RFEC Frees Clentador

[HoustonHammer]

Latest new on the Clentador saga:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/spanish-federation-says-contador-is-eligible-to-ride

Lots more to come on this I'm sure, but RFEC is saying that Clentador is free to ride because UCI has never informed them that they should suspend his license.

In a really intriguing twist, some anonymous source is saying that UCI and WADA are working together to build a bullet-proof case before lodging it officially.

 

[HoustonHammer]

Here's the story in Publico.

 

[schweinika]

I still hope that he'll be suspended in the end

 

[roundabout]

I'm not surprised that Contador got an invite to ride in Oviedo, Fuentes clients must stick together in these difficult times.

I also like how RFEC quickly gave an answer.

 

[auscyclefan94]

If Contador gets out of being suspended I am going to find it very hard to watch this sport again. No joke. The UCI simply makes me feel sick that they have double standards for particular riders. They don't care about cleaning up the sport. They just want the good image for them that looks like they are getting rid of big riders even though they only get rid of minor riders mostly.

 

[python]

looks like the op is investing too much into a non-news or projecting his fears of another rider from a home state getting shackled.

 

[hrotha]

They get rid of disgraced riders regardless of their status. They'd have loved to set Contador free and avoid the whole scandal and they were actively working towards that goal (keeping the whole thing secret until it leaked, then the way they worded their initial statement to pave the road for an acquittal, etc), but now that the scandal is in full swing and that WADA is on their asses they might have come to the conclusion that it's not worth it, and that's what this piece of news seems to suggest. If so, Contador is toast. His only hope is that UCI feels banning Contador would be a defeat in whatever petty war they have against WADA and the rest of the world, but I wouldn't bet on that.

 

[python]

They get rid of disgraced riders regardless of their status. They'd have loved to set Contador free and avoid the whole scandal and they were actively working towards that goal (keeping the whole thing secret until it leaked, then the way they worded their initial statement to pave the road for an acquittal, etc), but now that the scandal is in full swing and that WADA is on their asses they might have come to the conclusion that it's not worth it, and that's what this piece of news seems to suggest. If so, Contador is toast. His only hope is that UCI feels banning Contador would be a defeat in whatever petty war they have against WADA and the rest of the world, but I wouldn't bet on that.

lets take a closer look at the 'news'...

"On Monday, we will ask the UCI to clarify, to tell us how we should act and whether he is suspended. "

very clear, it has nothing to do with what the op is trying to insinuate - b/c contador is officially, in writing, suspended by both the uci and his team - but about bringing pressure on the uci and wada.

contador knows that should he violate his suspension, in case he receives 2 year ban, it will start from the date of his suspension violation, iow, he'd lose 2-3 month of racing. which would be total stupidity.

this is spanish maneuvering to get the case into their hands.

 

[Straßenrennen]

It just says to me that the uci cant afford another flandis type court saga. Given the off season is here they actually have a bit of time to create a decent watertight case before febuary as any suspension would be backdated.

 

[hrotha]

lets take a closer look at the 'news'...
very clear, it has nothing to do with what the op is trying to insinuate - b/c contador is officially, in writing, suspended by both the uci and his team - but about bringing pressure on the uci and wada.

contador knows that should he violate his suspension, in case he receives 2 year ban, it will start from the date of his suspension violation, iow, he'd lose 2-3 month of racing. which would be total stupidity.

this is spanish maneuvering to get the case into their hands.

Yes, that's what the RFEC is doing. However I was talking about this bit:

In addition, the website reports that “an anonymous source” within Spanish cycling told it that the “WADA and the UCI are building up a case that they can't lose if they are counter-sued. They are working on something legally unassailable.”

 

[python]

Yes, that's what the RFEC is doing. However I was talking about this bit:

ok, here's how i'd analyze it.

- in case the rumour is true, and given the wada 's involvement= cover up not possible, they both are working on either increasing the charge to blood doping in addition to clen, or dropping clen charge altogether. the latter is very much less probable than the former.

- in case they rumour is not true, it's just another element of bringing pressure onto the uci/wada by spreading rumours in the hope of them releasing an unripe case.

it's a politically coordinated thing, take a look: 2 sporting heads from spain somehow speak in unison.

 

[TERMINATOR]

Latest new on the Clentador saga:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/spanish-federation-says-contador-is-eligible-to-ride

Lots more to come on this I'm sure, but RFEC is saying that Clentador is free to ride because UCI has never informed them that they should suspend his license.

In a really intriguing twist, some anonymous source is saying that UCI and WADA are working together to build a bullet-proof case before lodging it officially.

RFEC has no authority to suspend a rider unless they agree to be suspended. That's why it's called a "provisional suspension." All it means is if Clentador rides, and is then suspended, his sanction will start from the last time he raced.

Any cyclist is free to ride while contesting a positive doping test. Not sure why you (or cyclingnews) thinks this is either news or a unique circumstance.

 

[thehog]

If Contador gets out of being suspended I am going to find it very hard to watch this sport again. No joke. The UCI simply makes me feel sick that they have double standards for particular riders. They don't care about cleaning up the sport. They just want the good image for them that looks like they are getting rid of big riders even though they only get rid of minor riders mostly.

Don't worry you'll have Big Lance in SA to watch. He's clean. Unlike the dirty Euros.

 

[mycenos]

Any cyclist is free to ride while contesting a positive doping test. Not sure why you (or cyclingnews) thinks this is either news or a unique circumstance.

Nope. Article 248 of the UCI anti-doping rules:

A License-Holder under Provisional Suspension or a provisional measure is banned from participating in any Race.

 

[khardung la]

RFEC has no authority to suspend a rider unless they agree to be suspended. That's why it's called a "provisional suspension." All it means is if Clentador rides, and is then suspended, his sanction will start from the last time he raced.

Any cyclist is free to ride while contesting a positive doping test. Not sure why you (or cyclingnews) thinks this is either news or a unique circumstance.

+1 RFEC is just saying that they could not stop Contador from competing, because they were asking them that. UCI must inform them straight, not through the media. If Contador competes the potential ban would start counting from the day of the competition.

 

[TERMINATOR]

Nope. Article 248 of the UCI anti-doping rules:

You are incorrect because Article 248 says provisional suspensions only apply to adverse analytical findings that do not come under the UCI's purview (see Article 235).

Also, you have to ask yourself if what you say is true, then how come Valverde wasn't banned under the same rule you cite from participating in any UCI race despite CONI already having convicted him after a doping hearing, which is far more along than where Clentador's case currently is.

So how come the provisional suspension didn't apply to Valverde until after his CAS appeal was exhausted?

Riddle me that answer, Joker.

 

[HoustonHammer]

You are incorrect because Article 248 says provisional suspensions only apply to adverse analytical findings that do not come under the UCI's purview (see Article 235).

Also, you have to ask yourself if what you say is true, then how come Valverde wasn't banned under the same rule you cite from participating in any UCI race despite CONI already having convicted him after a doping hearing, which is far more along than where Clentador's case currently is.

So how come the provisional suspension didn't apply to Valverde until after his CAS appeal was exhausted?

Riddle me that answer, Joker.

I think you may have misread Articles 235 - 248. These look like the rules under which Clentador was provisionally suspended, and he can't compete while case is pending, unless he requests to have the provisional suspension lifted.

The Valverde case was pretty atypical. I don't remember all of the details, but I think the disciplinary activity was initiated by CONI, and involved a ban from racing in Italy only. When his case went to CAS, UCI and WADA joined in an sought to have the ban extended to all international events, which CAS upheld.

What makes this latest story interesting is that it's the first reporting I'm aware of that indicates a rift between RFEC and UCI in the current case. And it's potentially evidence, however weak, that UCI might actually be shifting from a strategy of cover-up to one of prosecution.

 

[Berzin]

A few questions-

1) Who is it that has the overall authority to suspend Contador?

Is it WADA, the UCI, or the Spanish Cycling Federation?

2) Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but the plasticizers issue cannot be legally utilized by WADA to prove a case of blood doping because the test isn't WADA-approved, no?

3) Given this, the issue of the plasticizers is mentioned in the suspension verdict, can the ruling be challenged in court?

 

[JRTinMA]

Valverde was never suspended by the Spanish federation and this is why he could race in all non-italian races. CONI took action against Valverde. Finally later the ban was extended. If its true that the Spanish Federation has never been informed then Contador is free to race. WADA and UCI do not suspend a rider. The only reason he will not ride the crit is because the date of that crit will mark the start of his suspension when that pint sized dope fiend is finally sent packing. Today his suspension will be backdated to the end of the tour cause we all know he won't quit as promised and rid his doping carcass from the sport, he'll be back.

 

[hfer07]

I'm not going to bring once more the "mistranslation" problem-but again- there are some serious misinterpretations from the "publico" article:

RFEC is not "freeing" Contador to ride at all-the statement from Juan Carlos Castano is simply an "ironic" response to the "lack of resolution on behalf of the UCI to make a final announcement"--according to the article-Pat McQuaid promised the federation to have a final decision made within 10 days after the news of the positive broke in public-and yet it's been already 20 and counting.-so therefore he's "ironically" saying the RFEC technically can't stop Contador from racing, since they haven't received any official statement from the UCI to impede it. Contador himself is aware of the consequences of riding under provisional suspension, even if RFEC supports him-so basically this is just play of words from the Spaniards to get a prompt solution & move on....

 

[hiero2]

If Contador gets out of being suspended I am going to find it very hard to watch this sport again. No joke. The UCI simply makes me feel sick that they have double standards for particular riders. They don't care about cleaning up the sport. They just want the good image for them that looks like they are getting rid of big riders even though they only get rid of minor riders mostly.

Well, acf94, aren't you condemning the man without a trial? And I don't think you are the only one. Out of all the doping cases that have come up in the last few years (that I can think of), this one has the weakest evidence and the highest possibility of actually being what AC says. In spite of the tag line used elsewhere around here, clenbuterol poisoning cases are in the news. Spain seems to have more of a problem with that than other EU countries. Now they've busted some clen ring (mostly doping horses and CATTLE) - recent history, current events.


Although, we could go all paranoid, and think that maybe, just maybe, some Spanish politician had known about this clen ring, and they "pulled it out of their pocket" just to help the AC case, ya?

But, the plastics test seems to be very beta in development - so it seems to me we're getting a strong dose of FUD with our morning coffee, here.


Maybe I'm a softie, but I'd like to see UCI/WADA etc finish their work before I start dissing them.

Of course, don't let any of this stop any of you guys - I think it's fun reading some of this outrageous stuff! I mean, BoB is better, but you gotta take a break from the finer things in life sometime, right?

 

[JRTinMA]

A few questions-

1) Who is it that has the overall authority to suspend Contador?

Is it WADA, the UCI, or the Spanish Cycling Federation?

2) Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but the plasticizers issue cannot be legally utilized by WADA to prove a case of blood doping because the test isn't WADA-approved, no?

3) Given this, the issue of the plasticizers is mentioned in the suspension verdict, can the ruling be challenged in court?

WADA has stated it can be used as evidence of doping in a case with other facts like a positive Clen test. It can not be used as a stand along metric to declare an athlete has doped.

 

[indurain666]

If Contador gets out of being suspended I am going to find it very hard to watch this sport again. No joke. The UCI simply makes me feel sick that they have double standards for particular riders. They don't care about cleaning up the sport. They just want the good image for them that looks like they are getting rid of big riders even though they only get rid of minor riders mostly.

Even if Evans promises to ride the Tour wearing a leopard thong and nothing else??

 

[Benotti69]

Don't worry you'll have Big Lance in SA to watch. He's clean. Unlike the dirty Euros.

oh they didn't invite him because he's clean, they invited him for the whole Australian history of it being an island of convicts, so who would you pick to promote racing in such a place? the next guy whose going to be one

you wait and see he'll be bigger than Ned Kelly.....maybe giro can do a one off helmet like Ned Kelly for the Uniballer

 

[scribe]

Even if Evans promises to ride the Tour wearing a leopard thong and nothing else??

Why are you so racist against leopard's?