Drugs scandal intensifies

PAU – The Tour de France was to begin its 17th stage yesterday without the famed yellow jersey of the race leader after he was ejected on suspicion of doping, as many questioned how the world’s biggest cycling race and indeed the sport could recover.

Denmark’s Michael Rasmussen, the winner of two stages who had been wearing the yellow jersey for over a week, became the latest victim of the race’s ongoing search for transparency when he was kicked out by his Dutch team Rabobank late on Wednesday. Race organisers declared themselves delighted that Rasmussen was no longer in the race and said that the fight against drugs cheats would continue.However the European media were not so upbeat with French daily Liberation declaring ‘The death of the Tour’ which was echoed by German daily Bild.Rasmussen had been under suspicion of doping since it was revealed that he had been warned four times for missing four random doping controls in the past 18 months, but has not tested positive for any banned substances.However he has aroused plenty of suspicion in the race.And when Rabobank discovered on Wednesday that he had been in Italy in June, and not at home with his wife in Mexico, as he had claimed, they pulled him out.Tour director Christian Prudhomme, speaking at a specially convened press conference before the start of yesterday’s stage, said: “Rasmussen’s exit is the best thing that can happen to the Tour.Rasmussen’s team Rabobank, who had worked hard to keep him in the yellow jersey in the tough mountain stages, will continue until Sunday’s climax in Paris.His ejection follows in the wake of the departure of the Astana and Cofidis teams.On Wednesday France’s number one team Cofidis were forced to pull out after it was revealed that Italian Cristian Moreni had tested positive for testosterone.A day earlier the Astana team of pre-race favourite Alexandre Vinokourov was thrown out after Vinokourov tested positive for homologous blood doping following his victory on stage 13’s time trial in Albi.If Vinokourov’s B sample also tests positive, it will prove that he injected the red blood cells from a compatible donor to boost his performance.Prudhomme suggested it would have been unfair on the rest of the Rabobank team to suffer for Rasmussen’s errors.And the Frenchman said that even thinking about bringing the race to a premature end would have been an insult to the riders who are making efforts.Prudhomme said: “In other teams there have been positive doping tests but not for Rasmussen’s team.The Tour de France’s first major doping scandal was in 1998, when the Festina scandal, which first revealed the widespread use of banned blood booster EPO (erythrpoietin), almost brought the Tour to its knees.Back then, the riders staged a famous sit-down to protest against drugs tests.Prior to Wednesday’s stage, riders from several teams staged a sit-down to show their anger following the revelations over Vinokourov, and to show their mistrust of Rasmussen.Rasmussen’s expulsion has left Spain’s Alberto Contador as the de facto leader of the depleted peloton, with a 1min 53sec lead on Australian Cadel Evans.Nampa-AFPRace organisers declared themselves delighted that Rasmussen was no longer in the race and said that the fight against drugs cheats would continue.However the European media were not so upbeat with French daily Liberation declaring ‘The death of the Tour’ which was echoed by German daily Bild.Rasmussen had been under suspicion of doping since it was revealed that he had been warned four times for missing four random doping controls in the past 18 months, but has not tested positive for any banned substances.However he has aroused plenty of suspicion in the race.And when Rabobank discovered on Wednesday that he had been in Italy in June, and not at home with his wife in Mexico, as he had claimed, they pulled him out.Tour director Christian Prudhomme, speaking at a specially convened press conference before the start of yesterday’s stage, said: “Rasmussen’s exit is the best thing that can happen to the Tour.Rasmussen’s team Rabobank, who had worked hard to keep him in the yellow jersey in the tough mountain stages, will continue until Sunday’s climax in Paris.His ejection follows in the wake of the departure of the Astana and Cofidis teams.On Wednesday France’s number one team Cofidis were forced to pull out after it was revealed that Italian Cristian Moreni had tested positive for testosterone.A day earlier the Astana team of pre-race favourite Alexandre Vinokourov was thrown out after Vinokourov tested positive for homologous blood doping following his victory on stage 13’s time trial in Albi.If Vinokourov’s B sample also tests positive, it will prove that he injected the red blood cells from a compatible donor to boost his performance.Prudhomme suggested it would have been unfair on the rest of the Rabobank team to suffer for Rasmussen’s errors.And the Frenchman said that even thinking about bringing the race to a premature end would have been an insult to the riders who are making efforts.Prudhomme said: “In other teams there have been positive doping tests but not for Rasmussen’s team.The Tour de France’s first major doping scandal was in 1998, when the Festina scandal, which first revealed the widespread use of banned blood booster EPO (erythrpoietin), almost brought the Tour to its knees.Back then, the riders staged a famous sit-down to protest against drugs tests.Prior to Wednesday’s stage, riders from several teams staged a sit-down to show their anger following the revelations over Vinokourov, and to show their mistrust of Rasmussen.Rasmussen’s expulsion has left Spain’s Alberto Contador as the de facto leader of the depleted peloton, with a 1min 53sec lead on Australian Cadel Evans.Nampa-AFP