Suspended until end of 2011. This time the ban is in effect everywhere, not only in Italy, following the decision of the CAS.
Slightly misleading title. It’s not a new doping case, just a very delayed decision from Puerto.
Not really a misleading title. It sure doesn’t say he just got tested positive, you decided to read it as such.
I didn’t say either it was a new case. I’m pretty sure everyone here who follows the doping cases in cycling is aware that Valverde has been banned from racing in Italy for a year or so now.
This decision shouldn’t really come as a surprise.
Suspended until end of 2011. This time the ban is in effect everywhere, not only in Italy, following the decision of the CAS.
Finally. Evans is now new nr 1 on the UCI rankings.
Valverde suspended until end of 2011.
very good
Wow, only took 6 years!!! I’m glad that, combined with the Italy ban, this means he’ll miss three TdFs instead of two (a small cry to justice).
Go Evans!
Ironically, he’s never tested positive.
I’m confused by the ban goign into affect jan 1, so does he get to keep his wins from this year so far?
Most times, they will retro-active the date of suspension if the athlete basically stops riding. IE, Floyd Landis’s doping came at a later date, but because he stopped competing, they basically started the suspension at the date of the doping offense, not the time of the ruling. BUT, in those cases the riders didnt continue to race.
Valverde in essence has been allowed to continue to ride after his suspension date until offiically he has to stop now (basically only serving a 19 month sentence officially by UCI standards, Italy has had a tougher stance on him).
Wow…that was a long time in coming! This is one of those no-win situations. The athlete deserved the benefit of the doubt while the investigations played out, but because those investigations took so long, he was able to ride and profit for a great long time when apparently he should have been required to sit out. I don’t see how this could have really played out much differently given the intricacies involved between the various governing entities. But it really provided some injustice to all involved, including the other riders he took wins from when he should have been banned. As for Valverde himself, while I feel the justice has not served well for him either…I don’t feel much pity for a cheater. At least now he can move forward and not have to live day-to-day under the cloud of suspicion, wondering when the axe might fall, if at all.
You have the right to be confused. The whole story makes very little sense. Ullrich was named in Operacion Puerto. His government went after him, he was forced to retire, and was facing criminal charges (not sure if they stuck…maybe Uli and a few others can clarify). On the other hand, Valverde has been banned from racing in Italy for over a year now, but is now banned for 2 years, but it’s in effect from January 2010…etc…
Yes, being confused makes perfect sense.
What a masquerade.
I’m confused by the ban goign into affect jan 1, so does he get to keep his wins from this year so far?
Most times, they will retro-active the date of suspension if the athlete basically stops riding. IE, Floyd Landis’s doping came at a later date, but because he stopped competing, they basically started the suspension at the date of the doping offense, not the time of the ruling. BUT, in those cases the riders didnt continue to race.
Valverde in essence has been allowed to continue to ride after his suspension date until offiically he has to stop now (basically only serving a 19 month sentence officially by UCI standards, Italy has had a tougher stance on him).
He will lose all his wins since Jan 1 , 2010 (and have to give back the $$). He gets to keep all the prior ones though (including last years Vuelta). Don’t try to make sense of it.
Ironically, he’s never tested positive.
Hey, that’s Lance’s line!
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Ironically, he’s never tested positive.
Hey, that’s Lance’s line!
This is what I don’t understand. It is common knowledge that Blood doping is hard to catch, especially in the pre-biological passport days. Why do athletes (or press agents) continue to release statements saying “…never tested positive”. To me, that’s a cop-out and a reduction in credibility. (Not that there seems to be any doubt that Valverde is a doper)
Ironically, he’s never tested positive.
He sorta did. The blood in his Puerto blood bag tested positive for EPO. Anyway, the anti-doping fight will have to change a bit. I started to write a series of blogs on the topic, which can be found here: http://www.cervelo.com/en_us/news-blog/rider-blogs/?tm=80. LEt me know what you think,
Well, I’ve voiced my opinion on the matter enough times that you know ‘he’s never tested positive’ doesn’t entail that he’s clean, in my mind…i’m sure you could find a good lawyer who will state that EPO in his blood outside of his body doesn’t mean he took EPO 
I like your first idea…Now, what I’d like to know is: what are you suggesting to achieve this?
What I have not seen so far strongly in your suggestions is the real issue, IMO. This is the entire upper levels running the sport. I do not believe any racer would want to dope, if they know everyone was clean. But, when your coaches, doctors, etc. are really involved, but seem to be able to get out of issues, well, here is my suggestion. If any rider is caught doping, then the manager, doctor, etc. of that team can no longer EVER be involved in the sport. Period!!!
“This is the entire upper levels running the sport. I do not believe any racer would want to dope, if they know everyone was clean”
How wrong…
You are trying to tell me that an athlete who gets into any sport right away says I want to dope? No way. But, if the system is such that if you want to compete you have to dope, then yep, a lot of folks do not have strong values.
You wrote “This is the entire upper levels running the sport. I do not believe any racer would want to dope, if they know everyone was clean”.
The negation of that sentence is not that ‘anyone entering a sport will want to dope’…
You need to work out your logic a bit.