Vinokourov Tests positive for transfusion, Astana quits Tour

[j6ppc]

The Tour de France was rocked by news that Astana's battered team leader, Alexandre Vinokourov, tested positive for a homologous blood transfusion after Saturday's time trial in Albi. L'Equipe reported on Tuesday afternoon that the Kazakh's blood had shown evidence of a transfusion from another person with a compatible blood type in an analysis done in the Châtenay-Malabry laboratory. The positive test was later confirmed by the Astana team.

Clicky

I don't understand why these guys keep trying. At least he got caught. Sad nonetheless.

[Bigwaved]

Simply, wow! It did seem Landis-like with his performances the last handfull of stages. The stage tomorrow will be even more interesting now, given the press and this uppercut to the sport.

[icehog3]

Alexandre Vinokourov? Alexandre Vinokourov???

He still owes me money!!

[mosesbotbol]

Call me a fool, but I just don't want to believe it like I thought that Hamilton was not guilty either...

[yourchoice]

Unbelievable.

Originally Posted by j6ppc

[B]I don't understand why these guys keep trying.

The harm they are doing to their sport is becoming more and more difficult to recover from.

[mosesbotbol]

This lab in France has been the center of all controversy…

[hockeydad]

Stupid, stupid, stupid. That's all I can say.

[preludese111]

It's a lot more common for them to find this stuff than the media makes it seem. I've heard guys that compete and they've said that a lot of people dope in the tour, so they're not surprised. Sucks that it's so damn common.
Nevertheless, I don't trust this "lab" in France. They seem quite sketchy to me.

[zhadum]

I am at the point to say let them all dope I don't care anymore. I am tired of all this I stopped following cycling for a few years because of the Hamilton case and all of the that surrounded it. I just want to be able to watch and read about cycling without this crap.

[Alpedhuez55]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

Call me a fool, but I just don't want to believe it like I thought that Hamilton was not guilty either...

Do you want to buy my Hamilton autographed Jersey?

That is sad. The sport did not need that. Did he think he could get away with it? He should have just given up winning after the crash and worked for his two higher placed teammates.

But Vino & Astana are still responsible for one of the highlights of the tour:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=lbjtTBA-TwE

Kazakhstan greatest country in the world.
All other countries are run by little girls.
Kazakhstan number one exporter of potassium.
Other countries have inferior potassium.

[ky toker]

Originally Posted by icehog3

Alexandre Vinokourov? Alexandre Vinokourov???

He still owes me money!!

No, that's Andrei Arlovski who owes you money.

Once sports committees start banning people for life juicing will take a huge turn. Right now they do just enough to look good on cameras, but only just enough to allow athletes slide by.

[SDmate]

everyones gettin a bad rep

[Alpedhuez55]

Originally Posted by SDmate

everyones gettin a bad rep

That was pretty funny.

The sad thing is Vino may actually get away with it:

Kazakh officials back Vinokourov, say injury to blame
By Raushan Nurshayeva
ASTANA, July 31 (Reuters) - Kazakh sport officials came out in support of cyclist Alexander Vinokourov on Tuesday, saying they believed his positive test for blood doping during the recent Tour de France was linked to an injury.
"I do not believe that Vinokourov was guilty of doping," Kairat Aitekenov, deputy minister for tourism and sport, told reporters in the capital Astana.
"During the race he was injured and received treatment. He can't understand it himself, he's in shock," Aitekenov said. "To win by doping is something he would consider below his honour, this is a principled sportsman."
Vinokourov's Astana team sacked the rider on Monday after his B sample was also confirmed positive for blood doping.
The 33-year-old pre-Tour favourite, tested positive following his victory in a time trial in Albi on July 21. He left the race last Tuesday and Astana also pulled out after being invited to do so by Tour organisers.
Alexander Antyshev, executive director of Kazakhstan's cycling federation, said Vinokourov's positive test must have been linked to a crash on July 12 when he injured his knees.
"We will insist that the results of the A and B sample blood tests were the result of his heavy fall," Antyshev told a joint news conference with Aitekenov.

I may be wrong here, but I think the results go to the home country's doping agency to make the determination. His government may be in his pocket and may drop the charges. Though it could just be that superior Kazakh Potassium that threw off the test:

Kazakhstan greatest country in the world.
All other countries are run by little girls.
Kazakhstan number one exporter of potassium.
Other countries have inferior potassium.

Kazakhstan home of Tinshein swimming pool.
It’s length thirty meter and width six meter.
Filtration system a marvel to behold.
It remove 80 percent of human solid waste.

Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan you very nice place.
From Plains of Tarashek to Norther fence of Jewtown.
Kazakhstan friend of all except Uzbekistan.
They very nosey people with bone in their brain.
Kazakhstan industry best in the world.
We incented toffee and trouser belt.
Kazakhstan’s prostitutes cleanest in the region.
Except of course Turkmenistan’s

Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan you very nice place.
From Plains of Tarashek to Norther fence of Jewtown.

Come grasp the might phenis of our leader.
From junction with the testes to tip of its face!

[Alpedhuez55]

Now Doping Controls are a violation of Human Rights?

"In cycling nobody respects human rights," said Vinokourov in an exclusive interview with Reuters. "The situation is now worse than any other sport. I hope the truth will be found and I am going to fight for it."

Greeted by his father and about 20 supporting fans who were decked out with flowers and banners, Vino said, "I am not going to end my career like this so we will fight on."

Vino denounced cycling's current anti-doping procedures, calling them "a clear violation of human rights." He added, "You have to say three months in advance where you are planning to be, at what hour and minute. It's not possible."

After his positive test following two stage wins in the Tour de France, Vino was fired by his team, Astana. Due to the positive tests of Vino and other riders on the team, Astana will not be contesting the Vuelta a España.

What is Vino Smoking and has he been tested positive for that too?

Maybe he can get Amnesty International involved. Or convince Bono to do a benefit concert for him.

[mosesbotbol]

Vino is one of my favorites, and somehow I believe him. There's still too much to learn about these tests and technology associated. Until all the critics can agree that the tests, labs, and testing procedures are 100%, we shouldn't rush to judgement.