Tour de Farce

[Rosco]

Two new, undetectable doping products were used at this year's Tour de France, according to the French Anti-Doping Agency. Pierre Bordry, head of the AFLD, told Le Monde that "two new products were used during [this year's] Tour de France: two medicines that are not yet on the market."

One of the new products, according to the newspaper, is Hematide, which is a form of erythropoietin (EPO), that maintains stable haemoglobin levels – fluctuating haemoglobin readings being one indicator that an athlete has doped. The other product allegedly used is Aicar, which enhances muscle tissue while burning fat. Bordry was reportedly "shocked" by the thinness of some of the riders at this year's Tour.

The possible use of Hematide by athletes carries echoes of the Cera cases at the 2008 Tour. Then a test for Cera – a so-called third generation EPO – was developed in secret in collaboration with the product's manufacturer and used on riders' samples. Hematide is still undergoing clinical tests and it could be another two years before it is approved to treat anaemic patients – which, like other forms of EPO, including Cera, is its intended medical use. The AFLD is likely to carry out retrospective tests on stored samples from the 2008 and 2009 races.

Bordry said he believes illegal blood transfusions – for which there is a test – were still in use at this year's Tour, and he claimed that his agency had found evidence of "hardcore medicines" in rubbish bins during the Tour, including "a substance for producing insulin that is normally used by diabetics."

It has been a busy week for Bordry and the AFLD, who today are expected to announce the results of the latest batch of re-testing on samples from the 2008 Tour.

They have not said what the new tests are for, though it has been claimed that they have targeted riders who finished in the top 20. Other reports have said that up to 40 riders were identified as suspicious, while the Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport alleged that samples from 15 of the race's top 20 finishers have been re-tested.

 

[themn]

Great post title.

I smiled.

You've got a thing about "gear" haven't you ?

Not saying you shouldn't, it's just something I find quite endearing about you.

 

[Rosco]

[quote author=themn link=topic=36314.msg959073#msg959073 date=1254912373]
Great post title.

I smiled.

You've got a thing about "gear" haven't you ?

Not saying you shouldn't, it's just something I find quite endearing about you.
[/quote]

I don't like cheating sports.

And I've done plenty of reading on "gear" in sports. It's why, if you remember the athletics thread, I can't bring myself to believe Bolt is all natural.

 

[themn]

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=36314.msg959092#msg959092 date=1254913076]
[quote author=themn link=topic=36314.msg959073#msg959073 date=1254912373]
Great post title.

I smiled.

You've got a thing about "gear" haven't you ?

Not saying you shouldn't, it's just something I find quite endearing about you.
[/quote]

I don't like cheating sports.

And I've done plenty of reading on "gear" in sports. It's why, if you remember the athletics thread, I can't bring myself to believe Bolt is all natural.
[/quote]

Fair enough, but then what do you feel about Tyson Gay ?

He's American, ie, not Jamaican and he ran a legal 9.69 a couple of weeks ago.

 

[Rosco]

I'd have my doubts about him too.

I'd have doubts about most people who have ever ran a sub ten second 100m t be honest. So many have already been implicated