Rumsas investigated over son’s death

gweeds

https://cyclingtips.com/2017/09/doping- ... ons-death/

Over four months after his son collapsed and died, former Tour de France podium finisher Raimondas Rumsas is being investigated in connection with the death.

On May 1, Linus Rumsas lost consciousness and underwent examinations at the San Luca hospital in Lucca, Italy. Those tests included a cardiogram, but hospital staff assumed a printer error in relation to the latter and released him.

The following day he collapsed at 10.30 in his home. The Lituanian under 23 champion was aided by his family and then by ambulance staff, but despite being taken back to the hospital his heart stopped two hours later. The 21-year-old had been competing for the elite under 23 Altopack team, which has links to Trek-Segafredo.

Now German news agency SID reports that the prosecutor’s office in Lucca is investigation his father Raimondas. It said that searches of his family apartment plus the apartment of the president of the Altopack team had led to the seizing of banned substances and medicines.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, a total of five people are being investigated in connection to the administration of doping products, dealing in stolen goods and violating the anti-doping act.

Rumsas senior had a controversial career. The Lithuanian won the Il Lombardia Classic in 2000 and finished fifth in the Vuelta a España, won the Vuelta al Pais Vasco the following season and then went on to take third overall in the 2002 Tour de France.

However his satisfaction and reputation would be immediately shaken by the news that on the day of the Tour finish, his wife Edita was stopped at the French border and an array of doping substances were found. Her car contained corticoids, EPO, testosterone, growth hormone and steroids. She claimed the substances were for her mother but was jailed. Rumsas was summoned to France to testify but refused to do so, leading to her remaining in prison for several months.

At the time his lawyer said that he believed French police were holding her ‘as a kind of bait’ to lure him back. “Our client wants to help his wife, avoid going to prison himself and continue his cycling career all at the same time,” he claimed.

She was later released, but he tested positive for EPO in May 2003. His sixth-place finish in that year’s Giro d’Italia was struck off and he received a one-year ban. His career fizzled out after that. In January 2006 the duo were handed four-month suspended sentences for the importation of prohibited doping substances. The Polish doctor Krzysztof Ficek received a suspended one year sentence for prescribing the same products.

Now, over a decade later, questions about Rumsas’ attitude towards banned substances have resurfaced under far more serious circumstances.

Richmond Racer 2

jaysus

salsiccia1

How do these people get to the point where they don't consider, or even know anything else?

Richmond Racer 2

Salsiccia1 wrote:

How do these people get to the point where they don't consider, or even know anything else?

He has no morals to start with. Look no further than 'Rumsas was summoned to France to testify but refused to do so, leading to her (his wife) remaining in prison for several months.

At the time his lawyer said that he believed French police were holding her ‘as a kind of bait’ to lure him back. “Our client wants to help his wife, avoid going to prison himself and continue his cycling career all at the same time,” he claimed.'


No freaking sh&t

Richmond Racer 2

See also Eddy Merckx introducing Axel to Ferrari...

fenix

Sheeeeeeittt

Pross

Surely you also have to query the medics originally discharging him and 'assuming' there was a printer error. That seems grossly negligent at face value. However, it certainly doesn't excuse a person not only cheating throughout his own career but then assisting / encouraging their own son to go down the same path despite the known risks to health and reputation.

blazing_saddles

Pross wrote:

Surely you also have to query the medics originally discharging him and 'assuming' there was a printer error. That seems grossly negligent at face value. However, it certainly doesn't excuse a person not only cheating throughout his own career but then assisting / encouraging their own son to go down the same path despite the known risks to health and reputation.

A salutary lesson, if ever there was one.
Leopards and spots etc.

ugo.santalucia

People talk about Lance as the Devil, but Rumsas is the real Daddy of blood doping. After his ban, he found a second life in the Italian Granfondo scene, which is commonly referred to as the EPO Tour. He won many "prestigious" granfondo.

This is obviously a big tragedy, but given the circumstances it is hard to feel sorry for Rumsas or his wife... I sincerely hope this time they lock him and throw away the key

keef66

Jesus Christ! As a parent I spend a lot of time trying to help the kids avoid making some of the mistakes I made.

Actually, thinking about it, maybe he thought his only mistake was getting caught...

ugo.santalucia

keef66 wrote:

Jesus Christ! As a parent I spend a lot of time trying to help the kids avoid making some of the mistakes I made...

Clearly Raimondas doesn't see them as mistakes... given they have provided him with a living and means to do what he loved for a living.

Let's be honest... there is a doping line and there is a health risk line... many people crossed the doping line but not the health risk line.

Armstrong, Riis or Virenque look in remarkably better shape than Paul Gaiscogne, wherever your moral barometer is, I know who I would rather be

sherer

Pross wrote:

Surely you also have to query the medics originally discharging him and 'assuming' there was a printer error. That seems grossly negligent at face value. However, it certainly doesn't excuse a person not only cheating throughout his own career but then assisting / encouraging their own son to go down the same path despite the known risks to health and reputation.

the medics are the one who have something to answer for.. He was misdiagnosed \ ignored the print out. Yes his team seem to be under a doping investigation but that doesn't mean he was doping, maybe his Dad did warn him of the bad side and wanted him to race clean on a dirty team.

mididoctors

Richmond Racer 2 wrote:

jaysus

indeed!

dinyull

I don't know of Rumsas upbringing, but can only assume cycling provided him with a good living and life.

Maybe he wanted the same for his kid, and only knew of one way.

Doesn't make it all right, but I can understand it in some circumstances.

above_the_cows

The guy sounds like a total kn0bmoomin.

specialgueststar

I'm writing a play at the moment ( La Grotte if anyone is interested )

The script above will do for the follow up!

RichN95.

Rumsas's other son Raimondas Jr has tested positive for some sort of Growth Hormone (on September 4). That's one seriously screwed up family.

ddraver

They re making the van Dreissche family look positively saintly...

Richmond Racer 2

jaysus

absolute f'cker of a father

its child abuse

Richmond Racer 2

ddraver wrote:

They re making the van Dreissche family look positively saintly...

no parakeet connection tho, which is sadz

wombly_knees

He's a proper specimen. Would laugh but get reminded that his kid may have lost his life due to his shit.

timoid.

Richmond Racer 2 wrote:

See also Eddy Merckx introducing Axel to Ferrari...

Dunno. Ethics aside, I don't think any of Ferrari's clients have suffered big health problems.

If I knew doping was pervasive, and morally I had no problem with it, I would send my kid to Ferrari.

Fuentes on the other hand...

timoid.

Rumsas junior gets a 4 year ban

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rumsas- ... oping-ban/

ademort

RichN95 wrote:

Rumsas's other son Raimondas Jr has tested positive for some sort of Growth Hormone (on September 4). That's one seriously screwed up family.

The italian doping agency has just suspended him for 4 years. He will be able to compete again on 22 October 2021.