Cops Called on USADA Suprise Test at USAC Event

[DirtyWorks]

The story is not complete as I don't know all of the background, but thanks to the UCI Overlord for posting links to the images.

In Tallahassee, Florida, race organizer named David Berger calls the police to prevent USADA from performing surprise testing:

Top part of the incident report:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-.../AAAAAAAAFxk/kIrh2OC4dyI/s576/tallyusada1.jpg

Bottom part of the incident report:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-.../AAAAAAAAFxo/HxKbOyyBGSE/s512/tallyusada2.jpg

I'm SHOCKED(!) a USA Cycling race organizer goes to great lengths to prevent USADA from testing weekend warriors.

One positive aspect of the report, a racer walks up and requests to be tested which ends up teaching the officer by showing him the USAC license where it clearly states the license holder agrees to be tested.

 

[Benotti69]

The story is not complete as I don't know all of the background, but thanks to the UCI Overlord for posting links to the images.


I'm SHOCKED(!) a USA Cycling race organizer goes to great lengths to prevent USADA from testing weekend warriors.

One positive aspect of the report, a racer walks up and requests to be tested which ends up teaching the officer by showing him the USAC license where it clearly states the license holder agrees to be tested.

Saw RaceRadio tweet about this. I am hoping somebody does a complete story on it and the mud ends of USACs face big time.

Have we got a name for the guy who did a marvellous thing by requesting the testing?

 

[DirtyWorks]

Calling David Berger!

It looks like David Berger belongs to a regional race organizer that does lots of events with USA Cycling. http://www.goneriding.com/

According to this,
http://www.corporationwiki.com/Florida/Ocala/gone-riding-corp-2451511.aspx
goneriding corp. is all David Berger with no mention at all of the other principals in the police report. It looks to me like Mr. Berger was making stuff up to stop the testing by contacting his "superiors" Andy Morrison, and Theresa Reynolds. Imagine that....

The other part of the report that made me a little sad the officer writes in the report, ".. My concern at this point was an offshoot fanatic agency was trying to overstep their boundaries." I'm willing to give the officer plenty of room for a mistake because he's making it up as he goes along not knowing anything about competitive cycling besides Wonderboy's propaganda.

 

[DirtyWorks]

Have we got a name for the guy who did a marvellous thing by requesting the testing?

Fillippo Barbieri is the name in the report. He was the key to informing the officer about USAC/USADA and showing him on his license how it all fits together/works/etc.

He's the man of the hour and deserves a round of applause for legitimizing USADA. This *might* be the same person, but there are no 2012 results: http://www.usacycling.org/results/index.php?compid=136914&all=1

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

It looks to me like someone needs to take David Berger (plus Andy Morrison, and Theresa Reynolds) to the woodshed. Not for the reasons you initially think. Not initially for stopping the testing and calling the police. They need to be taken to task for not being prepared. Berger's sole action was to demand to photograph a tester's ID, then call the police. Had he known the requirements of his job he would have been better prepared for what questions to ask the USADA testers, what paperwork and documentation to expect from testers, what phone numbers to call in case of a dispute, what e-mail addresses as well, in addition to calling his supervisors. Instead, when he couldn't take a photo of the ID (which is probably against USADA protocol to prevent future attempts at forgery), he threw a tantrum, grabbed his ball and tried to go home.

I understand wanting to protect the privacy of riders, but I cannot excuse an experienced race organizer's inability to know how their job is supposed to work, let alone perform it properly.

 

[LauraLyn]

. . . . In Tallahassee, Florida, race organizer named David Berger calls the police to prevent USADA from performing surprise testing. . . .

I am also shocked. It shows how deep the Lance PR has reached into USA Cycling.

Does this not put David Berger in the position of having violated doping regulations and expose himself to USADA sanctions?

 

[Benotti69]

Fillippo Barbieri is the name in the report. He was the key to informing the officer about USAC/USADA and showing him on his license how it all fits together/works/etc.

He's the man of the hour and deserves a round of applause for legitimizing USADA. This *might* be the same person, but there are no 2012 results: http://www.usacycling.org/results/index.php?compid=136914&all=1

He deserves a pat on the back to say the least.

I hope this embarrases USAC big time.

 

[DirtyWorks]

It looks to me like someone needs to take David Berger (plus Andy Morrison, and Theresa Reynolds) to the woodshed for not being prepared.

But, this is where I think it was a bit of a scam on Berger's part to claim he had superiors. He's the sole proprietor of the corporation running the event.

I understand wanting to protect the privacy of riders, but I cannot excuse an experienced race organizer's inability to know how their job is supposed to work, let alone perform it properly.

And the guy has events all over the Southeast! Which, is why I'm lead to believe he had less than honorable intentions by calling the police.

 

[DirtyWorks]

Does this not put David Berger in the position of having violated doping regulations and expose himself to USADA sanctions?

That's a very interesting question. I've never read any of the rules in that area.

 

[DirtyWorks]

I am also shocked. It shows how deep the Lance PR has reached into USA Cycling.

I'm not. There's a wildly successful news media property that uses the same propaganda to drive their ratings and political agenda.

 

[summerhill]

http://www.filippobarbieri.com

 

[LauraLyn]

I'm not. There's a wildly successful news media property that uses the same propaganda to drive their ratings and political agenda.

Not wanting to, but having to, I agree. I should have edited out my first sentence but editing out the emotion would be more difficult. Still you are right.

The media made Lance. And the media simply will not have it that someone else brings him down: "nothing short of murder."

 

[LauraLyn]

Is this the race the cops needed to appear at:

http://www.goneriding.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=613&Itemid=316

If so, it seems Filippo Barbieri took 4th:

http://www.goneriding.com/images/pdfs/FSC/results/12fsc1y.pdf

Here is the race flyer:

http://www.usacycling.org/events/getflyer.php?permit=2012-3376

[I cannot confirm this is the race the police report refers to above. Just seems the only real choice. Hopefully someone can correct or confirm. Thanks.]

About the organizers:

"Gone Riding, Inc.was founded in 1993 by David and Terri Berger. Our goal was to bring a high standard of organization and promotion to the sport of cycling in Florida, [sic] we have since expanded that goal to include all of the South Eastern States. . . . "

See more: http://www.goneriding.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=80&Itemid=261

Enjoy!

 

[therhodeo]

Isn't Florida the place to be for old man masters dopers??

 

[mwbyrd]

I bet it has more to do with money. I bet USADA showed up and he didn't want to pay for the testing.

 

[DirtyWorks]

Isn't Florida the place to be for old man masters dopers??

They had a bunch of Masters Track Nationals titles (2011?????) vacated because their tests returned positive. More than most? Impossible to say. IMHO, I don't think they have a special concentration...

 

[LauraLyn]

Some gonecycling.com tidbits:

http://www.usacycling.org/forms/newsletter/newsletter1115.pdf page 5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXM4c9TXUSA

http://laf.livestrong.org/site/TR/Endurance/Endurance?px=1012098&pg=personal&fr_id=1170

 

[LauraLyn]

Has gonecycling.com violated USADA and/or WADA rules?

http://www.usada.org/sample-collection-rights-and-responsibilities/

"When selected for testing, Athlete's responsibilities include:
Complying with the sample collection procedure**"

"**NOTE: As defined by the Code: ‘Refusing, or failing without compelling justification, to submit to Sample collection after notification as authorized in applicable anti-doping rules or otherwise evading Sample collection is an anti-doping rule violation."

http://www.wada-ama.org/en/Resources/Q-and-A/Stakeholder-Obligations-on-Compliance/

"Is Code compliance mandatory?"

'Yes. In order to ensure efficiency of the harmonized fight against doping in sport and fairness for the athletes, compliance with the Code is mandatory for signatories of the Code, as stated in Article 23.2.1 of the Code: “The signatories shall implement applicable Code provisions through policies, statutes, rules or regulations according to their authority and within their relevant spheres of responsibility.”'

 

[131313]

I bet it has more to do with money. I bet USADA showed up and he didn't want to pay for the testing.

I'll bet you enjoy making up totally illogical things to try to make USADA look bad.

 

[krebs303]

Sounds familiar_
" We asked the tester for evidence of his authority. We looked at his papers but they were far from clear or impressive and we still had significant questions about who he was or for whom he worked. I was there with Johan Bruyneel and two other people. We told the tester we wanted to check with the UCI to confirm who he was and to make sure he wasn’t just some French guy with a backpack and some equipment to take my blood and urine. Johan stayed with him and in his presence called the UCI to find out what was going on. We asked if it was OK for me to run inside and shower while they made their calls and the tester said that was fine.”

 

[Oldman]

Isn't Florida the place to be for old man masters dopers??

An official from our neighborhood (souring on USAC by the minute) made this comment regarding the common USAC knowledge about drug problems: "there are four areas where we have a big problem in Master's racing-Florida, Socal, Norcal and NORCAL." Sounds like Florida has facilitators.
By the way: look at the recent Master's Natz Champ Criterium podiums. There are some familiar names there.

 

[MacRoadie]

I'll bet you enjoy making up totally illogical things to try to make USADA look bad.

Especially when USADA pays for all unannounced testing:

http://www.usacycling.org/forms/mtb/UCI_USADA_dopingcontrolMTB.pdf

4) USADA shows up unannounced

USADA pays for everything

 

[mtb Dad]

I think it's also concerning that the practice seems to be to announce testers are there and ask riders to find them.

Sounds like the 90's tour de france when they helpfully announce the riders selected for doping control, oops, sorry "'edical control', over the race radio an hour before the finish. (ust so they're ready, you know).

And how Jeanson got off her first no-show, and the notice Postal got for saline/catheterization/protease pick-up. No notice has to be no notice. USADA and USAC has to figure out how to test people without giving such notice. C'mon. Go watch a few races and figure out where the riders go after the race and if necessary take a bike and follow them. It's not that hard.

 

[zigmeister]

Has gonecycling.com violated USADA and/or WADA rules?

http://www.usada.org/sample-collection-rights-and-responsibilities/




http://www.wada-ama.org/en/Resources/Q-and-A/Stakeholder-Obligations-on-Compliance/

Do you see a problem with USADA, this situation, and how they don't even follow their own protocol?

3 clowns with lanyards show up, unannounced at an event, and start claiming "we are here to do testing."

Sorry, it doesn't work that way. There are proper protocols and procedures that need to be followed, and rights of the promoter and competitors.

Next...see the link.

http://www.floridacleanridefund.com/


Florida, and this is primarily driven by the race organizers, teams and riders, are the only state trying to create a fund to have properly performed random USADA testing done at events in Florida.

Note the key words, properly performed. The questions and issues this incident raised have all been discussed regarding the process, methodologies and requirements of organizations and what it will take to make it happen without causing mayhem during the event.

USADA and USA Cycling really need to learn a lesson in basic partnership, communication, methodology and procedures when dealing with promoters and the members potentially involved and affected by this type of situation.

This should be filed under the "How not to go about performing doping controls at an amateur event" category.

If someone has some evidence/contracts to show that a promoter is required to allow unannounced USADA control people at your permitted events and must do whatever it required to comply with their needs...I would like to see that link or document.

 

[MacRoadie]

Do you see a problem with USADA, this situation, and how they don't even follow their own protocol?

3 clowns with lanyards show up, unannounced at an event, and start claiming "we are here to do testing."

Sorry, it doesn't work that way. There are proper protocols and procedures that need to be followed, and rights of the promoter and competitors.

So, they failed to announce their unannounced testing?

Although I'll defer to your expertise re: clowns, I assure you that the protocol was followed in this case.

Sorry, but they haven't incorporated the "20 minute shower break" into the protocol yet.

PS, that floridacleanride.org fund is being developed to assist in paying for PROMOTER REQUESTED TESTING. UCI and USADA unannounced testing is paid for by USADA. The promoter has nothing to do with it, but get out of the way. (Unless he's a clown).