Passport Pressure

AG2R rider Tadej Valjavec, has been cleared by his national anti-doping body after the UCI accused him of blood doping. The UCI are now studying the Slovenian ruling which rejected biological passport evidence that Valjavec was cheating before deciding whether to appeal the Slovenia’s anti-doping organization decision not sanction the 33-year-old Valjavec.

It is disappointing that the Slovenia’s anti-doping organization does not accept the passports findings- as the results are tabulated over a long period of time. Cycling’s efforts to create an honest playing field, should be an example all sports and ratified by ALL federations. It has been whispered that there have been less convictions under the passport schemes, due to the possibility of litigation. The fact that the rider has not in fact tested positive for a PED, but the passport profile of the rider is suggestive evidence, that they have been manipulating their blood with banned substances or methods.

Undoubtedly the UCI will challenge the Slovenian decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. More time and money in court for the UCI; but the Blood Passport needs to come out of the process stronger and refined.
Recently, Spaniard Jesus Rosendo Prado (Andalucia-Cajasur) also evaded  conviction under the passports results.

The Spanish cycling federation accepted his reason of “abundant bleeding due to a hemorrhoid crisis”. Piles resulted in irregular profile results! We will have to sit and think about that one and the UCI will have to close these loopholes if the 14 million system is to prove worthwhile.

On a sad note Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency says Cycling Australia has imposed a two-year ban on New South Wales state cyclist Jules Amos for the importation of erythropoietin (EPO). It is still unclear if Amos was dealing drugs rather than simply personal cheating. ASADA said Friday that the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service intercepted five airmail packages from Thailand between Dec. 18 and Dec. 28 and notified the agency. Amos is the second amateur cyclist in a week caught for using EPO after English second cat rider Dan Staite returned a positive result.  In no way could all the cyclists be tested, thus highlighting the fact that education to the dangers of doping must be part of the solution.