Second Chance?

Patrik Sinkewitz used testosterone prior to the 2007 Tour de France in order to cheat his fellow riders. Thankfully, he was caught in an out of competition test and fired by his T-Mobile Team.  The German Cycling Union handed him a two year sanction which was later reduced to a one year doping suspension because he cooperated with authorities and shared details about doping in cycling. Sinkewitz is a name that should have been lost to the doping lists and statistics and the clouded history of our sport. Forgiveness all round…or not?

Sinkewitz was caught using human growth hormone (HGH) at the GP Lugano on February 27 earlier this season. He became the first cyclist to test positive for human growth hormone using the newly developed British test on March 18. He has already been suspended from the Farnese Vini team and provisionally by the UCI. Today his B sample was returned positive, confirming his doping.  Sinkewitz is looking at a minimum 8 year suspension, which will effectively put an end to his career.

Bike Pure have long been petitioning the UCI to adopt stricter penalties. EPO should carry a minimum of a four year ban for any rider over 19, leaving our sport a better place and for riders like Sinkewitz to start a new life away from the sport they once loved yet lost respect for.  Bike Pure also call for cheating riders like Sinkewitz to be banned for life from coaching and team management positions.

Our sport needs to be an environment of honesty without the shadows of doping to stain yet another generation. Luca Scinto, manager of the Farnese Vini team with whom Sinkewitz rode said he was “not responsible” for the positive test and was prepared to fire Sinkewitz if he is found guilty of doping. It was his second season with the squad after Scinto said he deserved another chance after his first EPO positive. WRONG!