Seems that another blood doping scandal is brewing over in Europe. This time in Austria, and this time featuring mainly biathletes and cross-country skiers. But even so, a few cyclists’ names are linked to Humanplasma, an Austrian chain of blood labs and medical clinics. The three cyclists mentioned in connection with this new scandal are all members or former members of the Rabobank team: Dennis Menchov (still racing), Michael Boogerd (recently retired) and Michael Rasmussen (currently in a bizarre form of limbo — Will the Monaco cycling authorities bring him up on any sort of charges or not? And what will be the outcome of his legal action against his former employers?).
If the allegations against the cyclists turns out to be true, then Rabobank’s current and former management have some `splaining to do. It certainly would suggest at least a somewhat organized doping program. At this point, Menchov, Boogerd and Rasmussen all have denied any connection with the lab, and a spokesman for Rabobank that they’re not worried about these charges. Henri van der Aat, the interim manager of Rabobank’s cycling team told the media:
“There are a lot of rumors in the world of cycling. People are throwing mud at each other and the Germans are jumping to conclusions about doping without proof,” said van der Aat. “What we do know are the blood monitoring tests we’ve done with the team. We’ve looked at all of them and there’s nothing suspicious. Unless there’s an official inquiry, we’re not going to investigate this story.”
So far, the media reports that I’ve seen (these two courtesy of reader Jean C, machine translation of Jean’s link to the Der Spiegel article, here) are focusing on a report by German public television station ARD that alleges blood doping by German biathletes and others. The most complete article on the subject that I’ve seen is the Der Spiegel article. Some of information still seems a bit nebulous to me, however. No real specifics have been offered. At least, none in the form of, “Joe Doakes went to the Humanplasma clinic in Vienna on 29 June 2007 to receive a blood transfusion prior to a major race in France…” If some of the mud that’s currently being tossed about winds up sticking, we may be witnessing the beginnings of another Puerto-like scandal.
Right now, the numbers of athletes said to be involved is much smaller than in Puerto. And this scandal harkens back to the days shortly before the 2006 Olympics in Torino, when a number of Austrian athletes were forced to withdraw from competition, due to a blood-doping scandal. So, assuming that there may have been some substance to that episode, could it be that Human Plasma may have been connected to that dust-up, too?
Certainly, Dick Pound may have thought so, as he (or one of his WADA minions) asked Austrian authorities to investigate the lab last year. Despite Pound’s suspicions, a number of people are denying the accusations. As Der Spiegel reports:
Cross-country [ski] coach Jochen Behle had previously rejected all suspicions: “People like Werner Franke think that everyone dopes, but we prove the contrary. Our successes are clean … ” World Cup leader Axel Teichmann pointed out that German athletes have their blood volume measurements taken more frequently than the anti-doping regulations call for: “In our sport, as in other sports, there are black sheep. But the suspicion is unfair.”
Exactly what the truth may be will come out in time. Right now, the appearance from the few articles that have been published is that a number of athletes went to Humanplasma for the purpose of blood doping. But while Lothar Baumgartner, one of two managing directors for the company, does admit that they have the equipment capable of separating and storing red blood cells, he claims it was for a different use. To supply blood to Vienna-area hospitals. As the Der Spiegel story tells it, Baumgartner says that business never panned out and the equipment is not currently in use.
Whatever the case may be, it would be good to see as much of the evidence as possible presented to the public so that we can understand better exactly who is alleged to have done what, when. My gut instinct tells me that this story will be around for a while. Some of the athletes accused are going to turn out to be guilty, and some will turn out to be innocent. Exactly who falls into which category is yet to be seen, however. Stay tuned, this story is going to get a lot more interesting.
And Speaking of Operacion Puerto…
The Boulder Report’s Joe Lindsey has an excellent suggestion regarding the almost two-year old Spanish blood doping scandal. Do a “Landis” and put all the information out in public view for all to see. Sort of a “read `em and weep” approach. Those who are genuinely guilty would be seen for who they are, and those who are merely accused with no proof to back up the allegations will be also be apparent. Then the ones who aren’t guilty of anything can get back to racing (rather than having to defend themselves against continuing hearsay and innuendo), and the ones who are guilty can get back to worrying about how they’re going to make a living for the next few years.
It certainly would go a long way towards clearing the air about this whole mess. As Lindsey notes, sunshine is the best disinfectant. We could use a lot more of it, where doping scandals are concerned.
Rant,
From what I have come to “learn” of the Austrians — They will not let this go lightly. There are an awful lot of people who have turned their backs on the “scene” — one hears the term “They’re ALL dopers!” — it can be safely said that a large percentage of the viewing public who have watched – don’t want “doping” as part of the racing equation. It is very important to Austria that it’s image be “correct.”
These “tifosi” are not any better informed then people in the States about the “inner workings” of the “racers life.” Let’s face it — we didn’t really “know anything” until Floyd opened the “doors” for us. The “win” for Totschnig was a major “happening” here. People invested a “lot in their national hero” — it took some god-awful-long-time since the last Austrian “won a stage.” It would be no great “stretch” of the imagination to assume that the viewers will “not like being supportive of a cheater,” whatever the reality of the situation – Totschnig will be toast.
On the other hand — the “revelation” that the top riders in Rabobank may be involved — Man, that is really going to unwind some of this mess.
Looks to me like the “real plan” of the IOC was to show “every established pro-team” as being corrupt and naturally, doping! “Attacking” hi-profile riders was just Step 1 of “getting rid of doping.” I would say it would be more correct to say, “Cleaning up the organized shady dealings and characters in the Sport.” The riders were used to “open up,” the racing scene — PRO-CYCLING is being called “corrupt” indirectly. From the media evidence this is possibly very true. It still bothers me that the rules and laws are so unfair towards the riders. There is nothing fair about “limiting” how a rider can counter an accusation! The “accusers” must be held to the same rules that they have formed, and take responsibility when they had made a mistake. The fact that it is possible for the governing bodies to “ignore” what the viewing public is saying — to ignore what has been shown about their labs, indicates that there is a hell of a long way to go.
I think the IOC and its arm the WADA — have no problem with “cleaning up” sports and using Pro-Cycling as a means to open up the scene. I am very much for the cleaning up the sport of cycling — but it bothers the hell out of me that we are sacrificing so much to get it done! We seemed to have arrived at the point where “it is okay that we shaft individual lives — that the adjuration process seems to be designed to work ONLY to “prove guilt” — at all cost! I hope that something will be done to “correct” the absurdities that are the WADA rules. I hope there will be “transparency” in all aspects — otherwise if we are “hoping” for “clean sports” without transparency — we are deluding ourselves thinking that clean sports will exist “behind closed doors.” Looks to me like the Crusade is working.
I have nothing against cleaning up sports – I do care about cycling – I care enough that I for one have had enough of rules that ignore basic rights to fair justice. The fact should not escape us that from all those thousands of tests done – The anti-doping Program could only bring 3 or 4 percent of the total that they accused of doping. The excuse is that – “dopers” are always ahead of the game – of course they are – it appears to me they have better minds working for them! At least minds that don’t feel that doping is a bad thing. Are we intending to “get such thinking” wiped out? – Definitely not with the methods that exist today governing our cycling world. So the Crusade is working – as long as we are all willing to ignore fair jurisprudence.
And I suppose – we will be watching “squeaky clean” races after this is all done – maybe “pro cycling” as we know it – is coming to the end. Maybe it is a good thing, I tend to believe that it is. But I do not for one minute believe that “people” who want to cheat, will be done away with or barred. At least not in a legal manner. Why bother when you can have the media do it for you – and what they don’t do – the arbitrators will do for you – since the arbs are working for you. Welcome to the reality show “pro cycling!”
Morgan,
Like you, I’m all in favor of cleaning things up. And, like you, I believe that it ought to be done in a way that is just. I’m not an advocate of “the ends justify the means.” And from what I’ve seen, we’re on agreement there. I do believe that the anti-doping system must be as fair to those accused as any judicial system, given the stakes for those who get ensnared in it. And that it it’s strict on the athletes, it should hold the other side — including the labs — to equally strict standards. Even if it’s a small minority of those accused who might actually be innocent, the system needs to ensure that they will be afforded the opportunity to actually prove their innocence. As it currently stands, that appears to be nigh on impossible.
Out of curiosity, how is this playing out for the biathletes, cross-country skiers and the coaches said to be involved? It seems to me that these sports are bigger over there than they are here. Is the media raking those people over the coals, too? Or is mostly cyclists who are getting skewered? By my math, if four cyclists have been accused, that leaves 26 non-cyclists. What of them? I understand some are denying the story. Has anyone admitted that they did go to the labs implicated in the stories to blood dope?
I expect this story will be playing out for quite some time.
If, as some hold, most of pro cycling are doping, then any accusation is likely to hit the mark, so to speak, no matter how flawed the basis for the accusation is. Draw names out of a hat, have a witch doctor read chicken entrails, whatever. Without making an statement about any particular individual who may or may not post here, I sometimes suspect that some of the more rabid anti-doper faction are guilty of this line of thinking: even if the testing is flawed and/or the adjudication system is flawed, chances are that any rider accused is guilty anyway, so we might as well go ahead and hang him (figuratively speaking).
Expand this idea a bit farther: if many xc skiers/biathletes are doping, and I accuse some of them of using this Austrian lab for that, it may be quite likely that some of the name I accuse are in fact doping. But does that show that the lab is guilty? They could have gotten the dope somewhere else. Yet, I suspect that in the public’s mind, if a few of the skiers accused turn out to be guilty, the lab will be “convicted” regardless of the nature of the evidence against the lab.
Rabobank seems to be in an interesting position with Rasmussen. While their actions in firing Ras are based, not on doping accusations, but rather the fact that he apparently was less than forthcoming about his whereabouts and missed OoC tests, in some ways their position would be stronger if it was shown that he had indeed doped. But their connection with these new allegations would be harmful to their image, so they probably would like Ras to be shown innocent of these charges.
To change the subject, the new prez of WADA is criticizing MLB for its drug program:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BBO_WADA_STEROIDS?SITE=PASUN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
Our old friend Ayotte opps up in this article.
Thanks, William. It took only 17 days before Mr. Fahey managed to pull a Pound, so to speak.
Rant,
Not sure it is in the interest of those holding the Puerto files to open for all to see. They are getting far too much millage with the slow leak of documents.
Seriously, though, dumping the whole mess on the web for all to read might open up too many privacy issues, and would certainly expose the Spanish investigative team for the set of clowns they are: why shoot yourself in the foot?
Damsgaard: The Austrian bloodbank cheats.
He knows very well the blood bank, and is sure that the bank is cheating. Says he and many international federations have suspected the bank for a long time.
Says that the last piece of evidence to get the police into it is missing.
Apparently the bloodbank said that they don’t have the education/equiptment needed for a transfusion.
Damsgaard finds this very hard to believe since they work with bloodplasma that needs very high science knowledge of blood.
He thinks this company is much more specialized than Fuentes.
http://www.bt.dk/article/20080116/sport03/801160335/
I read that all German biathlon/x-skiers reacted furiously to these claims, denying any involment.
Today’s biathlon WC-race at Antholz (women), Germans took 1 and 2, and had 5 athletes in top 10.
Rant,
I hope this fulfills your request.
German winter sports athletes alleged of doping
A scandal is immanent in German winter sports. According to information obtained by the public TV channel ARD about 20 cross-country and biathlon athletes are said to be involved. At least some of them world-class athletes. The athletes are said to be customers of a Vienna company that had helped them with blood doping. Professional cyclists also allegedly sued the illegal services of the blood bank. Biathlon trainer Muessigang was quoted as saying that he could not swear an oath that nobody had been involved but he could not imagine that someone from the German team had tried to get an advantage in this way.
http://www.spiegel.de/sport/wintersport/0,1518,529269,00.html
“We apologize for making “a journalistic mistake.”
I send you what I have found about the ARD accusations affair — There is conflict over the effectiveness of the “apology” since it has not helped with the tainting of the athletes reputations — there is serious consideration for the prosecution of the “editors” responsible for the story leak — not ARD itself.
The owners of “Human plasma” are up in arms about circulating “unsubstantiated reports” —“the “human plasmas GmbH” denied, Lothar Baumgartner, in letters to the Austrian Federal Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer as well as the former president of the world anti Doping agency (Wada), Richard Pound,”
— in English – Lothar Baumgartner the head of “the “human plasmas GmbH” — in letters to “Austrian Federal Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer and Richard Pound, the former president of the world anti Doping agency (Wada), states that his company was “never” a partner to such scandal — that the “accusations are empty and without proof” that the action of this report has cause his company to lose large amounts of revenue.
The Biathlon in Antholz began with an “apology” to the crowd and athletes for the circulation of the accusations and innuendos — the “apology” was said by the reporter from the ARD.
Immediate “reaction” to the statement from ARD – Viennese Doping expert Hans Holdhaus claims “that the information is indisputable against the blood bank,” but that the way the article was presented — it was not fair to the athletes. Although, he would welcome the names of “specific” sportsman, if there are any.
The Austrian government states that it has “no proof” of any athlete, both Austrian and foreign athletes, undergoing blood doping procedure in Austria. — This was in “response” to the inquiries made by “German Olympic sport federation (DOSB) and the international Olympic committee (IOC).”
—“the Federal Criminal Investigation Office (Federal Bureau of Criminal Investigations).” Have no specific names being targeted for investigation, a spokeswoman said. “How ever, we are in intense communications with the “Federal Bureau of Criminal Investigations d Italian” prosecution authorities.
Further information is that the “biathlon” and x-country distance skiing – broadcasts have a 30-percent market share.
Assuming these allegations have merit, one of the key conclusions one could make is that this operation, like Opertion Puerto, shows that the testing alone is not sufficient to catch cheaters, much less guarentee the race was clean. The next time McQuaid or some other UCI-related apologist says the races are clean because no one is testing positve…then people should take note. The next time some star racer who makes millions via the system insists that the enforcement system is working and doping in the peloton is overstated, people should take note.
If anti-doping efforts are nothing more than frying a few scapegoats, while the majority of riders still believe it’s necessary to keep doping and keep lying about it, then anti-doping hasn’t solved anything. Arguably such measures make the problem worse by covering it up and staining everyone involved with hypocrisy. It pisses off those who think they’re paying attention, because when the truth is revealed they feel like rubes.
In the end, the goal has to be coming up with a structure where genuine talent and dedication actuallly determine sporting results, as opposed to a mafia-life selection process. The goal has to be a sport where no cyclist feels it is necessary to dope and lie in order to practice his profession.
Can such goals be achieved given the prevailing UCI leadership and continuing omerta enforcement among the top teams? I seriously doubt it–it’s questionable whether these insitutions can be reformed because the prevailing clique doesn’t know of any other way to do things. The way they see it–if they don’t cheat, someone else will.
This is why cycling needs much more sweeping changes and a far more open and honest discussion of if and how cycling can rid itself of doping.
For all who are interested, here is a machine translated version of the article that Morgan linked to, above.
Ludwig:
You have some good thoughts here. The perception of many is that there are many pro cyclists getting away with doping. Whether or not this is true, there is this perception and many people are acting on it. Some of us ordinary people are losing interest in pro cycling, the German TV system dropped the TdF, and perhaps many cyclists are thinking that they need to dope in order to compete, even if they don’t want to. And this perception lends credence to the idea that it is possible to dope and get away with it. If you’re a rider and you think “everybody” is doping, and you see that only a paltry 3% or so come up positive on tests, the odds are in your favor.
Ramping up the penalties, closing the loopholes that allow one or two riders to get off, or having heads of WADA shoot off at the mouth is not going to do much, if anything about. Even the big investigations, BALCO, OP, the Mitchell report, have not produced much in the way of results.
Perhaps the blood passport system could change things, if it is well run, which is, IMO, a pretty big if. What is needed is a system where there is a good chance if you dope you will get caught, and also, where everybody has confidence enough in the system that if and when the tests show that only an occasional few riders dope, we believe that is an accurate representation of the true situation.
William,
Of interest perhaps, is the CyclingNews article:—“Independent testing to continue alongside UCI’s ‘biological passports'”
It appears that there has been a “line drawn in the sand.” It would appear that CSC, Slipstream, Astana, Highroad all have “decided” that while they are 100% behind the UCI’s blood-passport system — they feel that their bio-profile system in some cases is “more thorough” then the UCI system and therefore is a plus to have “both.”
The article also mentions certain concerns of “double checking” Bruyneel and Stapleton AGREE on the need for “team” testing. On the surface the report projects an image of “buddy-buddy” with the UCI . it should be noted that tem managers, are willing to keep investing in their own “testing” programs. It is interesting to note that Stapleton states for the record, —” Stapleton pointed out that the ACE program is more comprehensive than what the UCI has planned.— “We are profiling both blood and urine. This goes well beyond the UCI testing.”
It seems to me that in reality — “nobody trusts anybody.” That the teams want to have their independent testing so that the UCI passport “results” are kosher. Some very fancy oral support of the Passport program from the Teams — but also an admission that the UCI “habits” are going to be “neutralized” by their own “outside” lab testing”¦
It would appear that the “teams” are trying to take the “ultimate” interpretership out of the hands of the UCI/WADA. Stapleton points directly to the “teams” testing is superior to the UCI program — Not a good sign that we may look forward to a “harmonious” season of racing.
And to think that the “blood-passport” is just “one” of the issues. I have a feeling that with the “Teams” keeping an “outside” highly recognized programs — can only bring strife in the “testing” future. I believe we are open for some serious conflicts concerning the WADA Code and how it’s being applied”¦maybe there is a true movement on the parts of the “Teams” to “clean up” pro racing “¦ a movement that is “fairer” to the athlete but will get the job done. One can only hope. But it would appear also to be true that the “two” testing protocols will find themselves in conflict.
If EVERYBODY has been “doping” the passport system does seem to present a way through this mess. One would certainly expect to discover the mystery of the “3-4%” — WADA and the UCI will be forced to deal with “hard-numbers” rather then their “interpretations of the rules.” The Teams seem to have “taken it in hand.” One can only hope that the “open to public inspection” of the TEAM testing — the “door has been opened” so the public has access — I think this is a very good thing. Anybody want to bet that there will be attempts to “close” this door to us?
William — I concur with your points. So gosh darned many “ifs” have been flying around we need to have transparency in the pro racing situation. I don’t feel a need to add on to your words — they express how I hope things will in the end –“work-out.”
Morgan, as usual you make some good points.
Inside team testing has been already better than UCI controls. It’s normal if teams want to avoid doping cases!
For example why need a team to measure the hematocrit level of his riders when they are normally very lower than 50% at the start on TDF ? Only to beat the vampire before they catch them. If that kind of materials (specially all blood monitoring equipment were forbidden on races, more riders would be caught or would less dope to be more inside the allowed limits.
UCI can not trust teams : management and riders!
Teams management has not confidence in their riders and are sometimes accomplice of the doping program.
So at least 2 different reasons for internal team testing:
– to avoid doping cases
– to beat doping control!
Sorry Jean C – day late but better then never.
To me it seems like the “teams” started their own testing programs to counter the sole control of the UCI/WADA – has on the situation. You may be right – I believe that the blood-passport system can be perverted to use as a means to avoid detection…but they CAN be used to counter the doping.
I cannot “know” why they do both “blood” & “urine” samples on the Team controls – I would assume because the last scientific address of this question NEEDS both blood and urine to get the clearest answer.
But the UCI is relying only on one test…where two test need to be done to get a more complete and correct reading of the data. My question would be then, why is the UCI – NOT doing the more comprehensive method???
sorry did not finish—
I agree with you – “trust” should not be a direct issue! NONE of what is going on in the mess that we call testing is a “question of fairness” – you test because “you don’t trust those being tested.” It is a built in adversarial set up.
Likewise – if we accept that doping is going on – then “we don’t trust any of the parties – not to not cheat – We are saying – “we don’t trust you!” This will work naturally IF THERE IS “PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY” MADE AVAILABLE. Otherwise the system can’t work.
Your 2 reasons for “internal team testing” – point to “exactly” how the team testing CAN BE PERVERTED – but not as long as there is “transparency” to it all – I believe that “prepared – blood profile passports, can be spotted – especially since the testings are to be conducted year-round.