Riccardo Ricco goes positive at the Tour
When the first rider (Manuel Beltran) tested positive during this race it was dealt with quietly and the vetran moved on. Then we heard the news that Moisés Dueñas from Team Barloworld had tested positive and some eyebrows were raised but let's face it Moisés Dueñas is hardly a big name in the bunch. I know that's not the point but the average cycling could wear it as he was essentially unknown. The news has just filtered through that the Italian climbing sensation and winner of two stages already this year Riccardo Ricco has tested positive for a third generation EPO called CERA (Continuous Erythropoietin Receptor Activator) according to French newspaper L'Equipe.
He has been taken into police custody and has been suspended by his team Saunier Duval. Ricco had been a major player in the Pyrenees and was expected to play a huge role in shaping the outcome of the general classification in the Alps. But this will not be the case and Ricco will spend some time with French police discussing his activities. His team, at the time of writing this, is said to have walked out on the Tour.
The Tour is slowly coming apart. The strict doping controls are there to keep order but through this the sport is slowly imploding. The average Joe in the street sees cycling as bunch of cheats. Those that get busted are caught in a storm of publicity that just brings the sport down. Ricco was a bright star in cycling. A climbing prodigy that was exciting to watch. Ironically his comparisons with Marco Pantani have been realised to a point with Pantani falling foul of the drug testers and ending his career tragically spiraling into depression. While we are no way near that yet this positive test, in sporting terms, is a tragedy. Ricco, like those before him, have contributed to the sports current situation. As someone who has been doing some media during the Tour, it will be whacking day for the next 24 hours where those who don't have the bigger picture concept of short term pain for long term gain, will be taking pot shots at all the cycling media guys.
What's next for this Tour de France 2008? It's all looking like '98 right now.
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Comments (9)
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by Hatchy, 24 July 2008Im a legend... not
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by phil (author), 19 July 2008No doubt darren we are not done yet with the drug cheats on this Tour!
by Darren, 19 July 2008Ah Phil, we wrote about this last week, and unfortunately we will probably write about it next week. The near term pain of so called media 'experts' bagging the peleton as a bunch of cheats will go away, but the lure of the TDF will always call the true fan. The speed, bravery and skill of the sprinters, the guts and determination of the climbers and the bravado and audacity of the break-away will always bring me back for more.
by Nick, 19 July 2008You don't need to defend the sport, its defending itself by throwing these wasters out. These guys will be finished, no reputation, no career, no trust. Are other sports doing this? I find it interesting that Shane Warne tested positive to a banned substance, and while blaming his mum (classy guy) was able to finish his career as a hero!!
by phil (author), 18 July 2008If I was David Miller, I would be staying very quiet, he is lucky he is still riding. This will be an ongoing situation as there will always be cheats, and there will always be chemicals and processes to help the cheats.
I was happy to see Ricco win, I liked his style, but now i'm just as happy too see him gone. May the best (and cleanest) man win!
Thanks coutta! i will need it... it is hard to constantly defend the sport... but am glad he has been suspended and arrested!...
by Tissa, 18 July 2008It's a shame that the tour is unable to shake it's drug ridden reputation. At least the system seems to be working, they are catching the cheats and throwing them out on their ears with no exceptions.
by coutta, 18 July 2008What's next? Hopefully the clean guys roll with the punches, get on with the job, and the best man (CADEL EVANS!) is wearing yellow in Paris.
Oh man - I feel like I should take you to the pub to cheer you up. Mate it's ok! Bicycles won't suddenly disappear and as long as their around blokes like you and I will always want to race them.