David George gets 2 years

[TimW]

SA Cycling Champion Gets Maximum Sentence

 

Cape Town – 5 December, 2012 – SA Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) has announced that South African cycling champion, David George, who tested positive for the banned drug EPO (Erythropoietin) has received a two year ban from sport, following sentencing on Saturday.

“George waived his right to attend his hearing, which went ahead anyway on 1 Dec,” says Khalid Galant, CEO, Institute for Drug-Free Sport. “He admitted guilt prior to the hearing and preferred the sanction to be determined as soon as possible. The athlete has the right to waive his participation in a hearing without prejudice.”

The hearing was conducted by an independent tribunal. “In addition to the ban, any points or prize money obtained after the 5th Nov is forfeited and monies have to be repaid,” Galant adds. “Money has to be repaid to race organisers of the Cape Pioneer Trek MTB race, which David George/ Kevin Evans won after Nov 5th and results will have to be re-issued.”

Commenting on the sentence George received, Galant says: “George claims his EPO doping was isolated to himself and he could not provide us with information in terms of an infrastructure of doping. Hence he received the standard two-year ban, as there were no grounds for a reduction in this sanction.”

However, Galant says that George has committed to assist SAIDS in its test planning so that SAIDS target testing can be even more robust in addressing doping in endurance sport. “As a former professional cyclist he provides a unique lens into how our test distribution planning can mitigate against high doping risk periods and what is going through the minds of athletes when they attempt to beat the system,” he says. “We welcome this commitment from George as part of attempt to atone for the doping offense to the cycling community.”

SAIDS warned the sports community a year ago that they would be vigorous in their testing of both the blood and urine of SA's top athletes. “We will continue to aggressively target EPO dopers and we will be increasing 'out of competition' testing of cyclists for EPO, a hormone that artificially increases the red blood cell count therefore increases the athlete’s oxygen carrying capacity, and, in turn, enhances performance,” says Galant.

Galant says that SAIDS will be increasing the quantity of testing not only to cycling but also to other endurance sports like triathlon, running and canoeing. “The monies pledged by Nedbank and other companies to clean up sport will be exclusively used for testing,” he adds.

George, one of SA’s top cyclists, a former Olympian, a podium finisher in the Cape Epic, and a former Lance Armstrong teammate on the US Postal Service Cycling team 1999-2000, tested positive in an out-of-competition test conducted by the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport on 29 August 2012.

The athlete biological passport is an essential tool in the fight against doping. “His biological passport, which analyses the athletes blood profile, indicated suspicious activity that triggered a targeted EPO test which showed possible manipulation of the blood profile and a subsequent urine test came back positive for the banned EPO drug,” says Galant.

-Ends-

About the Institute of Drug-Free Sport

Drug-Free Sport is a public entity that promotes participation in sport that is free from the use of prohibited substances or methods intended to artificially enhance performance, thereby rendering impermissible doping practices, which are contrary to the principles of fair play and medical ethics, in the interest of the health and well-being of sportspersons.

The institute’s efforts include anti-doping strategy in sport; education on drugs in sport; and collaboration with other national anti-doping agencies throughout the world. The Drug-Free Sport Act grants the Institute for Drug-Free Sport statutory drug testing powers and the authority to conduct and enforce a national anti-doping programme. By virtue of the Institute’s legislative ambit, national sports federations are obligated to co-operate with the Institute. For more information go to www.drugfreesport.org.za <http://www.drugfreesport.org.za>

[mrbaker]

Ridiculous - He should be banned for life!

[Dustbin Dog]

+1

[Cav']

Ridiculous - He should be banned for life!

Agreed -

[Cassie]

It's just about similar to an off-season and nursing an injury....

 

Bigger question will be - Will he ever find a sponsor again??

[Pilks]

To be honest at his age 2 years is life for him at a "earning money from the sport "professional level

[Taps]

He should be made to participate in all multi-stage endurance events ..................... on a unicycle.

[Iron]

I say life ban !

 

if you worked at a normal company ( as most of us do ) and stole money from the company instead of working for it the normal way you would lose your job ( if caught) .

 

so if you cycle for a living and take drugs to make it easier to earn your living why be treated any differently .

[JGR]

I say life ban !

 

if you worked at a normal company ( as most of us do ) and stole money from the company instead of working for it the normal way you would lose your job ( if caught) .

 

so if you cycle for a living and take drugs to make it easier to earn your living why be treated any differently .

 

Unless you worked for the governement ...if you steal, you get promoted.

[jcza]

Really helpful I see ..... George claims his EPO doping was isolated to himself and he could not provide us with information in terms of an infrastructure of doping.

 

Who supplied him?

 

Life ban, good riddance.

[Gerhardc]

Statement is wrong.....Cape Pioneer Trek ended 20 October 2012....("prize monies to be repaid, obtained after 5 November 2012")... ....unless Cape Pioneer Trek paid the monies into his account after 5 Nov...

Edited December 5, 2012 by Gerhardc

[owti1997]

Agreed - 2 yrs is ridiculous - UCI/CSA need to adjust maximum penalties - who needs cheats at any level in any sport, ever? My recommendation - life ban, repay all winnings, criminal charges of fraud and theft should be pursued by police - won't take long to clean up sport.

[Kranswurm]

Really helpful I see ..... George claims his EPO doping was isolated to himself and he could not provide us with information in terms of an infrastructure of doping.

 

Who supplied him?

 

Life ban, good riddance.

 

You can buy it anywhere.Don't be so melodramatic

[HappyMartin]

What is very disappointing is no attempt to provide any useful information. An old style unapologetic doper. No place for this type in cycling anymore

[rock]

para 5 says hes going to help?

Edited December 5, 2012 by rock

[jcza]

You can buy it anywhere.Don't be so melodramatic

 

Anywhere?

Really?

 

Yes ok

Edited December 5, 2012 by jcza