Contador - CAS ruling. (All things Contador/doping - merged)

[Wyatt Earp]

are we forgetting Basso, now with Berto gone he may just decide to make the TDF his priority this year instead of the Giro

Basso, another drugged to the eyeballs cheat.

[DaleE]

Chris Froom

 

Gets my vote ... but only if his team gives him the freedom to go and not to have to babysit Wiggins again

With all the time trialling, don't be so quick to rule out Evan's doing the business again.

 

As far as the 2 year ban goes .... unlike 99% of the folk here, I think the way it's been handled is quite correct. The UCI has dragged their heels with this thing for 18 months, It would be grossly unfair to start counting the 2 years from today. What should have happened is sentencing and appeals all done within 2-3 months of the test .... quick justice so everyone knows where they stand. The idea of a cyclist competing while there is a case against him going on is crazy; but what else do you expect the guy to do while he waits for the UCI to get their ducks in a row? I do agree that any money and trophies should be handed back.

 

Anyway, I doubt they will appeal, hopefully he's learned his lesson and we'll see him back in the TdF in 2013.

[SwissVan]

Must say I have trouble understanding the verdict.

 

From Cycling News:

 

"The Panel concluded that both the meat contamination scenario and the blood transfusion scenario were, in theory, possible explanations for the adverse analytical findings, but were however equally unlikely. In the Panel’s opinion, on the basis of the evidence adduced, the presence of clenbuterol was more likely caused by the ingestion of a contaminated food supplement."

 

"In the end, the court based its decision on the fact that Contador could not prove he did not ingest the Clenbuterol on purpose."

 

 

 

Yeah agree...somewhat.

Take it as a zero tolerance policy, no matter what the excuse its not meant to be in your system....

[Wyatt Earp]

The UCI has dragged their heels with this thing for 18 months, It would be grossly unfair to start counting the 2 years from today. What should have happened is sentencing and appeals all done within 2-3 months of the test .... quick justice so everyone knows where they stand. The idea of a cyclist competing while there is a case against him going on is crazy; but what else do you expect the guy to do while he waits for the UCI to get their ducks in a row? I do agree that any money and trophies should be handed back.

 

Anyway, I doubt they will appeal, hopefully he's learned his lesson and we'll see him back in the TdF in 2013.

It's also grossly unfair that he was running around like a free range chicken in the past 18 months.

It's actually a 2 year ban with 6 months left because of good behavior.

Edited February 6, 2012 by Dangle

[Wyatt Earp]

So, a 6 month ban then ... not very punitive, is it?

Exactly, double standards.

Ah well, what can we do.

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Must say I have trouble understanding the verdict.

 

From Cycling News:

 

"The Panel concluded that both the meat contamination scenario and the blood transfusion scenario were, in theory, possible explanations for the adverse analytical findings, but were however equally unlikely. In the Panel’s opinion, on the basis of the evidence adduced, the presence of clenbuterol was more likely caused by the ingestion of a contaminated food supplement."

 

"In the end, the court based its decision on the fact that Contador could not prove he did not ingest the Clenbuterol on purpose."

 

 

Could they prove that the contaminant came from a doping? No. Surely the judgement should be made on the basis of probabilities and/or reasonable doubt. If there was reasonable doubt, he should have been let off the hook. Isn't that how law works? And such a minuscule amount, that he could have derived no benefit for it. What a frigging mess. Sad day for the sport.

 

You are correct.

 

Personally I am surprised, this is not a criminal case and it seems to me neither party could definitively prove in either of their cases. Which should give the athlete the benefit of the doubt.

 

....so in the end it came down to a case of, "we cant prove you did not ingest the Clen from contaminated food" but "you cant prove you did either", so all we can do is say, "You had Clen in your system, you aren't allowed Clen in your system, you must serve a token sentence".

 

Is that justice?..............I dont think so.

 

I agree, a sad day for the sport.

[walkerr]

I've never really understood how a "zero tolerance" policy could sit with 2 year bans - surely zero tolerance means lifetime ban.

 

If the stakes are higher, anyone tempted to dope may think longer before doing it.

 

And it also puts an onus on the governing body for any sport to have really effective test and monitoring processes, and dismissal/appeals procedures.

 

The slap-on-wrist policy, we're not 100% sure, but you can't prove your innocence so we'll levy a fine/ban anyway just seems amateurish.

 

Sad thing is this is sport, which all of us start out doing for fun and honest competition - shame that spirit gets subverted along the way at the highest levels

[mr_stig]

Sad day indeed.

 

In other news I'm having a braai this weekend and have some imported steaks. Anyone keen?

[walkerr]

In other news I'm having a braai this weekend and have some imported steaks. Anyone keen?

 

If you can make it Friday count me in - maybe some Clem will help me in the 99er on Saturday ...

[DaleE]

It's also grossly unfair that he was running around like a free range chicken in the past 18 months.

It's actually a 2 year ban with 6 months left because of good behavior.

 

Yup, in the light of the guilty sentence, it does seem unfair. We also need to think about the athlete ..... consider the following theoretical scenario ....

 

Contador fails a dope test .... the UCI bans him from all racing till the court case .... the UCI takes 18 months to get round to sentencing and appeals process (as has happened) .... and he is found NOT guilty...... !

Now, the guy has been cooling his heels for 18 months, has no income, no team and is probably out of shape. I guess he would bring a claim against the UCI for lost earnings, etc, etc - a legal mess of note.

 

I don't know what the answer is, but a shorter time from testing to sentencing seems to be in the interests of everyone. We want a clean sport, we want to know that those competing are entitled to do so, and most importantly for the sport, we want to know that results won't be changed long after the champagne has flowed.

Edited February 6, 2012 by DaleE

[Spark]

He still loses his 2010 TdF win and do you think any teams will sign him in 2013?

They will fall over their feet to sign him. The best grand tour rider of his time.

[Wyatt Earp]

They will fall over their feet to sign him. The best grand tour rider of his time.

Roaaaaaar

 

http://www.thetenerifeforum.com/images/smilies/newsmilies/smiley_ROFL.gif

[GrumpyOldGuy]

And his Giro 2011 win, Scarponi picks up the Giro now...

 

Yeah, not sure if I should laugh or cry,..... if anyone has a checkered past its him.

[Bos]

You are correct.

 

Personally I am surprised, this is not a criminal case and it seems to me neither party could definitively prove in either of their cases. Which should give the athlete the benefit of the doubt.

 

....so in the end it came down to a case of, "we cant prove you did not ingest the Clen from contaminated food" but "you cant prove you did either", so all we can do is say, "You had Clen in your system, you aren't allowed Clen in your system, you must serve a token sentence".

 

Is that justice?..............I dont think so.

 

I agree, a sad day for the sport.

 

Well said Grumpy..And those that say "only six months", the six months means he misses the 2 biggest tours and the previous years drama messed with his race scedule anyway. I doubt he would have partaken in the Giro if this story hadnt been brewing..

 

Im looking forward to the Vulta.. Hope there will be some competition, not like this years Giro.

All in all, glad its over and he can get on with serving his ban.

[LeTurbo]

A sad day. A sad day indeed. A sad, sad, sad day. Very, very sad. Did I say it was a sad day? It is. That's what it is. A day that is sad. A sad day.

 

I'm bored. Is it time to go home yet?

 

It was fun cycling in the rain this morning. Without a helmet. Going through red traffic lights.

[covie]

Quite a couple of funny comments on here, and it has been proven definitivly, scientists revealed to have the amount of clenbuterol in his system he would have needed to consume something in the range of 8kg of beef that day, 2 the specific plasticides only come from medical unfusion technologies used with blood transfer, 3 the guy simply cheated got caught now has to pay the price, Look at any court case and appeal case they normally take longer than 18 months, this is no different as its still a lot of legal matters to be handled.

 

As far as his punishment, he has been stripped of the TDF and every other win since. then which will incur financial penalties ass well. Everyone on this forum screams at dopers till its their hero being found guilty,

 

Frankly i think this is great make an example out of him strip him of his victories, make him pay financially for his voluntary actions, and lets see what happens in six months, either he will come back stronger or dissapear of the radar.

 

Time will tell.