Katusha escape team suspension

godtabh · 09-02-2016 3:51pm #1

What a joke

https://twitter.com/SlaneCycles/status/697069755149070336

Paolini said the coke was as result of his sleeping pills addiction which was bike related. Katusha should be gone

Darkglasses · 09-02-2016 4:24pm

godtabh wrote: »

Paolini said the coke was as result of his sleeping pills addiction which was bike related. Katusha should be gone

I really don't know how the mental gymnastics work that make that somehow not performance enhancing.

Can't say I'm surprised though. Katusha should be long gone but it's not going to happen.

Eamonnator · 09-02-2016 4:28pm

Ah here!

Eamonnator · 09-02-2016 4:39pm

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/katusha-escape-team-suspension-in-the-wake-of-doping-cases/

So, the reasoning seems to be, that because the use of cocaine was recreational and not for performance enhancing, the ban was not justified.
It doesn't seem, to me at least, to be a big step to to say that it's OK for riders to take recreational drugs without sanction.

Darkglasses · 09-02-2016 4:43pm

He said himself he took coke to keep himself awake - how is that not a performance enhancement? I really don't see how taking sleeping pills excuses it. It's like cancelling out taking EPO by not training :pac:

Beasty · 09-02-2016 5:12pm

Eamonnator wrote: »

It doesn't seem, to me at least, to be a big step to to say that it's OK for riders to take recreational drugs without sanction.

This particular decision relates to the team rather than individual. Does Paolini not still face further sanction at a personal level?

Chips Lovell · 09-02-2016 5:20pm

I would have found it very harsh if Katusha had been suspended. The regulations state:

The suspension shall be lifted if the Team establishes that
a) at least one anti-doping rule violation has no reasonable prospect of being
upheld, or
b) at least one Rider bears No Fault or Negligence for the anti-doping rule
violation asserted, or
c) at least one anti-doping rule violation was committed by the Rider with no
involvement of any Team member or staff and that the Team applied all
due diligence and took all measures that could reasonably be expected in
order to avoid the commission of anti-doping rule violations.

It's a big stretch to imagine the team being in any way involved with or condoning Paolini taking cocaine in this fashion.

I wouldn't even see it as performance enhancing, more the consequence of personal/addiction problems.

RobFowl · 09-02-2016 5:50pm

Maybe the UCI are pushing coke and hookers as part of the world tour reform??

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYS732zyYfU

RobFowl · 09-02-2016 5:52pm

RobFowl wrote: »

Maybe the UCI are pushing coke and hookers as part of the world tour reform??

I recall Laurent Fignon basically saying a race organiser laid on cocaine at a race back in the day, also was told that another race paid for hookers for the commisaires as part of the hospitality.....

godtabh · 09-02-2016 5:54pm

Jep Gambardella wrote: »

I would have found it very harsh if Katusha had been suspended. The regulations state:

It's a big stretch to imagine the team being in any way involved with or condoning Paolini taking cocaine in this fashion.

I wouldn't even see it as performance enhancing, more the consequence of personal/addiction problems.

What about his sleeping pill addiction? The team must have know about that.

RobFowl · 09-02-2016 5:56pm

godtabh wrote: »

What about his sleeping pill addiction? The team must have know about that.

They did but as I read it they tried to help him address it and ultimately refused to prescribe them for him

Weepsie · 09-02-2016 9:25pm

RobFowl wrote: »

I recall Laurent Fignon basically saying a race organiser laid on cocaine at a race back in the day, also was told that another race paid for hookers for the commisaires as part of the hospitality.....

Just finished his book. Specifically said it happened at tour of Colombia and some other race

Katusha escape team suspension

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