Frank Schleck in Doping Scandal

[Alpedhuez55]

The doping scandals never seem to end. Now Frank Schleck is involved in one. He is denying that he doped, but he contacted and sent money to the Doctors involved in Operation Peurto.

Luxembourg cyclist Frank Schleck provisionally suspended by his team

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Cyclist Frank Schleck was provisionally suspended by his team Friday after admitting he transferred money to a Swiss bank account held by a Spanish doctor at the heart of a major doping scandal.

Danish team CSC Saxo Bank said Schleck transferred the money to the account of Eufemiano Fuentes in March 2006 "to receive training advice by experts who presumably worked with some of the biggest names in the sport."

Schleck admitted making "a serious blunder" and deeply regretted the contact with "these people," the team said.

However, he denied ever having direct contact with Fuentes and reiterated his claim that he never engaged in doping.

Team manager Bjarne Riis said Schleck would be suspended from racing for the team "until we have had the chance to evaluate the outcome of this."

The Luxembourg rider appeared before his country's anti-doping agency Wednesday for a hearing into his alleged involvement in Spain's Operation Puerto doping scandal.

Schleck, who wore the yellow jersey for three days during this year's Tour de France, told the agency that he had not taken any drugs or done anything illegal.

A German prosecutor claims Schleck paid almost 7,000 euros (C$10,437) into a Swiss bank account held by Fuentes, who is at the centre of the Puerto case.

The rider told CSC Saxo Bank and the anti-doping agency that "he has never received, nor made use of any services from these people, including Eufemiano Fuentes, whom he has never met," according to the team statement.

"We were very disappointed to hear that Frank has been in contact with people who have done great harm to the sport and ruthlessly tarnished the most important principles that we all should adhere to in the fight against doping," Riis said.

"His behaviour has been irresponsible toward himself and his team," added Riis, who last year admitted that he used EPO to win the 1996 Tour.

Operation Puerto, cycling's biggest-ever doping investigation, was set off by Spanish civil guard raids at clinics in Madrid and Zaragoza in May 2006 that turned up steroids, hormones and the endurance-boosting substance EPO, nearly 100 bags of frozen blood, and equipment for treating blood. Over 50 cyclists, including 2007 Tour de France champion Alberto Contador, 2006 Giro d'Italia champion Ivan Basso and 1997 Tour champion Jan Ullrich, were reportedly linked to the scandal.

[Jay Hemingway]

the fuentes? first opus-x, now dope??? oh the agony!!

[icehog3]

Frank Schleck? Frank Schleck ??

He owes me money!!

[Footbag]

Man, It really makes you wish we could figure out who the cheaters are before they influence the outcomes of the races. Andy and Franck rode very well this Tour, I hope that is not the reason.

[mosesbotbol]

Tests are what cycling should go on. This cloak and dagger business of bank wires and such is just too much. Let's have solid tests by credible labs and leave it at that.

[Footbag]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

Tests are what cycling should go on. This cloak and dagger business of bank wires and such is just too much. Let's have solid tests by credible labs and leave it at that.

They have the strictest testing in the industry to the point where cycling tends to discover and feed new steroid techniques to other sports. Even Riccardo didn't turn up positive for EPO, they had found a marker in his blood that drug makers are using in their drugs to help cut out cheating.
I think that it will always be the cheaters that will be ahead.

Given the rules of cycling though, I think that if he is prosecuted for this crime and he will likely be suspended for two seasons.

[Don Fernando]

Originally Posted by icehog3

Frank Schleck? Frank Schleck ??

He owes me money!!

you're doctor Fuentes?????

[Alpedhuez55]

Originally Posted by Footbag

They have the strictest testing in the industry to the point where cycling tends to discover and feed new steroid techniques to other sports. Even Riccardo didn't turn up positive for EPO, they had found a marker in his blood that drug makers are using in their drugs to help cut out cheating.
I think that it will always be the cheaters that will be ahead.

Given the rules of cycling though, I think that if he is prosecuted for this crime and he will likely be suspended for two seasons.

And lets not forget the experimental drugs that they use as well. The cheaters are usually a step ahead of the testers. It typically takes a slip up to get caught.

I am not crazy about the guilt by association though. He probably should have disclosed his relationship earlier.

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by Alpedhuez55

I am not crazy about the guilt by association though. He probably should have disclosed his relationship earlier.

Why? It'll get to the point where they assume you are guilty because your car's GPS puts in you within 100 KM's of Dr. Fuente. Let's keep it at the tests and make the test reliable that all parties are in concord with the results. I do not think Basso should've been suspended. Sure he had blood with Fuentes, but feasibly, Fuentes could've used the blood to analyse what Basso could do legally to improve his performance... Did Basso test positive? No...

Time for the riders to put a foot down.

[Alpedhuez55]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

Why? It'll get to the point where they assume you are guilty because your car's GPS puts in you within 100 KM's of Dr. Fuente. Let's keep it at the tests and make the test reliable that all parties are in concord with the results. I do not think Basso should've been suspended. Sure he had blood with Fuentes, but feasibly, Fuentes could've used the blood to analyse what Basso could do legally to improve his performance... Did Basso test positive? No...

Time for the riders to put a foot down.

Schleck sending money to Fuente is a little more than driving within 100KM. When the Operation Puerto was breaking, he should have said he had the relationship and said there was nothing to hide. It looks a lot better than having it dug up by the press two years later.

It taints all of his results, just like Armstrong's association with Dr. Ferrari does his.

As for Basso, he admits to attempted doping. He would have doped if he had not been kicked out of the 2006 tour. And that is looked on the same as if he had tested positive.

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by Alpedhuez55

Schleck sending money to Fuente is a little more than driving within 100KM. When the Operation Puerto was breaking, he should have said he had the relationship and said there was nothing to hide. It looks a lot better than having it dug up by the press two years later.

It taints all of his results, just like Armstrong's association with Dr. Ferrari does his.

As for Basso, he admits to attempted doping. He would have doped if he had not been kicked out of the 2006 tour. And that is looked on the same as if he had tested positive.

I know he admitted to "attempted doping", but I would like to leave pass/fail test and that's it.

[Footbag]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

I know he admitted to "attempted doping", but I would like to leave pass/fail test and that's it.

I agree with a pass/fail test, but they don't know what to test for. One thing cycling fans are desperate for is a clean race, but the cyclists subject themselves to endless tests and the cheaters list is still a who's who of the top cyclists.
I think drastic actions are appropriate. At this point, they should subject him to a criminal probe and the UCI should respect the results.


Hell! I won a cigar contest based on CSC's results. I feel like I cheated!

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by Footbag

I agree with a pass/fail test, but they don't know what to test for.

I think drastic actions are appropriate. At this point, they should subject him to a criminal probe and the UCI should respect the results.

I don't feel like drastic actions are appropriate. Let's have a test that the riders, organizations, sponsors, media, and critics can all agree on. The biological passport sounds like a good idea. Heck, were just talking about riding a bike for sport; entertainment. No body in any profession, professions that the world's balance is at stake go through so much scrutiny.

The sport has to draw a line or riders will be forced to wear ankle bracelets and have an hourly call-in. Murderers on parole have less scrutiny. If a clear line is not drawn, this will be all consuming and everyone will be guilty whether they cheated or not.

[mosesbotbol]

Now Stefan Schumacher is positive.

The UCI should ask me to list my favorite 20 riders, and then target them for doping; seems like all my favorite riders are always the dopers