"UCI Corruption // Contador cover-up attempt" (Karsten Kroon interview)

[WillemS]

Dear Clinic,

Don't remember to have seen this here, but Karten Kroon (Saxo) has given some very peculiar statements about the Contador case, hinting at the UCI trying to cover up his positive test. This might support the "protected riders" hypothesis.

Kroon states:

"Luister, een maand na zijn positieve controle in de Tour van 2010 werd Alberto persoonlijk gebeld door UCI-voorzitter Pat McQuaid. Die vertelde hem dat ze dat stil wilden houden. Maar ja, toen het via de Duitse televisie gelekt werd binnen de UCI, kwam het dus wel naar buiten. Dat tot daaraan toe, maar vervolgens wordt Alberto in Spanje vrijgesproken. En wat doet de UCI, die in eerste instantie het hele voorval stil wilde houden? Die gaat nota bene in hoger beroep. En hij wordt alsnog geschorst."

Translation:

"Listen, a month after his positive test in the tour of '10, UCI-chairman Pat McQuid personally called Alberto. He told him that they wanted to keep the positive silent. But, after some internal source leaked to German Television, it did get out in the open. After that, Alberto was cleared in Spain. So what does the UCI, who first wanted to cover up the whole case? They appeal. And then he does get his suspension"

Source: Kroon gives heavy criticism to the UCI (Google Translate, original Dutch article: http://nos.nl/artikel/356095-kroon-uit-zware-kritiek-op-uci.html)

CyclingNews article: Kroon angry at UCI.

More and more signs emerge of a corrupt UCI, selectively protecting some riders, while other rides get banned for the same substances (like that unknown rider that got banned for Clenbuterol). I don't think I have any confidence in the UCI anymore regarding doping issues and at least an independent investigation is warranted.

 

[Master50]

Its in english now at cycling news.com.
I liked Kroon's comment they gave me a missed test warning because I am a cyclist. The implication is that athletes in other sports were not for the same missing whereabouts notice.

 

[LaFlorecita]

That's interesting what he says there. I'd like to see how Pat will react to this.

 

[Caruut]

That's interesting what he says there. I'd like to see how Pat will react to this.

Using the same contempt for the sport of cycling with which he reacts to everything. He's a businessman, in it for the money only. While someone is bringing in the bucks and raising the profile, he's willing to cover up the positives. As soon as they become politically expedient, he does his best to go after them. He's a disgusting, greedy bully. Rasmussen is a prime example of this - he wasn't a superstar, so he was hounded out before there was any proper inquiry.

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

Well, the UCI may be responsible for many things, but you can't blame them for giving out "missed test" warnings to athletes from other sports.

Susan

 

[Benotti69]

If more riders spoke out about it something might be done, but those few who do dare to speak soon find themselves alone and outside the sport.

As for Kroons missed test warnings, well they have shown to have made a mess of that previously.

UCI is a joke, which has been known and shown for a long time.

 

[roundabout]

I get the feeling that Kroon is upset that McQuaid didn't keep his word and the UCI appealed.

Not that they wanted to keep the positive quiet.

 

[spalco]

Bunch of whining. What he's really complaining about is the fact that Contador only got preferential treatment for a little while and that the UCI didn't keep being openly corrupt while the public complained about it.

 

[scribe]

We called out the botched handling of the positive and the German leaks that forced cycling's hand, at the beginning of this whole thing.

 

[airstream]

very sad if so. then its a reality show, but not a sport. it's pity the story holds back about how many times uci called him and said, he had been caught but no need to worry.

 

[hfer07]

Kroom is just one step away from being included in the UCI's "blacklist".......

 

[Cloxxki]

Weren't we (the public) promised that doping controls would not go through the UCI president any longer? I seem to remember something to that extent.

*Enrique Iglesias ringtone.*
- Ola?
Hi Alberto, this is Pat speaking. Listen, we have a situation here.
As we already wrote to everyone in the UCI lab newsletter, the Cologne lab is getting really zealous at finding smaller quantities of various substances. Now, they've found tiny amounts of clenbuterol in some of your samples from last July. I don't have details yet, was even lucky to get in on this so early. Just wanted to give you the headsup. I'm trying on my side to make this go away but can't promise anything for at least a few weeks, this sheet spreads wide and thick quickly. We'll have to discuss your private donation at a later stage. I'll trust you're good for it.
- Si, gracias.

(Weeks passed, Contador makes some public appearances, babbles about cleaner cycling in 2010, yada yada yada)

*Enrique Iglesias ringtone.*
- Ola?
Hey Alberto, Pat again.
Those pesky Germans just can't their mouthes up. Well apart from Jan of course, we could get anything useful out of him.
Anyway, the labrats in Cologne managed to tie in your name with the samples and trying to get in on the game, or worse: get it out. German TV are on the phone every minute to get confirmation. I'm going public with this. We're going to depend on our respective contacts in Spain to keep you on the bike. Please understand the UCI value their stars greatly, and have diminishing powers in these matter. We'll talk.
- Gracias Pat.

Feel free to edit. Corruption is not my language.

 

[DirtyWorks]

If more riders spoke out about it something might be done....

Rider's aren't the answer. The facts are out there for all to see. The simple facts are Contador and Bauge's cases tell the world in no uncertain terms the UCI suppresses positives. And yet, no one is willing to acknowledge it anywhere.

When Contador's story broke, all media simply ignored the fact that his positive was handled *very* differently than any number of positives that came before. (Li FuYu (sp??), Landis) One of the threads here called it out and the facts support it! Yet, no mention in the press.

Why does the UCI get special treatment from non-cycling press? Cycling media can't really poke at this bear. Fast forward 24+ months and a rider fills in the details a bit more and NOW it's an issue?

Kroon's rep just went up about 1000 points with me for adding some details. But understand that the circumstances were clear when the story broke.

 

[spalco]

I don't understand how Kroon is getting applaus for this interview here when he seems to be arguing in favour of Omerta and not against it.

 

[DirtyWorks]

I don't understand how Kroon is getting applaus for this interview here when he seems to be arguing in favour of Omerta and not against it.

The facts made it clear the UCI tried to keep the positive quiet just after the Clen positive news broke. He filled in parts of the UCI/Contador cover-up narrative that most in The Clinic already understood to happen. He earns some credibility for that.

It's impossible to know what his actual doping behavior is. Is his personal opinion like Landis and Hamilton, where it's just part of doing well? Or, is it like the rare rider who would not ever consider doping and their public persona reflects this? Impossible to know where he is in that spectrum.

He's in line with the Omerta and filled in the story a bit. Well played by Kroon.

 

[theyoungest]

Bunch of whining. What he's really complaining about is the fact that Contador only got preferential treatment for a little while and that the UCI didn't keep being openly corrupt while the public complained about it.

Then you don't know Karsten Kroon. He's a refreshingly outspoken guy, and he has no time for hypocrites. And the UCI are the biggest bunch of hypocrites in this sport.

 

[hrotha]

Maybe I'm missing something, but what did Kroon say about the Contador case that we didn't know already the very day it was made public? The only new info seems to be about his own adventures with the whereabouts system.

 

[thehog]

This has been pointed out before with regards to McQuaid`s handling of the Contador affair.

I remember Landis saying in an interview with Paul Kimmage why did his positive test get announced straightaway and Contador`s one got kept quiet for a significant time. Jonathan Vaughters i think found it suspicious how Contador`s case was kept quiet also.

I think McQuaid did this to give Contador sufficient time to come up with a credible defense.

What i would like to know is how long would it of been kept quiet for if German TV didnt get whiff of the story?

But the UCI had to appeal to the the Spanish Federation`s decision to clear him. They couldnt sit back and accept the political influence involved and it would of looked disastrous for them in people`s eyes if they turned a blind eye to it.

The reason why the Landis positive came out so quickly wasn’t because it was announced but because the lab leaked it. They did so because a lot of positive tests were going nowhere. Landis was upset because he’d seen several positives get swept under the carpet along with advance warnings on testing.

 

[Polish]

Did Karsten give any clues as to how the UCI could cover up a WADA result?
Most agree that it is impossible. Karsten have a clue?

But of course the UCI gives preferential treatment to some. Heck they have "admitted" that. No secret there. And that is the way in all of Sport. And in life outside of sport. Nature too. It is sad waa. Runt of the litters. Bird babies being shoved out of nests.

Now I would never tell a baby bird to HTFU.
That would be mean.
And I would not tell Karsten to quit being so jealous of the preferential treatment given to others. He can learn that lesson on his own.

That said, and lets be honest - Alberto has a lot to learn about the preferential treatment thing bang bang.

 

[The Hitch]

I don't understand how Kroon is getting applaus for this interview here when he seems to be arguing in favour of Omerta and not against it.

Well he made the point about cyclists being treated worse than other athletes and everyone who stands up for that side in my eyes deserves some applause.

 

[thehog]

Well he made the point about cyclists being treated worse than other athletes and everyone who stands up for that side in my eyes deserves some applause.

He could be ending his career by saying what he is saying. The UCI don't like riders speaking out.

 

[DominicDecoco]

Who doés UCI like?

 

[thehog]

Who doés UCI like?

Lance.











.....

 

[scribe]

The reason why the Landis positive came out so quickly wasn’t because it was announced but because the lab leaked it. They did so because a lot of positive tests were going nowhere. Landis was upset because he’d seen several positives get swept under the carpet along with advance warnings on testing.

Sort of. Also, the euros had, had enough of the Americans winning it. It was becoming absurd.

 

[scribe]

Who doés UCI like?

Whoever is winning with star power.