Rudel

Franco's been cleared.


https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/211020...s-damages.html

rogwilco

That's bad news. Without the blood passport anti-doping is back to nowhere again.

Hezz

No, it's not bad news because it requires the UCI to have sufficient scientific proof for doping. If they cannot meet a certain standard they should not be able to sanction a rider without consequence. This outcome could effect the outcome of the AC case. If AC should be sanctioned on insufficient statistical proof and his case is overturned by CAS. Then he can also sue UCI for damages.

merlinextraligh

I don't see how it has any effect on Contador's case. Pellizotti was being sanctioned on the basis of the biological passport. Contador is being sanctioned on the basis of a positive drug test.

Hezz

True, but they both are issues of irregular blood values of which there is some statistical probability of doping. It may be higher in the AC case. I don't know. But I know that they can't rule out the possibility of accidental ingestion at the levels that were in his system. Though the meat theory does not hold a lot of weight. It could have come from another source. So lets say that in the future AC is cleared but has been damaged from being provisionally suspended. He may have a claim to large damages.

The UCI then has to weigh the possible repercussions of being wrong. Such as having to pay a few million Euros in damages to an athlete. And if they know that they can be hurt they will think twice before sanctioning a rider on insufficient evidence.

rogwilco

Well, of course. Nobody wants to ban cyclists who are innocent. But it obviously means that the blood passport doesn't work the way it's intended to, and that's bad.

merlinextraligh

No they're not. Contador's suspension wasn't for irregular blood values. It was for the presence of a banned susbstance. Two entirely different things.

And the fact that Pelizotti is saying he's suing the UCI doesn't change anything. Whatever legal risk the UCI has they had before Pelizotti, and have after Pellizotti. It's not like Pellizotti saying he's going to sue the UCI, changes the merits of other cases.

I doubt the UCI is quaking in their boots.

daytonian

If the "Italian national anti-doping court" is making the judgement then why aren't they handling the testing. lol I would like to see their reasoning re: how his blood values are normal and explanations.
Does this mean he can race in Italy (Giro) only? He would be a presence teamed with Basso having Nibali's back at the TDF.

Bacciagalupe

Because it's not their job.

In addition to getting tested at a certain race, the UCI conducts out-of-competition testing and aggregates all of the tests to keep track of a rider's blood values. The idea is that if someone's values get too suspicious, they are targeted for further investigation and/or sanctions.

However, once a rider is accused of cheating (of any sort), the case is handled by that rider's national cycling federation. Thus, Landis got popped in France but his case was first reviewed by USADA.

Unfortunately this can run the risk of a national federation showing favoritism to its riders, though some of the accused (Landis in particular) would protest otherwise.


He is cleared to ride internationally.

daytonian

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uci-...ellizotti-case

for now

Hezz

In that respect you are correct. The thing about the passport is that it is a good idea but is also subject to a certain amount of subjective interpretation.