Canadian cyclist Jeanson cleared By JONATHAN FOWLER, Associated Press Writer October 24, 2003
GENEVA (AP) -- Canada's Genevieve Jeanson was cleared by cycling's governing body on Friday of
taking any performance-enhancing drugs at the recent road world championships.
Urine samples for all riders came back negative, the International Cycling Union said.
Jeanson, one of her country's top cyclists, was tossed out of an Oct. 11 race in Hamilton,
Ontario, when blood samples taken hours before the women's road event showed an excessive red
blood cell count.
``I'm not surprised or relieved because I wasn't in the least worried,'' Jeanson said in a statement
release by her Rona-Esker pro team. ``I've never taken a prohibited substance so there was no way
any trace could be found in my urine.''
A high red blood cell count could be a sign of EPO. Jeanson suggested her reading may have been
caused by her sleeping in an oxygen tent to simulate high altitude.
``She was declared ineligible because of a blood test, which has nothing to do with a doping test,''
UCI spokesman Enrico Carpani told The Associated Press.
The UCI automatically carries out urine tests on riders with high red blood cell counts.
EPO, or erythropoietin, is a naturally produced hormone but is available as a genetically engineered
product. EPO artificially increases oxygen-carrying red blood cells and enhances endurance.
In a separate cycling case in Italy, Ivan Gotti, a two-time Giro d'Italia winner who quit pro
cycling this year, agreed to a five-month suspended jail term at a preliminary hearing. The case
stems from a police raid at the 2001 Giro, leading to the seizure of medicine and banned substances
from the hotel rooms of several cyclists.