A Week in Doping

It seems it’s becoming an annual event for cycling’s image to be beaten up in the run up to Le Tour. What should be a time of excitement is a time of trepidation. Yesterday, Italian police launched a co-ordinated sting on professional cyclists linked to doctors’ offices in Northern Italy. In the continuing investigation by the prosecutor of Padua, apartments in Florence, Padua, Venice, Genoa, Lucca and Brescia were searched. All the linked riders were clients of a particular doctor who has major ties with the Giro organizers RCS. Over a thousand drugs were seized including the blood product albumin, the appetite suppressant sibutramine and the bovine blood product Actovegin. Among those searched included Riccardo Chiarini (De Rosa), Marco Corti (Footon-Servetto) and Raffaele Ferrara (CarmioOro).

Although the Italian Cycling Federation seems to be doing little to change the drug culture, thankfully the Italian state has taken up the challenge to bring the cheats to justice.

One of the Italian cyclists who forced public opinion and thus civil law to act, was Riccardo Riccò. This week he had his day in a French court to answer the doping charges which helped destroy the reputation of the 2008 Tour de France. Ricco’s expensive legal team was able to negotiate a two month suspended jail sentence and a 3,000 euros fine to be paid to the French Cycling Federation. His positive test for Cera, the third generation EPO could have landed him up to two years in jail. This ‘wrist slap’ in no way stands as a warning to other cyclists tempted by the path of doping. His defence team proved that those who can afford to dope, can get better treatment than those without the finance.

These token fines were again illustrated when Swiss rider Thomas Frei, formerly of BMC Racing Team, was suspended for two years by the Swiss Olympic Council. His positive test for EPO at an out of competition test in March was brought to justice with a paltry 1500 Swiss Francs fine.

The consequences of doping must be shown to be a massive imposition on cyclists. They must be deterred from the temptation to dope by stiffer penalties, both financially and through racing bans.

Although Frei, 25, admitted to having taken a micro dose of EPO the evening prior to the early morning test, he further confessed to having used doping products for some time, and came clean immediately his test returned positive. Yet what was most disturbing was that Swiss Antidoping had offered Frei a deal (according to the Swiss website blick.ch). Frei would receive only a six month ban if he would name those who had assited his doping program. The very fact that he renounced this offer makes it clear that the power of the Omerta still exists, even after a rider is caught.

For any rider to return to racing, after suspension, he or she must come clean about all sources of PED’s and doping knowledge. It is only through this act of contrition will they prove their remorse and assist in transforming cycling to a sport that fans and sponsors can have ultimate confidence in.