drugs

In a week in which the Court of Arbitration for Sport confirmed the ban of one rider, Alejandro Valverde, from racing in Italy, Riccardo Riccò is preparing to return to the sport after serving out his own suspension.

The former Saunier-Duval-Scott rider, who tested positive for EPO variant CERA during the 2008 Tour de France, in which he won Stage 6, was suspended for two years, subsequently reduced on appeal to 20 months due to his co-operation.

Riccardo Riccò, the former Saunier Duval-Prodir rider who is due to return to the sport with Ceramica Flaminia next month after serving a 20-month suspension following his positive test for CERA during the 2008 Tour de France, has publicly dumped his partner and mother of his child, cyclocross rider Vania Rossi, after she failed a drugs test earlier this month.

Vania Rossi, the partner of former Saunier Duval-Prodir rider Riccardo Riccò, due to return shortly from a 20-month ban from the sport, has herself failed a drugs test, according to a statement released by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) on Friday. Rossi, however, vehemently denies that she uses performance-enhancing drugs, pointing out that she has been breastfeeding since giving birth to a baby boy last July.

Bike Pure, the organisation commited to promoting a drug-free future for cycle sport, has announced that it has secured a partnership with the 2010 edition of the Asia’s leading bike race, Le Tour de Langkawi, which takes place in Malaysia from 1-7 March, starting in Kota Bharu and finishing in Kuala Lumpur.

Tom Zirbel, the American time trial specialist who finished a surprise fourth behind Fabian Cancellara in the discipline at this year’s UCI World Championships in Mendrisio, Switzerland, has announced that he has tested positive for the banned steroid, DHEA.

A doctor whose client list includes embattled golfer Tiger Woods and former Olympic 100m champion Donovan Bailey has been placed under criminal investigation in Canada and the United States for providing athletes with performance-enhancing drugs, according to The New York Times.

World Cycling’s governing body, the UCI, has announced the provisional suspension of Spanish rider Alberto Fernandez De La Puebla after traces of EPO were found in a urine sample taken in September from the cyclist, who rides for the Fuji-Servetto team.

Since its launch last autumn, Bike Pure has become an online phenomenon in the cycling world. The non-profit website, founded by cycling fans and ex-racers Myles McCorry and Andy Layhe, seeks to promote clean riders and pave the way to a drugs-free future for cycling, and has quickly grown to almost 14,000 members, uniting fans, riders, professional teams, component manufacturers and governing bodies alike in an attempt to restore health to what its founders describe as “a damaged sport”.

The cynic within in me always thinks that the timing on positive dope announcements is set to coincide with the Tour de France, but the logical part of my brain thinks that would be suicide for the sport.

Cycling though has a long tradition of shooting itself in the foot and despite my protestations on the blog the other week about “seeing the sport for what it is” and “accepting that doping exists at the top level”, I can’t let the Danilo Di Luca case go by without comment.

I don't want to disturb you readers but I sometimes get the inspiration for this blog whilst in the shower after a ride. Last night I led a charmed life arriving in village after village just after the rain had been dumped from the sky.

I did get a little bit wet, but no-where near the level of soaking I had been anticipating. Last summer the skies were deposting on me every time I seemed to step out of the door. So the cycling gods must be smiling on me at the moment and I am grateful for that. Anyway I digress.