he failed the IQ test and didn't get a free pass. Ouch.