From AFP. So who is it--Och, Neel?:
Riders pressured to take drugs says former prominent
team manager
April 22, 2004 NEW YORK (AFP) - A former prominent
American team manager claims that cyclists have no
choice but take performance enhancing drugs if they
want to stay competitive in the professional peloton.
"With so many races, so much pressure to perform, the
riders are pressured in taking performance enhancing
drugs," the ex-team manager told AFP on condition of
anonymity.
"Just because riders never tested positive, it doesn't
mean anything because you can always cheat on the
tests. If a rider wants dope, it's not that hard to
find," he added.
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"Actually, the riders want to be ahead of the curve.
Some teams try to find the most experienced doctors.
They hire the best they can find. Believe me, those
guys know how to beat the system."
Over the last few years, cycling has been shrouded in
controversy and scandal.
The latest scandal involves France's top team,
Cofidis, who have suspended all competition as they
battle allegations of doping since January when a
number of riders and ex-riders were alleged to have
been using and distributing banned substances, such as
EPO (erythropoietin).
The subsequent investigation has led to seven riders,
including the main accuser, Frenchman Philippe
Gaumont, and the team physio being charged with
illegally possessing toxic drugs
Also in Spain, former Kelme team rider Jesus
Manzano has made damaging allegations about his
former team, whom he claimed encouraged blood
transfusions and forced him to take unknown
substances at last year's Tour de France, where he
collapsed on the seventh stage.
Manzano's allegations, which also centred on
suggestions that EPO, growth hormones and practices
which can help riders sidestep doping tests, have been
rubbished by Kelme, who had sacked him last year.
However they were enough to force Tour de France
organisers to rule out handing Kelme a wildcard
invitation for this year's race.
The former team manager said that "all of this is
crazier than the Festina scandal" (in 1998) and hinted
that a new product may be used by many riders.
"Growth hormones aren't enough by themselves. EPO is
no longer the thing anymore. Something else is coming
up. There's something new on the market. It's possible
that doctors have come up with a new product."
More than a handful of young riders have died of heart-
related
problems this year, not a mere coincidence, according to the
AFP source.
"The last time we had so many riders die of heart
problems was when EPO (erythropoietin) came up. It's
more than a coincidence. It's not natural for the
heart to fail at such a young age. That's a hint that
something is wrong," he said.
The former team manager blames the International
Cycling Union (UCI) for its lack of adequate
measures and advocates swifter fines to combat
doping cheaters like in other sports where you get a
minimum of a two-year ban.
"Instead of confronting the problem, the UCI turns its
head down. We don't know why they are not taking
drastic measures. They think the problem is going to
go away. It's not," he said.
"They should have kicked Richard Virenque out of the
sport. What's the message they are sending. You can
dope yourself and if you get caught you get six months
and race again.
"If you're a big name, nothing happens to you," he
added. "That's the problem. The UCI is spineless. It
is something very frustrating for the clean riders
out there."