Moving on..... (lets try to remove all bias regarding Cadel Evans out and focus on the topic of the bio passport)....
@sniper and damiano M. Both of you guys make (some) worthy arguments and some of what you have written I agree with 100%. In particular, you have written that we should remain cautious or skeptical about the effectiveness of the bio passport. You are certainly not alone in this opinion and the creators of the bio passport itself have expressed their doubts regarding its effectiveness.
velonews said:
“]http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/4723/Bio-passport-experts-worried-some-riders-are-side-stepping-controls.aspx#ixzz1Um5Iz5Jg[/url]
Above Merckx index posted links to the research by Ashenden which illustrates that it can still be beaten using microdosing. Its not really an elephant though as Merckx index suggests because it is being discussed in the public domain by the authors themselves.
However, you guys need to understand that the bio passport is an ongoing process and uses an adaptive model to gradually improve its effectiveness over time. More recently Schumacher has published data that shows transfusions
can be detected using the bio passport model....
Detection of autologous blood doping with adaptively evaluated biomarkers of doping: a longitudinal blinded study.
Pottgiesser T, Sottas PE, Echteler T, Robinson N, Umhau M, Schumacher YO.
This investigation provides evidence that the adaptive model allows detection of autologous blood transfusions with a good sensitivity. An intelligent testing approach and the adherence to World Anti-Doping Agency's ABP operating guidelines are nevertheless determinant in the success.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21382045
.....and Ashenden, Parisotto and Schumacher have gone on record stating that they believe progress is being made.....
According to Ashenden, he has seen some profiles which are suggestive that manipulation is taking place, but that the levels involved are not pronounced enough for sanctions to be applied.
Fortunately, Yorck Olaf Schumacher believes that the controls are at least reducing the advantage that unscrupulous riders can gain.
“You will never catch all the cheats for sure but the door is narrowing,” he said. “It’s becoming more and more difficult to squeeze through.”
Robin Parisotto, who is also part of the bio-passport committee, thinks that progress is being made, but that it is important to keep the pressure on, and continue to perfect anti-doping methods.
Read more:
http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/4...are-side-stepping-controls.aspx#ixzz1Um39kYlv
http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/4...d-some-riders-are-side-stepping-controls.aspx
Now lets look at the raw undisputable facts. In 2011.... this year.... Franco Pellizotti and Pietro Caucchioli were found guilty.....
My logic is as follows. I have no access to the direct raw data so I'll dispense with pure speculation and heresay but put my faith in the experts that are in the best position to be making informed comments. It is as simple as that. If those guys reckon progress is being made and it is getting harder to obtain a performance advantage from blood doping then its good enough for me. It obviously isn't for you but the difference between me and you is that I know them personally and I can testify to their honesty and integrity.
IMO based on the above facts and the testimony of the experts, one cannot say that the bio passport is completely useless. It has reduced the incidence of abnormal blood profiles and it has caught 2 riders so far. The point of anti-doping testing is not to catch ALL the cheats, it is to provide a deterrent to doping in the first place.