Cycling Will Not Suffer Because of Latest Scandals

With the International Cyclist Union (UCI) and the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) at war after the latest drug tests in cycling, the head of the International Olympic Committee (CIO), Jacques Rogge, expressed his belief that the sport is not going to suffer a great blow in terms of image. The world of cycling was struck by two of the most serious doping scandal in decades.

First, the "Puerto Operation" saw 58 of the most known cyclists being investigated over blood-related wrongdoings. Between them, there were Jan Ullrich, Oscar Sevilla, Francisco Mancebo, Ivan Basso and the whole Astana-Wurth team (former known as Liberty Seguros). Only 2 weeks after, the Tour de France winner, American Floyd Landis, failed a drug test after the 17th stage of Le Tour, and could be stripped of his win for first time in the competition’s history.

With all of that happening in the last 2 months and a half, Jacques Rogge thinks that cycling did not lose its credibility. On the contrary, all the efforts that are being made will help the sport – not only cycling – to get rid of the doping factor. Actually, Rogge warned all the sports federations to eradicate doping immediately, since the new methods of testing are becoming less effective and are not keeping pace with doping techniques.

"A sport is credible whenever it conducts the necessary amount of testing in and out of competition. Doping is an issue for all sports. There are sports with a number of doping cases that don't catch the front page of the newspapers; the television hardly speaks about them. It's because of the media that people may have the perception that [in cycling] there are more problems", said Rogge.

Today, Floyd Landis will find out if the B Sample of his drug test will strip him of his Tour de France "yellow jersey" or not. He defended himself earlier in the weekend, stating that the high level of testosterone found in his body came from natural causes, and not through illegal or banned substances.

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