If that is the case he would be stupid to have raced in Argentina and Mallorca cos if not the ban would have started at the end of last years tour. And I dont think he is that stupid, so I reckon it wont be like that.
That’s my thinking, too. Unless, of course, he was assured before he began racing a few weeks ago that he had been cleared. I really think is possible. But anyway, he must have sat down at some point and considered all the consequences of racing, and known something that assured him that racing now can’t backfire on him.
It seems like it is all or nothing.
Exactly.
That's right, and I agree with you it should be "all". But, I still say the smart money is on "nothing".
Yep. I would bet actual money at this point that he will be cleared, even though I myself would have voted to sanction.
we can categorically state that anyone that (without working directly on this case, or anyone that does not work with the law and knows something that we don't) states that ac's ban will start tomorrow is as stupid as it gets
I think what he meant was that Bert’s ban would continue tomorrow, that it would pick up where it was left off following the RFEC decision. If he is given a two year ban, the remaining eighteen plus months would begin tomorrow. Since tomorrow is almost exactly one year after the RFEC decision, a two year ban would end in August of 2013. Touch and go if he could ride the Vuelta.
But if the CAS decision had not been delayed, he could have received a two year ban and ridden the 2013 Tour. If the CAS hearing itself had not been delayed, he might have even been eligible for the 2013 Giro, in case it mattered to him. This is another reason why I think he will be cleared, the consequences of all these delays are pretty substantial, if he is banned. This is also another reason why I think Bert may know he has been cleared. Think about it. He must have calculated when the CAS decision would have to be announced to allow him to serve the remainder of a two year ban and still be able to ride the Tour in 2013 (around the middle of last December). Don’t you imagine he would get pretty upset watching all of 2013 go down the drain along with 2012 as things dragged on?
Finally, of course, he might be stripped of his 2011 results, in which case he would have served more of his ban than 5 months, and might be able to ride later this year. I think there are many reasons for not making a ban like this, though, including all the shifting of placings in his races last year that would be necessary.
So, Florecita, I think it’s very unlikely you will not see Bert race for two years, regardless of the CAS decision. And c&c will probably be cheering tomorrow, too. Though since he is the forum’s Dr. Pangloss, I don’t expect him to complain if Bert is suspended.