Sergio Henao suspended by sky

This fascinating article
This fascinating article popped up on my twitter stream earlier today – http://decaironman-training.com/2014/03/19/the-challenge-of-monitoring-altitude-natives-in-professional-cycling/
It’s quite strong on the technical language, so if you’re the sort of person who screams a spittle-flecked “DOPE!” like some cycling-obsessed Father Jack / Digger Forum type every time a bicycle rider wins a race, you might not be able to read until the end without your brain melting.
Anyway, certain populations who have lived in regions like the high Andes and Himalayas are observed to have evolved exceptionally fast to deal with living at high altitude, in slightly different and distinct ways. They’re physiologically adapted, rather than adapted by training at altitude…. but much more than this, science doesn’t seem to know.
Which kind of makes Sky’s statement pretty honest really. Henao is showing odd numbers, drugs exist, so does altitude.

Matt_Z wrote:Indeed MrMo. If

Matt_Z wrote:

Indeed MrMo. If that is the case we will soon see Nepalese sherpas on pro bicycles instead of Everest 😀 . It would not surprise me if there is some natural effect. The question remains is it genetic or not? There is a study from 97 indicating that altitude training does increase red blood cells though (Levine, Stray-Gundersen, JAP). We will have to wait and see what the conclusion is here. I am very much pro team sky, yet the doping culture is a stigma that chases the sport without respite. Time to wait and see :W

There is always the question why East Africa produces so many good long distance runners… drugs? environment? genetics?

Colin Peyresourde wrote:I

Colin Peyresourde wrote:

I don’t think there is any good way to spin this. Sky are being given time to find a reason for elevated levels under suspicious circumstances. The excuse Sky seem to have come up with seems a little weak – but I wouldn’t expect Henao to be any different from some of his compatriots (Betancur, Quintana, Uran Uran – they all seem to be doing so well don’t they!?).

I was just talking the other day about how the JTL thing seems to have been buried.

From what I read on the BBC website this is a new test required by anti-doping authorities. Having watched and enjoyed the Tirreno-Adriatico with a mountain stage finished at an average of over 25mph (including a 600m 25% ramp) I wouldn’t say that I find these findings anomalous. I think I would also ask exactly what the authorities have done to stamp out doping….the answer is not most encouraging.

What excuse is weak? They’ve suspended him from their scheduling – that’s hardly a spin is it??

The JTL thing hasn’t really been buried, it took much longer this for the original results to show up – the fact that there’s now further investigation both from a legal and medical perspective means that this will take time and most of that time will be apart from the chit chat of the public for obvious reasons.

Your criticism/doubt on the subject seems a little ambiguous? 25mph averages for a stage is a very regular average for the pro peoloton.

The ‘authorities’ are actually doing a lot to stamp out doping and the sport has come on leaps and bounds in the last 5 years because of this, the fact that the UCI are carrying out this research is testament to the fact that they are open to ensuring the sport becomes fairer.

Gkam84 wrote:He’s not been

Gkam84 wrote:

He’s not been suspended, he’s off to altitude to help the UCI figure out tests I think. :?

Not suspended by UCI but suspended from the team’s race roster for now.

Wouldn’t trust the UCI to do anything properly atm!

(did I say that out loud!?)

He’s not been suspended, he’s
He’s not been suspended, he’s off to altitude to help the UCI figure out tests I think. 😕

mrmo wrote:Which is where you

mrmo wrote:

Which is where you may or may not be wrong, the question which needs answering and there are studies on this, does being from a population that lives at altitude result in genetic(for a better term) changes. Would a Nepalese tolerate oxygen at high altitude and sea level differently from a Dutch person, does blood composition change, etc.

Reading the statement, something’s not right, and we haven’t got a clue why. Better be safe suspend the rider and get some tests done.

Completely agree, no point jumping to conclusions yet. That’s not naivety either (before anyone decides to jump on the whole sports corrupt wagon and start giving it beans!) – there’s a lot of science still to uncover with this sort of thing.

I hope it’s a good outcome, not a bad one, for the sports sake.

I think Sky have dealt with this very well, good statement. Good on them.

To be fair his recent form is
To be fair his recent form is not that good which kind of points towards a natural complaint rather than a chemical / drug misuse. At least Sky have come out at the earliest opportunity to make it public knowledge rahter than it be leaked by someone which leaves Sky answering difficult questions.

The sky-haters will be along
The sky-haters will be along in 5-4-3-2….