Astana transfusion equipment "Criminal"

[quiensabe]

Wrong, Rex.

This quote is revealing.



It appears the transfusion set belonged to the winner - Contador.

No wonder AC kept his numbers secret and shot up the Verbier faster than anyone in history.

Has Contador yet responded to the allegation they have got his blood transfusion set? He's probably going to keep his head down.

Another black day for Spanish cycling.

I do speak French fluently and read it, too. According to the article, the information comes from "A source close to the investigation". I haven't time to translate all of it, but noted the following points: "...the kits belonging to the winner's team" "Possesion of these is a felony according to French law and they are forbidden by WADA" "Other finds have been made in the rubbish bags (or bins) and in hotel rooms where Lance Armstrong's former team stayed. Also found were syringes & needles of varying sizes." "At present, lab tests reveal only the presence of polypeptides... Other analyses will be done to check if these are from growth hormone." "Also siezed were anti-hypertension medicines in hotels where Astana stayed. These are not banned but can be used to treat hypertension associated with blood transfusion or EPO use." "The same source quotes '7 different DNA profiles' but these cannot be identified unless UCI makes blood profiles available to the justiciary." "...but relations between UCI & the French Anti-doping Agency are strained since the latter accused UCI of delaying dope tests in a way that was beneficial to Astana."
Just a personal thought: would a team & its director (so clever in the past) be so stupid as to leave incriminating equipment in hotel rooms?

 

[Publicus]

How many of the AStana riders at the TdF this year were at the TdF in 2008?

Susan

Why didn't CN use a picture from the Tour de France? The one associated with the article is from one of the spring stage races.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

It will indeed all depend on will, and how much the UCI bends. If history is any indication, they will issue press releases saying they'll cooperate, while doing as little as possible to see this to any end.

What should happen of course is that if the bags are deemed illegal, then the entire team should be treated accordingly to both legal, and WADA code. This would then assume either sanctions depending on the nation, or a ban of all the riders and staff from future races on French soil for a period of time. On the level of a sporting issue; sports fraud, once the bags are determined to be tied to Astana, even without a court conviction, those involved could be suspended from the sport for rule violations in the same manner numerous riders were prevented from racing the 2006 Tour when suspected of doping in Operation Puerto. Thus, this would include every rider and staff member on the team during that time: LA, AC, AK, HZ, YP, JB, etc. not being allowed to compete until the situation is resolved, IF it's determined the bags belong to Astana. Remember, I'm speaking in terms of the sport on this level, not the law.

Plus, the bags should be tested for DNA, and that DNA compared to riders to see who actually used the bags, and this evidence pursued as well both legally, and to WADA code, and riders and staff sanctioned by the UCI accordingly.

But all that takes political will that AFLD has only shown some of, and the UCI has shown very little of. The French courts? I don't know, it's hard to say. What will probably happen is that the issue will drag in the French courts while Astana, Radio Shack and everyone involved will deny, deny, deny and do their best to drag it all out. The UCI will facilitate in that they won't want to get involved with the French legal proceedings and wish to wait for everything to be resoled before making any judgments. AFLD may do similar.

 

[ChrisE]

Just a personal thought: would a team & its director (so clever in the past) be so stupid as to leave incriminating equipment in hotel rooms?

Bingo. That is what is strange about all of this. How can it be so blatant?

I've spent lunch reading 13 pages of this thread, and regardless of feelings towards LA this question must be asked. Not trying to start conspiracy for fanboys but WTF?

Kudos to polish way early in the thread with the funniest post; LA and Bruhneel distancing themselves from AC's doping. He owes me a keyboard for that.

 

[blackcat]

President Sar-Castic is tight with Strong-Arm, if only for political purposes.

The cover-up is simple to arrange, more simple, when the back-room realpolitik can get it done.

 

[blackcat]

Bingo. That is what is strange about all of this. How can it be so blatant?

I've spent lunch reading 13 pages of this thread, and regardless of feelings towards LA this question must be asked. Not trying to start conspiracy for fanboys but WTF?

Kudos to polish way early in the thread with the funniest post; LA and Bruhneel distancing themselves from AC's doping. He owes me a keyboard for that.

E, I found you a new avatard.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Haven't Pat and the French reconciled of late? Accordingly the UCI, they are back in the harness for 2010.
If they refuse to play ball, we could have the 2008 situation, repeating itself.

What of inter Police cooperation?
The Italian force have samples from Astana, 2008 Giro vintage, under lock and key, do they not?

From elsewhere.
LOL
http://twitter.com/ContadorFTW/status/6966314513

 

[Anonymous]

Haven't Pat and the French reconciled of late? Accordingly the UCI, they are back in the harness for 2010.
If they refuse to play ball, we could have the 2008 situation, repeating itself.

What of inter Police cooperation?
The Italian force have samples from Astana, 2008 Giro vintage, under lock and key, do they not?

From elsewhere.
LOL
http://twitter.com/ContadorFTW/status/6966314513

Oh that is funny. Hilarious actually. "Sir"

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

In case anyone still needs to read it in English. Here's the link to the story on CN's front page.

They key line still is:

"Linking the evidence to individual riders would rely upon the UCI sharing its blood profile data with the French authorities."

What do you guys think the odds are of this happening?

 

[JayZee]

Just a personal thought: would a team & its director (so clever in the past) be so stupid as to leave incriminating equipment in hotel rooms?

That is a good question. The other thought I had was what is taking so long with the analysis of the contents. I have a hard time believing that this wouldn't a top priority for some lab. The tour was five months ago. I realize DNA testing would probably take some legal authority, but they certainly should be able to know what was in the bags by now.

I tend to think that any time Le Monde needs to fill some space/sell more papers they drag out these articles. It is the holidays, people are less interested in the news, etc., lets through in a scandalous story about doping in cycling. Lets not kid ourselves, it is all about money. There is really very little new in this article except the part about the DNA from 7 separate individuals.

I do hope they can actually reach some conclusive results with this story. If Astana riders cheated then bust them. Unfortunately I think this will just be one more story that just fizzles out with no real conclusion. There is just too much money at stake for all the parties involved.

 

[Publicus]

Haven't Pat and the French reconciled of late? Accordingly the UCI, they are back in the harness for 2010.
If they refuse to play ball, we could have the 2008 situation, repeating itself.

What of inter Police cooperation?
The Italian force have samples from Astana, 2008 Giro vintage, under lock and key, do they not?

From elsewhere.
LOL
http://twitter.com/ContadorFTW/status/6966314513

That's hilarious.

 

[Anonymous]

In case anyone still needs to read it in English. Here's the link to the story on CN's front page.

They key line still is:

"Linking the evidence to individual riders would rely upon the UCI sharing its blood profile data with the French authorities."

What do you guys think the odds are of this happening?

It is going to be a public relations nightmare for the UCI, and I couldn't be happier about that. Will they turn it over? I think they are about 50/50 right now. Public opinion will need to be manipulated for them to get away with not doing so. I am guessing that there are some dramatic and stressful meetings happening today.

 

[Publicus]

It is going to be a public relations nightmare for the UCI, and I couldn't be happier about that. Will they turn it over? I think they are about 50/50 right now.

I would love it if one of the riders volunteered his DNA. One of them is in the clear and I wonder who that is (I seriously have no idea).

 

[poupou]

It is going to be a public relations nightmare for the UCI, and I couldn't be happier about that. Will they turn it over? I think they are about 50/50 right now. Public opinion will need to be manipulated for them to get away with not doing so. I am guessing that there are some dramatic and stressful meetings happening today.

Not easy for them because they could be found accomplice of doping ring, if they hide something. So 5years jail sentence and 50000euros fine for McQuaid at stake!

 

[python]

"Linking the evidence to individual riders would rely upon the UCI sharing its blood profile data with the French authorities."


this is not an entirely accurate statement as was pointed out in several posts. the uci can and was bypassed several times during some criminal investigation. ask ulle and valverde.

 

[Polish]

How do the Police already know that the DNA belongs to "Riders"? Hmmm.

Did the Police enter the vacated Hotel Room immediately to pick through the trash?
And the bags were left behind in the hotel room trash bins? Really?
Dirty towels all over the floor and the rooms a disastrous mess?

This scenario sure smells a lot like "a setup".

If Alberto gets busted - the bags were planted by Lance/Johan....
If Lance gets busted - the bags were planted by a disgruntled Hotel Cleaning Staff Employee or the Police themselves!

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

I tend to think that any time L'Equipe needs to fill some space/sell more papers they drag out these articles.

This story came from Le Monde and not L'Equipe.

Susan

 

[poupou]

That is a good question. The other thought I had was what is taking so long with the analysis of the contents. I have a hard time believing that this wouldn't a top priority for some lab. The tour was five months ago. I realize DNA testing would probably take some legal authority, but they certainly should be able to know what was in the bags by now.

I tend to think that any time L'Equipe needs to fill some space/sell more papers they drag out these articles. It is the holidays, people are less interested in the news, etc., lets through in a scandalous story about doping in cycling. Lets not kid ourselves, it is all about money. There is really very little new in this article except the part about the DNA from 7 separate individuals.

I do hope they can actually reach some conclusive results with this story. If Astana riders cheated then bust them. Unfortunately I think this will just be one more story that just fizzles out with no real conclusion. There is just too much money at stake for all the parties involved.

You missed the most important part:

that is not a sport investigation but a criminal.

 

[Hugh Januss]

I would love it if one of the riders volunteered his DNA. One of them is in the clear and I wonder who that is (I seriously have no idea).

Levi will step up! Seriously though I think there are only 3 possibilities as to why they have 7 out of 8.
Lance had his own seperate program.
Contador had his own seperate program.
Somebody's DNA just didn't get found.
All equally possible?

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I'm sure they'd love to have it go away. My guess is that they are going to issue a press release saying they are cooperating with the French courts and would like to see this resolved, blah, blah, blah. All while taking no action on their own to see it resolved. Only when pressured will they change. Whether that be legally, or even through shame. It's like the old axiom, "There will be no change until the pain of remaining the same is greater than the pain to change."

The other thought I had was what is taking so long with the analysis of the contents.

I don't think this took too long, or was done incorrectly at all. They found the bags in July. Within three months that evidence was properly treated and dealt with and the paperwork filed. If France is anything like the US, their judicial system focuses more attention on violent crime, followed by high crimes such as grand theft. So 3-4 months seems about right. I also think should be applauded for not letting this information leak at any time during that. They waited until the evidence was in, properly processed, and the paperwork filed, and apparently now released. To me, this is the way it should be. Compare this to Floyd Landis finding out about his A sample as positive the same time the press did.

I do agree though that there is so much money at stake here and the UCI knows it, that it's not likely that anything will become of it. This is less of a smoking gun than the LA's 6 positives for EPO on retest, or even AC's name in the Puerto paperwork, and nothing came of that.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

That is a good question. The other thought I had was what is taking so long with the analysis of the contents. I have a hard time believing that this wouldn't a top priority for some lab. The tour was five months ago. I realize DNA testing would probably take some legal authority, but they certainly should be able to know what was in the bags by now.

I tend to think that any time L'Equipe needs to fill some space/sell more papers they drag out these articles. It is the holidays, people are less interested in the news, etc., lets through in a scandalous story about doping in cycling. Lets not kid ourselves, it is all about money. There is really very little new in this article except the part about the DNA from 7 separate individuals.

I do hope they can actually reach some conclusive results with this story. If Astana riders cheated then bust them. Unfortunately I think this will just be one more story that just fizzles out with no real conclusion. There is just too much money at stake for all the parties involved.

Firstly - it is not L'Equipe, it is another French paper, Lemonde!

The fact that they are identifying 7 different DNA signatures show that the investigation is proceeding on with more information than when it first broke in October.

 

[Biciclette Bianchi]

You missed the most important part:

that is not a sport investigation but a criminal.

Wasn't Puerto as well? Despite all the initial enthusiasm and sensational claims, when all was said and done there, not much was accomplished. Call me a cynic, but I'll just wait and see on this one.

 

[Publicus]

Levi will step up! Seriously though I think there are only 3 possibilities as to why they have 7 out of 8.
Lance had his own seperate program.
Contador had his own seperate program.
Somebody's DNA just didn't get found.
All equally possible?

Or Fran disposed of AC's bag for him out of an abundance of caution.

 

[Beech Mtn]

With 7 DNA signatures, and 8 of the former Astana riders now with Radio Shack, odds are, this is a Radio Shack problem, not a Team Astana problem. Too bad the reporting tends to overuse the name Astana, and not mention Radio Shack so much, even though vast majority of the Tour riders plus also many managers/staff are now with Radio Shack.

I'm getting sick of the negative spin towards Astana while the Bruyneel crew gets a pass.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

Levi will step up! Seriously though I think there are only 3 possibilities as to why they have 7 out of 8.
Lance had his own seperate program.
Contador had his own seperate program.
Somebody's DNA just didn't get found.
All equally possible?

That is something I have been considering to.

Could it be that Lance and Alberto are on a seperate programme to the rest of the team? The 7 DNA profiles are of the other riders on the team who stuck with the JB programme.