Somebody educate me. It was my understanding that after a positive doping finding that a rider would be banned for two years and that the Pro Tour Teams would not sign them for at least two more. Effectively giving a four year penalty for a positive result. Why is it that Millar (sp?) will be racing this year but Tyler will have to wait two more. His (Tyler) two year suspension will be up before the World Championships in September.
Because the both of their suspensions began before the start of the ProTour.
Tyler could join a Pro Tour team in September. The Pro Tour Code of Conduct wasn’t adopted until December of 2004, after Hamilton’s and Millar’s suspensions, so they fall outside of the agreement.
Millar is already training with a team. Any guesses as to who Tyler goes with? Will Phonak take him back. CSC is known for bringing older guys back to the front of the pack. I can’t imagine him going unsigned. Look at the other dopers that have been resigned by the pro teams. If you can win a race someone will put you on their bike.
A good source I have within the cycling community has told me that he will be signing with Phonak.
The current edition of cycling weekly states the following on the Tyler Hamilton situation:
Tyler’s two year ban ends on SEptember 22. He will be 35 on March 1 but a comeback is not out of the question. According to the UCI regulations ,Hamilton could join a team and race out the last few weeks of the season.However, as UCI spokeman Enrico Carpani explained, his return to a Pro Tour team is more complicated. "The 20 teams have an agreement they will not sign a rider who has been banned for doping for a period of four years from the start of the ban. Although it is not a regulation of the UCI it is a written agreement between the teams. So far, since the agreement was made in late August 2004, it was observed by the teams. We can only speculate as to what would happen if a team decided to break the agreement. “But as far as the UCI is concerned, Hamilton will be eligible to race from September 22.”
Terry Madden, chief of the US Anti-doping Association stated, after the Cout of Arbitration for Sport rejuected Hamilton’s appeal against his suspension for blood doping:
“The panel considered each of the excuses and found each to be completely without merit. It is sad that Mr Hamilton resorted to conspiracy theories rather than just accept the consequences of his doping.”
Cycling Weekly has been quite vocal in it’s condemnation of Millar as he continues to blame anyone and everyone rather than take the blame himself.
So far, since the agreement was made in late August 2004, it was observed by the teams.
But as I understand it, the Code of Conduct wasn’t adopted and the ethical charter wasn’t signed until December of 2004.
Millar is already training with a team. Any guesses as to who Tyler goes with? Will Phonak take him back. CSC is known for bringing older guys back to the front of the pack. I can’t imagine him going unsigned. Look at the other dopers that have been resigned by the pro teams. If you can win a race someone will put you on their bike.
Don’t forget he’s getting up there. He’ll be 36 by the time the real racing starts next year. But sure, someone will sign him.
But as I understand it, the Code of Conduct wasn’t adopted and the ethical charter wasn’t signed until December of 2004.
The code of conduct is a gentleman’s agreement. As far as the ethical charter goes I am not aware if it can be retrospectively applied but cannot see why it shouldn’t.
Millar is already training with a team. Any guesses as to who Tyler goes with? Will Phonak take him back. CSC is known for bringing older guys back to the front of the pack. I can’t imagine him going unsigned. Look at the other dopers that have been resigned by the pro teams. If you can win a race someone will put you on their bike.
Millar is signed with Sauner Duval, not just training with them. I sure can’t see Riis signing him for CSC, that is the most unlikely team I can imagine would sign him!
As I sais, a friend I have within the cycling community is telling me he will be with Phonak again.
Well, if that’s the case they should no how to avoid him getting caught a second time. Although I would expect that they would, quite rightly, get some criticism for doing so.