"Dope-Free" World Champs Underway

[Guest Big H]

"Dope-Free" Worlds Underway<?:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O />

 

The road world championships began yesterday in Stuttgart, Germany, and will see more doping control than ever before. It's hoped that no fewer than 350 worlds-related tests will guarantee clean competition, yet doping has still been in the headlines all week.

 

Germany is uneasy that one of its biggest stars, Erik Zabel, is in Sunday's road race even though he has confessed to using EPO in the 1990s. Spain's Alejandro Valverde, Australia's Allan Davis and Italy's Danilo Deluca have been threatened with exclusion because of suspected drug use. And defending champion Paolo Bettini of Italy has angered the UCI because of his refusal to sign a pledge that requires, among other things, forfeiting a year's salary if caught doping. Yesterday Bettini was accused of supplying testosterone to a former teammate, Patrik Sinkewitz, who is under suspension for a positive drug test.

 

The diminutive Bettini, known as "The Cricket," says critical comments about him by UCI president Pat McQuaid have done nothing but give him extra motivation: "If they are doing this to destabilize me," Bettini says, "they should know that I'll win the world championship in Stuttgart on purpose."

 

Sunday's 267-km (165-mile) course does suit Bettini's all-around talents. And 2005 world champion Tom Boonen of Belgium will not be one to threaten him, having had his season ended by a knee injury in a crash at the Tour of Spain.

[Brakkies Sport Fotos]

en ek en vader christmas het juis gisteraand sit en gedagtes uitruil oor wat nice prezzies sal wees vir hierdie jaar

[10Two]

I must say that Germany did prove themselves to be the NO NONSENSE type during the TDF.

 

When riders from it's country were shown (not proved) to be positive - like Sinkewitz - it make the public suffer - by not airing the TDF on live television !!  - Hectic !!

[Tumbleweed]

Reuters reports: Giro d'Italia winner Danilo Di Luca pulled out of the world championships on Thursday over a doping case but fellow Italian Paolo Bettini is due to start on Sunday despite a legal challenge from local organisers.

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