inGobwetrust
09-20-2006, 09:10 PM
http://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/10902.0.html
Three South Americans booted from world's
Tests reveal too much blood in their blood
By Andrew Hood
VeloNews European correspondent
This report filed September 20, 2006
Well, it didn't take long before the 2006 world cycling championships got its first whiff of doping scandal.
Three riders - two Argentines and one Brazilian - were ruled "inapt" to compete after pre-race blood screenings ahead of Tuesday's opening day of competition.
Brazilian Magno Nazaret and Argentines Martin Garrido and Matias Medici tested "unfit" after the UCI "vampires" screened 18 athletes early Tuesday morning from Brazil, Argentina, Switzerland, Australia and the United States.
Garrido and Medici were due to take part in the men's road race this Sunday, with Medici also due to race the men's time trial on Thursday. Nazaret was slated to take part in both the under-23 road race and the under-23 time trial here.
The blood tests revealed abnormally high levels of hematocrit, which can indicate but not prove the administration of the banned blood-booster EPO. The three riders were undergo a forced 15-day "resting period" and undergo additional blood screenings before being allowed to return to competition.
The tests come as cycling is under the microscope following a string of high-profile doping controversies, including the ongoing Operación Puerto doping investigation in Spain and the Floyd Landis scandal at the Tour de France.
Three South Americans booted from world's
Tests reveal too much blood in their blood
By Andrew Hood
VeloNews European correspondent
This report filed September 20, 2006
Well, it didn't take long before the 2006 world cycling championships got its first whiff of doping scandal.
Three riders - two Argentines and one Brazilian - were ruled "inapt" to compete after pre-race blood screenings ahead of Tuesday's opening day of competition.
Brazilian Magno Nazaret and Argentines Martin Garrido and Matias Medici tested "unfit" after the UCI "vampires" screened 18 athletes early Tuesday morning from Brazil, Argentina, Switzerland, Australia and the United States.
Garrido and Medici were due to take part in the men's road race this Sunday, with Medici also due to race the men's time trial on Thursday. Nazaret was slated to take part in both the under-23 road race and the under-23 time trial here.
The blood tests revealed abnormally high levels of hematocrit, which can indicate but not prove the administration of the banned blood-booster EPO. The three riders were undergo a forced 15-day "resting period" and undergo additional blood screenings before being allowed to return to competition.
The tests come as cycling is under the microscope following a string of high-profile doping controversies, including the ongoing Operación Puerto doping investigation in Spain and the Floyd Landis scandal at the Tour de France.