3 Ukranian riders caught doping (blood transfusions) at the Tour de l'Avenir, a physiotherapist and father also implicated.
If this is the future of pro cycling, it looks pretty dark. Between the generation of dopers making comebacks and returning from suspensions, and the new generation that doesn't appear to have changed much from the old generation, doping appears to be here to stay.
http://www.lequipe.fr/Cyclisme/breves2009/...s-inculpes.html
http://www.cyclingnews.com/editions/first-...ptember-14-2009
Strange they were found with Actovegin, everyone knows it isn't a PED! Maybe they had a DS with a mysterious ailment.
Full Version: Doping at the Tour de l'Avenir
QUOTE(frenchfry @ Sep 14 2009, 11:20 AM) 
Strange they were found with Actovegin, everyone knows it isn't a PED! Maybe they had a DS with a mysterious ailment.
That's what you get when you go rummaging through dustbins
I don't know if Actovegin is a PED or not (the literature I found with a brief search seems split on the matter), however, it is not on WADA's banned substances list, and therefore use of it would not constitute doping in and of itself.
Actovegin not withstanding, the issues in this case are:
- From WADA's angle: unauthorized injections (actual or intended) are a forbidden method regardless of the substance. They found lots and lots of needles.
- From the French law angle: possession of certain illegal products. Not sure if Actovegin is on the French list of monitored substances, but I understand they found other product/chemicals that were.
- From WADA's angle: unauthorized injections (actual or intended) are a forbidden method regardless of the substance. They found lots and lots of needles.
- From the French law angle: possession of certain illegal products. Not sure if Actovegin is on the French list of monitored substances, but I understand they found other product/chemicals that were.
QUOTE(rational head @ Sep 14 2009, 09:17 AM)
Actovegin not withstanding, the issues in this case are:
- From WADA's angle: unauthorized injections (actual or intended) are a forbidden method regardless of the substance. They found lots and lots of needles.
- From the French law angle: possession of certain illegal products. Not sure if Actovegin is on the French list of monitored substances, but I understand they found other product/chemicals that were.
Agreed. But I wish people would quit saying Actovegin is a doping product until WADA actually defines it as such. Altough one could argue that they do, but M1. 2. is very vague - which it may need to be.
Also, to be more correct:
QUOTE
M2. CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL MANIPULATION
2. Intravenous infusions are prohibited except in the management of surgical procedures, medical emergencies or clinical investigations.
2. Intravenous infusions are prohibited except in the management of surgical procedures, medical emergencies or clinical investigations.
This does not prohibit all injections.
QUOTE(Steve in ATL @ Sep 14 2009, 03:02 PM)
I don't know if Actovegin is a PED or not (the literature I found with a brief search seems split on the matter), however, it is not on WADA's banned substances list, and therefore use of it would not constitute doping in and of itself.
From the cyclingnews.com article:
"Although Actovegin is not listed on the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) list of banned substances, the sale and importation of the drug is illegal in France."
Once again the police are left to do what the UCI (and WADA) won't. PED or not, it's illegal in France.
Maybe one donation to the UCI was to ensure that Actovegin never makes it to the banned list? (I love conspiracy theories)
QUOTE(Steve in ATL @ Sep 14 2009, 03:36 PM)
Also, to be more correct:
QUOTE
M2. CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL MANIPULATION
2. Intravenous infusions are prohibited except in the management of surgical procedures, medical emergencies or clinical investigations.
2. Intravenous infusions are prohibited except in the management of surgical procedures, medical emergencies or clinical investigations.
This does not prohibit all injections.
You could argue that the exceptions for the no injections rule would normally preclude the injectee from riding for at least a few days, and certainly shouldn't be allowed to continue a tour.
QUOTE(frenchfry @ Sep 14 2009, 09:43 AM)
You could argue that the exceptions for the no injections rule would normally preclude the injectee from riding for at least a few days, and certainly shouldn't be allowed to continue a tour.
What "no injections" rule? I see a "no intravenous infusions" rule, but that is not a "no injections" rule.
QUOTE(frenchfry @ Sep 14 2009, 09:43 AM)
"Although Actovegin is not listed on the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) list of banned substances, the sale and importation of the drug is illegal in France."
I saw that and nothing that I said is contradicted by it.
QUOTE(Steve in ATL @ Sep 14 2009, 04:48 PM)
I saw that and nothing that I said is contradicted by it.
And where did I suggest you contradicted it?
Could it be that I attempted to add further insight?
QUOTE(frenchfry @ Sep 14 2009, 06:43 AM)
From the cyclingnews.com article:
"Although Actovegin is not ^specifically^ listed on the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) list of banned substances, the sale and importation of the drug is illegal in France."
...
Nice further insight. This statement now includes a word that should have been used in the original.
Actovegin has done a bit of back-and-forth. Don't want to put him on the spot, but I thought Lister at one point had posted some further information on its PED status.
Dave.
Well, if they're transfusing themselves with it, then someone somewhere thinks Actovegin is a PED. And since the riders and their docs seem to always be one or two steps ahead, it seems likely that Actovegin is a benefit to riding.
QUOTE(Tom T. @ Sep 14 2009, 12:36 PM)
Well, if they're transfusing themselves with it, then someone somewhere thinks Actovegin is a PED. And since the riders and their docs seem to always be one or two steps ahead, it seems likely that Actovegin is a benefit to riding.
By that measure then Arsenic is a PED because riders believed it to be so (and are from some reports, believing it again).
Apparently, customs have found EPO, around 15 bags of blood and of course 10 box of actovegin, 30 syringes, some writing recommendations about EPO usage,... and other unidentified medecines!
Added :
From a local newspaper (L'Est Republicain)
Added :
From a local newspaper (L'Est Republicain)
QUOTE
Le controle douanier à eu lieu au rond point de Saint-Sauveur (tout près de Luxeuil en Haute-Saône). Les douaniers ont arrêté et contrôlé deux voitures. L'une immatriculée en Ukraine et l'autre en Espagne. Elles étaient conduite par un masseur et le père d'un coureur.
A été trouvé dans les deux véhicules :
- une dizaine de boîte d'Actovegin (médicament interdit en France)
- une vingtaine de cathéters,
- une quinzaine de poches de sang
- une trentaine de seringues
- des protocoles de prise de médicaments postérieure à la prise d'EPO
- d'autres produits non encore identifiés car sous étiquettes cyrilliques (tous ne sont pas suspects),
Les trois coureurs dont les affaires figuraient dans les deux véhicules ont été interpellé. Les 6 coureurs ont subit des prises de sang.
Les responsables de l'enquête déclarent "rien ne permet de dire que toute l'équipe est en cause. On penche plutôt vers des comportements individuels. Nous n'avons aucune idée des filières d'approvisionnement"
A été trouvé dans les deux véhicules :
- une dizaine de boîte d'Actovegin (médicament interdit en France)
- une vingtaine de cathéters,
- une quinzaine de poches de sang
- une trentaine de seringues
- des protocoles de prise de médicaments postérieure à la prise d'EPO
- d'autres produits non encore identifiés car sous étiquettes cyrilliques (tous ne sont pas suspects),
Les trois coureurs dont les affaires figuraient dans les deux véhicules ont été interpellé. Les 6 coureurs ont subit des prises de sang.
Les responsables de l'enquête déclarent "rien ne permet de dire que toute l'équipe est en cause. On penche plutôt vers des comportements individuels. Nous n'avons aucune idée des filières d'approvisionnement"
QUOTE(fab @ Sep 14 2009, 01:44 PM)
Apparently, customs have found
Added :
From a local newspaper (L'Est Republicain)
They must have some sick folks in their team that need medical attention.
QUOTE(OAR @ Sep 15 2009, 11:03 AM)
They must have some sick folks in their team that need medical attention.
Sure hope they don't have anything serious. Like a chimera, bum hip, or a saddle sore or something.
Dave.
QUOTE(D-Queued @ Sep 15 2009, 05:02 PM)
Sure hope they don't have anything serious. Like a chimera, bum hip, or a saddle sore or something.
Dave.
No, I think they said something about a missing twin.
QUOTE(D-Queued @ Sep 14 2009, 09:04 AM)
Actovegin has done a bit of back-and-forth. Don't want to put him on the spot, but I thought Lister at one point had posted some further information on its PED status.
Dave.
Can't recall now, but you're right, it has gone back and forth. Google suggests it was considered an oxygen transporting substance by the IOC as early as 2000, now not so much.
In 2000 AP reported it was banned: http://archive.sportingnews.com/other/arti...212/280096.html
QUOTE
December 12, 2000
LAUSANNE, Switzerland -- The product at the core of doping allegations against Lance Armstrong's team in the Tour de France was banned Tuesday by the International Olympic Committee.
LAUSANNE, Switzerland -- The product at the core of doping allegations against Lance Armstrong's team in the Tour de France was banned Tuesday by the International Olympic Committee.
This 2008 article re rugby suggests it's used intramusculalrly, vs intravenously, a further distinction from other "injections" as Steve pointed out.
QUOTE
Under its code, injecting Actovegin into veins is illegal and would result in a two-year ban.
However, it is not illegal to inject the substance into muscles.
Manly insiders claim they have been using Actovegin in soft tissue - hamstrings, Achilles tendons and groins - to hasten recovery, and that all substances are checked with the agency's code to ensure legality.
However, it is not illegal to inject the substance into muscles.
Manly insiders claim they have been using Actovegin in soft tissue - hamstrings, Achilles tendons and groins - to hasten recovery, and that all substances are checked with the agency's code to ensure legality.
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/articles/2008/0...4951041583.html
Some interesting details relating to this case
http://www.lemonde.fr/sport/article/2009/0...43104_3242.html
http://www.lemonde.fr/sport/article/2009/0...43104_3242.html
QUOTE(frenchfry @ Sep 21 2009, 08:17 AM)
Some interesting details relating to this case
http://www.lemonde.fr/sport/article/2009/0...43104_3242.html
Thanks. Yes, including a mention of catheters.
QUOTE
les agents vont découvrir dans des sacs plastiques une "petite pharmacie" composée de 196 éléments, dont des seringues et des cathéters.
Does Avenir use chaperones? If so, what are the catheters for? Fill-ups while the OOC doping official is in the lobby?
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