According to TV2 Sports, Thomas Dekker will be sacked by Rabobank.

The reasons are that Dekker is no longer trusted by the team. He was one of the 30 riders warned by the UCI due to irregularities in his UCI biopassport. Due to these irregularities, Rabobank pulled him from the Tour squad (they did not want a repeat of the Rasmussen case) and Dekker was so dissappointed by the decision that he abandoned the Tour de Suisse.

Following this, the team has apparently not been able to get hold of Dekker (his whereabouts info was also not correct). As a result, the team's lawyers are now instigating proceedings to terminate Dekker's contract with Rabobank.

Sigh.

The situation is totally unclear at this point, with everybody pretty much denying everything. Dekker is expected to issue a statement this afternoon.

Stay tuned.....

edit: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=new...ul08/jul28news3

Please note that RTT sensed something afoot a while back...

http://www.dailypelotonforums.com/main/ind...st&p=122917

and on a different but related note, some within Russian Fed speculate that Gusev could have slipped into a similar position with Astana. Reports of disagreements with the team management and potential "file" in WADA/UCI...

You know, it would be nice if the UCI would someday release the names of the supposed 30 riders that have suspect blood profiles so that we avoid having it leaked out one rider at a time. This is part of what frustrates me and many others regarding the policies of the UCI.

I have a penchant for buggery...






I am not so sure knowing the names will aide the situation, and I don't think those names would be released in a massive communiqué anyways..

If the UCI's involved, of course not. You'll be lucky to get dribs and drabs of information at most, while they work behind the scenes to bribe teams of money in order to keep certain riders names from becoming public.

another supposed "super talented" rider can seem to go without the juice.

please, moratorium on saying so and so is/was talented -- there is really no way of knowing at this point.

and this is precisely what has made cycling pointless from a fan's perspective.

Sure appears like a convenient way to get rid of someone you don't like any more.


Perhas they should ask Rasmussen. Following in his footsteps, Dekker may be with his mistress in Italy...

Dave.

"I do not think that word means what you think it means."

Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride

Yikes! That's not the sort of thing that people publicly confess to.

It was a joke.. sheesh.. haven't you seen Austin Powers???




it's a bit "unnatural"...

And dont let the door hit yer arse on the way out Tommy.
Didnt ya get the memo.
Doping is out.

No one else recall the discussions about how this time trialer was going over the big cols last year with only Rasm, Mench, Cadel, Levi and Contador and a couple of others. I do. He stunk then and I guess has been found out.

LOLZ

F HUCK an A man! WTF is going on!

come ON ROBO-BANK! at this rate I will not have any riders to be a fan!


Huge ... I mean really HUGE!

Shame you can only say these things when it involves a rider you have no love for. I don't recall you throwing mud at big George when he was destroying climbers on the big Alpine cols and winning a mountain stage at Pla d'Adet.

It’s all a bit of a déjà vu with Thomas Dekker. In 2006 Rabobank withdrew his participation just a few days prior to the start of the Tour. Those were the hot OP days, and just like Basso, T Dekker was a Cecchini client. Does T Dekker have a ? Would not be surprised if he had. So he was warned by the UCI in 2008; quite possibly he was warned by them in 2006 as well.

In my mind T Dekker and Brajkovic are very much paired. With less than a year between them, their ways had crossed competing over the same prizes. Both turned pro during 2005. I can’t say they are equally talented, and as before, they have been doing different programs under different guidance. Yet ever since 2007, while Dekker went on with his exploits, Brajkovic’s results seemed to have plummeted. Is this something about injuries etc. or, was someone better in reading the memo?

From CN:


UCI says Dekker's blood values ok
Thomas Dekker has released to Cyclingnews the letter he received from the UCI confirming his right to ride.

The letter, which was sent by e-mail and signed by UCI doctor Dr. Mario Zorzoli, said, "This is to confirm that all tests results of 2008 that are known to UCI show that the blood values of Thomas Dekker ... did not exceed any limits which would have required the imposition of a declaration of incapability under UCI's current regulations."

--------
RH comment: note, this is NOT the same as a green light statement about his bio passport. This merely states that he did not cross the UCI legal limits, like 50% Hct or 17 g/dL hemoglobin or off-score of 133. That's the only basis under which the UCI can stop him from racing. With all that he can be one of the 23 "suspects" and still receive the OK letter.Incidentally, Gusev is basically in the same situation despite being fired by Astana. Yesterday, Gripper told Russian officials that he is free to race including the Olympics.

Exactly!

Do the teams have access to the biopassport or just with riders' permission only.

He is so screwed.


I have no love for him BECAUSE he is unbelievable.

George has never been let go from a team because of blood irregularities..
You just cant stand it when I'm right, can you?
Face it, I was right. I predicted this.
Last year in the tour.
I called it a loooong time ago and now I am going to gloat.

Ok?

You predicted that there would be doping in cycling?

Care to provide us with the odds on doping in cycling next year?

Dave.

Someone should check if Verbruggen/McQuaid just received a wire transfer of a significant amount. Or does this kind of service require payment in small unmarked bills.

No need. The language in that press release is sufficiently vague and useless enough that all we can conclude is that an alien is unlikely to explode from his torso anytime soon.

It would have been interesting if we would have been given the date of the email. The The UCI Management Committee approved the bio-passport ‘no start’ rule on June the 13th. Tour de Suisse started on June 14th. Was Dekker warned prior or after the adoption of the no-start rule?
Regardless of whether the UCI is implementing the no-start rule, it seems that at least - de facto - Rabobank implemented it.

However, given the Gusev pass by Gripper, it would seem that the UCI are far from confident implementing the BP no-start rule.

It's a good point.

I would think one of the following possibilities apply to Dekker and Gusev wrt to the UCI passport:

1. They are not among the 23 suspects
2. They are but the UCI suspended implementation of bio passport (as they promised due to PT team split)
3. Dekker's letter predates June 14th and Gusev's situation still under study (I heard noises today that Gusytnikov is concerned with UCI's changed of mind in the last moment)

Despite everything is born of anomalies detected in blood tests of runner, around Dekker has already unleashed auction where at the moment seem willing to participate in four teams, ie Team CSC, Garmin, Team Columbia and Astana. (emphasis, L’ edit. Source: Googled Tuttobiciweb)

Isn’t this just bloody amazing.

Goes to emphasize floridacyclist’s point -
http://www.dailypelotonforums.com/main/ind...st&p=123544

Some more information:

Looks like De Telegraaf put up the letter:
http://www.telegraaf.nl/telesport/wielersp...er__.html?p=2,1
Not that I can read the low resolution, but it looks to be dated late July.
Kerckhoffs reports that right before the TdS the Rabobank team doctor had asked [the UCI] for info on the blood tests and was then informed of fluctuations in Dekker’s blood values. Dekker’s lawyer was immediately put in the picture and he made contact with Dr. Zorzoli, who assured him that all Dekker’s test results are within the applicable regulations, that there isn’t any reason not to let Dekker start and, that Dekker does not appear on any list of suspected riders.

A few days ago Dekker’s lawyer had asked the UCI for a written statement, and this resulted in the aforementioned letter [note though, that the letter does not specifically state that Dekker does not appear on any suspected riders list].

According to Kerckhoffs, Rabobank have indicated that no conclusions can be drawn on the basis of the blood values deviations because there is too little data.

Dekker states that Rabobank have yet been clear about their future intensions in relation to him and this should be clarified in the soon upcoming meeting. Nevertheless, De Telegraaf reports that it is nearly certain that the contract with Dekker with be dissolved, and goes on to report the interest of the 4 AD teams.
http://www.telegraaf.nl/telesport/wielersp...er__.html?p=2,1

Worst part, in yet another item in the paper, is that Dekker claims that he has only been OOC tested twice this year.
http://www.telegraaf.nl/telesport/wielersp...troleerd__.html
[note though, that he doesn’t state how many in competition tests he has had.]


Thoughts:
For the umpteenth time it appears how unripe the bio passport still is.
I wonder how wise it is to share the few collected data with the teams/riders. Would it not be wiser to withhold such data until a sufficient number of tests has been accumulated, especially when no clear infraction can be noted? Does this not serve the dopers fine tuning?
On the other hand, is it better to have a (even slightly) suspected rider ride the TdF or not?

True and some new details as I learned them.

Gusev and his (new) Olympic coach Rinat Latypov claim they were "categorically refused" the test results by Astana that lead to Guisev's dismissal. In a parallel and curious development, Ekimov (who brought Gusev to Astana and was his personal Russian-Fed-coordinated coach for the Olympic ITT) neglected to even mention Gusev (who will go to the Olympics as far as I know). In an extensive interview Eki shows an interesting detachment from his former pupil and his protégé and pronounced Karpets as Russia's best hope in ITT.

Few questions bag an answer:
1. If Latypov is right, I'd think Astana owns Gusev at least his "suspicious health parameters" because it looks like they ended his career. I'd understand it while he was an active Astana rider. Even WADA and UCI do better when they declare someone positive or unfit to race.
2. Why would Eki suddenly forget about the side kick he recommended to hire and invested so much
Into?
3. Is something else going on at Astana (in addition to the officially announced) that caused firing of Gusev?

Source:kp.ru

sure they have talent!

otherwise HOW IN THE #### can they ride on a PRO TEAM.

NFD they have talent maybe you and I do not but I am sure all the MF'rs in the pro tour are talented much more than the MYA's on this Message board.

thanks RH.
Very strange.
Remeber also that Gusev was Gallopin's protege when they were at CSC, and now as a DS at Astana, he has praised Gusev many times this year, so all this is very surprising and strange....

You're welcome, bambi.

In an apparent turn around, Gusev was withdrawn from the Olympic team by his own federation at the last moment. This explains Eki's detachment. Menchov will be the 2nd ITT man.

No follow up comments were made yet. Press release is to follow. It could possibly indicate pressure from either IOC or UCI. UCI is the more likely source. Perhaps, Gripper and Zorzoli finally compiled Gusev's blood parameters and submitted their formal letter (preliminary reports must have been based on just a telecon with Gripper). Unlike with Dekker, given the outcome, Gusev's data could be less than friendly.

Too early to tell, but Damsgaard must be feeling good hearing the news.

Gusev's removal does not seem to have anything to do with pressure from the UCI.

The Russian sports minister Vitalij Mutko is hard-lining it against dopers at Beijing. He has directl stated that it is more important to avoid scandals, than to win medals.

So far, no less than 8 Russian athletes qualified for the Olympics have been thrown out of the Olympic squad. Last week, seven female Russian athletes (five of them going to Beijing) received suspensions for doping. And Vladimir Kanaikin og Valery Borchin (walking) have today been suspended for positive EPO tests.

Mutko isn't interested in taking any chances, and that is probably why Gusev is out.

This is not what Russian press speculates.

Gusev was already in Peking when he learned less than 24 hours ago he's thrown out. His departure and arrival in Peking were in if full knowledge and with the approval of all officials including Mutko. Then something happened. . As I said, they promised a press release with more explanations...

Regarding, their women from the athletics team, your information is inaccurate. I already reported they were withdrawn for suspected sample manipulation. They failed a DNA test in Moscow 10-12 days ago. The case is 18 month old, involving three separate sets of samples. The investigation lingered and suddenly resurfaced when Russian Federation received a letter from IAAF few days ago with official suspicions. Russian officials complain that they were deliberately given only few days to consider the news because they could not appeal in the short time left. If they did not replace the five women, their whole athletics team could be banned. The story is interesting because it points to team-wide scheme and involves a DNA test that to my knowledge has not been adjudicated in such context yet.


That's the story as reported to me from "over there".
----------
added:
The press release was issued few hours ago. .
http://www.allsport.ru/index.php?id=16733
If Google understands it correctly, Gusev's recall is explained by the additional internal investigation currently conducted by Astana. The team reportedly sent Gusev's samples to several WADA accredited labs. The results are expected any day. It says considering the fact and not willing to get a new scandal in the middle of the Games, the minister took a decision to withdraw Gusev. It also says the UCI did not have anything against Gusev so far and for that moment…(good lawyers, I guess ).

Same guys at the UCI said they'll sue Vino in CAS if he decides to race...only to turn the other way when Olympics came...to have their faces saved by the IOC's independent decision

Seems like it is targetted pressure from the IOC. I just read a quote from Arne Ljunqvuist (IOC anti-doping), in which he essentially suggests that the Russians have been practising systematic doping of their athletes in the run-up to Beijing.

If I may borrow this for a second...

Coming back to Dekker; Looks like Rabobank have decided not to race him any longer. According to Wielermagazine, currently the lawyers on both sides are basically negotiating the buyout clause, hence the negotiations have come down to agreeing on the price rather than any form of reintegration.
http://www.wielermagazine.com/nieuws/6398/...or_dekker_.html

What is the price of crime?

Dave.

What's to adjudicate? As I understand it, the athletes were swapping in someone else's clean urine, testers got suspicious in 2006 that test results for that team were "too clean," then started DNA sampling and comparison and caught the swap-job.

Is someone going to challenge the definitive nature of DNA comparison? If not, there's nothing to adjudicate.

The bigger question is, given that the testers had a pretty good idea the entire team was beating and evading their testing by the old urine switcheroo, why exactly did it take them nearly 2 years to get these people out of competition? Why did other athletes get screwed for 2 years? The cheaters should have been called in and required to submit comparative DNA samples upon "reasonable suspicion" and busted immediately. No reason that should have taken more than a matter of weeks.

The system is incredibly corrupt. The regulators and testing are nearly as opaque as the doping infrastructure itself. And their willingness to be transparent in communicating fully, clearly and accurately with the public and the regulated community as to what's actually happening is worse than suspect, it's as questionable as the half-truths, manipulation and coverups from the dopers themselves.

There is no above-board, transparent, trustworthy process. At least not from this fan's perspective.

Something about the slow arm of the law?

Now, speaking of delays, why hasn't anyone caught bin Laden yet?

However, if your concern for other athletes getting screwed means that you are all for tougher sport fraud laws, I am with you.

Dave.

There is a lot…Fraud is very likely but in terms of learning for future efficeincy this case is one of the most mysterious and groundbreaking...

The number of Russian athletes (in all sports) accused of or suspended for doping in just the last year is huge. All the signs point to almost forgotten return of one of the worst Soviet habits…

The case against these 7 Russian women is not usual. The IAAF suspended them under the Rule 32e (sample tampering) but said next to nothing except confirming the investigation lasted over a year. Why so long? I don't know. The timing of disqualifications is curious and may have something to do with the Olympics. Personally, since I'm a hopeless sucker for anything technico-scientific re. anti-doping, I concentrate on novel (and educational) aspects of the case. Such as:

- I believe new WADA rules going into effect January, 2009 will specifically address DNA testing.
(there were always provisions for sample tampering though but DNA testing specifically was never there)

- The lengthy investigation may point to a complicated technical case AND an insider leak. See below.

- BBC reported the IAAF testers suspected the girls were tipped off because they were uncharacteristically punctual, always waiting for the testers and not the other way around.

- DNA testing is well established in many biological materials. But, in urine, it's a challenging task because urine is largely void of cells. Some epithelial cells are needed to run a PCR.

-There are other substantial technical challenges. Such as sample contamination. Also, storage (freezing} destroys analytes. So, in order to level a charge, IAAf needed a strong case.

- The case is particularly curious because only female athletes were involved. In lady athletes gender differences make both urine substitution easier (whilst chaperon's job harder) and mixed DNA cells (like after sex) more likely thus distorting the test.

Roman Usov (3000m runner) was thrown out of the Olympics today for use of Carphedon. That (allegedly) makes him the 10th Russian out of the Olympics due to doping.

Pez repeating rumours that Dekker could be headed to Garmin...

Speaking Of Thomas Dekker
Sportwereld reports that it looks as if the embattled youngster is headed to Garmin-Chipotle for 2009.

Dekker has a contract with Rabobank until 2010, but has done nil for the team since the Tour of Romandie back in, what, May?

The team reported that his Tour absence was due to blood irregularities, and nothing has gone swimmingly since. Complaints over his form, his blood, and Dekker's subsequent response = bad news. And now they are looking to part ways. Both parties will meet this week in hopes of finding a reasonable breaking off point.

Jonathan Vaughters knows what a talent looks like, and there's no question about Mr. Dekker...so...we wait to see.

Over at Velonews Vaughters says there's no truth to the rumor. He says he's never talked to Dekker.

That's not exactly what the velonews article says. Rather, its: It's just a rumor,” said Vaughters. “Right now there are no talks and there is no contract.”


Calling it a rumor doesn't mean that there's no basis for it. Some rumors are true. And "right now" doesn't mean that they have talked and don't have plans on talking. I'm not saying that there is anything going on. Just that you can't read Vaughters' statement one way or the other. To me, the statement sounds exactly like the kind of statement one makes when one doesn't want to prematurely admit that somethings may be in the works, especially since Dekker hasn't yet settled up with Rabobank.

This is a rumor I hope bears fruit. Garmin needs to keep stepping up the talent, as long as it's at a slow enough pace to maintain their focus on teamwork and cleanliness.
And screw Rabo. I got no love for them besides my respect for Menchov.

No love for wonder boy Gesink? No love for the classics-loving Spaniards at the Dutch team, Freire and Flecha? No love for Laurens ten Dam, who arguably has the coolest name in the whole peloton?

That's what I can't understand. Dekker's getting sacked for suspicion of doping and JV would step up to hire him? What happened to cleanliness? I can't see either the logic or sense in that and wonder why JV didn't dismiss the whole thing entirely...

'Cause there's no-one who's clean and the best he can hope for is that he will keep them clean once they come to Garmin?

I'm sure Dekker is at least as clean as Millar before he joined Chipotle.

Perhaps JV runs the new Ivan Fanini Home for People Who Could Have Been Big But Couldn't Quite Be Arsed

Thomas Dekker. Did we get him now ? He`s out of the Tour and it`s about an old EPO test that got examined again. But I wait for the english version of the article.

http://www.davitamon-lotto.com/site2007/NL...uws.php?id=1734

Cyclingnews also confirming the story. Weird translation posted however, it's like someone used a software translation package to post it....

DEKKER is SCREWED for good this time.