Aso

[taiwan]

Excuse me for asking this question in a thread first as opposed to trying to research it myself, but what was the part of ASO during the LA/JB operation?

The scenario presented by USADA is that PEDs and transfusions were used during the Tour, in order to win the Tour, in a complex operation involving couriers etc., favour from the UCI prevented positive tests occurring at the Tour. Everything is centered around the ASO race, but the organisation has not been mentioned on here recently. At the least:

-ASO would have been affected financially by these events

-It is not without political influence or a tool of the UCI to be abused

-The logistics of the doping scheme were taking place among those of the ASO's race

So, where is the organisation on the scale of oblivious third party to co-conspirator? Again apologies if I should already know this stuff.

 

[poupou]

ASO would never be part of a doping ring especially after Festina laws : to be involved in doping is jail sentence with a big fine. And of course that would be to risky for ASO to be unveiled as doper.

 

[taiwan]

I'm willing to admit my understanding of the race organiser's role is poor. Maybe someone can humour me and explain where the ASO's control of the Tour starts and ends? As discussed in the other thread, even the common fan is not exempt from responsibility for the state of the sport. I'm wondering here to what extent this important organiation was aware of USPS' venture, and how.

edit - although I get the feeling I may be onto a loser with this thread on the level of cyclechic's "pozzovivo - pots of epo" or my own "bert was pushed"...

 

[Race Radio]

The ASO ignored the issue for years. When Patrice Clerc came in things changed for the better....until the comeback. Wonderboy told the Amaury family they had to wack Clerc or he would not ride the Tour. Clerc was gone within a month

 

[MarkvW]

Excuse me for asking this question in a thread first as opposed to trying to research it myself, but what was the part of ASO during the LA/JB operation?

The scenario presented by USADA is that PEDs and transfusions were used during the Tour, in order to win the Tour, in a complex operation involving couriers etc., favour from the UCI prevented positive tests occurring at the Tour. Everything is centered around the ASO race, but the organisation has not been mentioned on here recently. At the least:

-ASO would have been affected financially by these events

-It is not without political influence - a tool of the UCI to be abused

-The logistics of the doping scheme were taking place among those of the ASO's race

So, where is the organisation on the scale of oblivious third party to co-conspirator? Again apologies if I should already know this stuff.

ASO isn't a tool of the UCI. The two orgs struggle over power every few years.

 

[Maxiton]

The ASO ignored the issue for years. When Patrice Clerc came in things changed for the better....until the comeback. Wonderboy told the Amaury family they had to wack Clerc or he would not ride the Tour. Clerc was gone within a month

Sums it up nicely. And this points to the role of money and greed in commercial sport. The Amaurys knew full well who and what they were dealing with, and why he'd make such a request; and they couldn't bend to his will fast enough. Oh, they care about their sport and their race and its history, presumably; until you wave an extra euro in their faces, that is.

It really all comes down to money, and as long as it does you're going to have a doping problem to deal with in sport. Maybe criminalization and stiff penalties will help - but that didn't have a role to play with the Amaurys and their desire to have LA back.

 

[DirtyWorks]

A very good breakdown of ASO here: http://cyclismas.com/2011/09/philippe-amaury/

Read the next couple in the series too. http://cyclismas.com/?s=amaury+sports&x=0&y=0 There are two pages of results, you want to start on the second page.

I would argue ASO does not need the UCI so not really a power struggle there.

The ASO has the UCI right where they want them. The UCI provides a feeder system of talent and limited operations help. Meanwhile, ASO owns most of the premier races, owns/rents the production equipment used by many races. All the way around the top-tier of the sport ASO makes money. ASO even makes money with Pat and Hein's WCP.

 

[Maxiton]

A very good breakdown of ASO here: http://cyclismas.com/2011/09/philippe-amaury/

Read the next couple in the series too. http://cyclismas.com/?s=amaury+sports&x=0&y=0 There are two pages of results, you want to start on the second page.

I would argue ASO does not need the UCI so not really a power struggle there.

The ASO has the UCI right where they want them. The UCI provides a feeder system of talent and limited operations help. Meanwhile, ASO owns most of the premier races, owns/rents the production equipment used by many races. All the way around the top-tier of the sport ASO makes money. ASO even makes money with Pat and Hein's WCP.

What's WCP? Not World Cycling Productions, presumably?

 

[DirtyWorks]

What's WCP? Not World Cycling Productions, presumably?

Yes. WCP, again, calls into question the legitimacy of the UCI.

The short story is several of the UCI's senior and executive management used UCI funds to start an event production company with the first(??) race being the Tour of China. Tour of China, of course, gets preferential treatment from the UCI several different ways. So, now a bunch of senior UCI people are essentially paid at least twice (UCI and WCP) for working in bike racing. I believe ASO produces the media feed. I could be wrong about that.

This is all pretty normal for some IOC recognized sports federations.

 

[Maxiton]

Yes. WCP background is very interesting all on its own and again, calls into question the legitimacy of the UCI.

The short story is several of the UCI's senior and executive management used UCI funds to start an event production company with the first(??) race being the Tour of China. Tour of China, of course, gets preferential treatment from the UCI several different ways. I believe ASO produces the media feed. I could be wrong about that.

This is all pretty normal for some IOC recognized sports federations.

I'd heard about that, but didn't know that's what they call their company. The World Cycling Productions I know is the producer of race DVDs and reseller of cycling related things, found here. That one, I think, is owned by one man not related to Pat and Hein.

 

[Race Radio]

Yes. WCP, again, calls into question the legitimacy of the UCI.

The short story is several of the UCI's senior and executive management used UCI funds to start an event production company with the first(??) race being the Tour of China. Tour of China, of course, gets preferential treatment from the UCI several different ways. So, now a bunch of senior UCI people are essentially paid at least twice (UCI and WCP) for working in bike racing. I believe ASO produces the media feed. I could be wrong about that.

This is all pretty normal for some IOC recognized sports federations.

The funds they used were from the money the teams gave to fund the Biopassport. Testing dropped 30% because of it.

ASO was invited to be a partner in the project but declined

 

[taiwan]

ASO isn't a tool of the UCI. The two orgs struggle over power every few years.

That's what I meant. I edited for clarity.

A very good breakdown of ASO here: http://cyclismas.com/2011/09/philippe-amaury/

Those are fascinating, TY. Incidentally it's mentioned in one article that the UCI offshoot is called Global Cycling Productions.