Doping tests on TdF violate WADA rules

Langenberg

Saw a TV report on German television that the doping tests at the don't comp[ly with WADA rules... it seems that WADA rules say that an official has to be with a tested athlete from the time of the athlete having been given notice up to the actual test.

This doesn't seem to be happening. TV footage showed one rider vanishing behind bus with a soigneur before going to the test with the soigneur, one Spanish rider wandering to the test leisurely after having had a shower and lots of riders going there on there own / with their soigneur. No official in sight and UCI refused to comment.

Lots of chances for foul play....

Maybe the UCI wants to be seen to do the right thing but not actually risk any positive tests?

Mr Bumble

Or perhaps they don't want to expel the top favourites again in case it drastically reduced the Tour's following.
:evil:
I

knedlicky

Isn't this one of the technical points on which Landis proclaims his innocence - nobody was with him when he gave his sample, therefore there's no proof it's his sample (he may have persuaded one of the then Phonak riders, like Hunter or Elmiger or Tschopp to pinkel on his behalf).

mangaman

I was stood next to the Dopage control at the end of last year's TT in Rennes for a lot of the time

Certainly the riders I saw finishing that had to be checked were wandering around unsupervised and strolled into the doping area alone

There were a couple of Gendarmes guarding the doping hut itself, but the rest of the finish area was chaos with crowds / media mixing with riders as they came in

Struck me it was a bit chaotic - although I'm not sure how you could actually cheat

Langenberg

Well, there have been reports of riders having chemicals on their fingers which would invalidate results if they get into the urin. Lots of drinking has also been mentioned and if a rider actually manages to get into the team bus, who knows what might be be administered there.

On a postive note, however, I have just read that the problem has now been corrected due to the pressure coming from the reporting from the German TV stations.... it is an important market for the TdF so sounds like they have listened! So good news.