B-sample confirms positive Dekker test
Eurosport - Thu, 01 Oct 09:43:00 2009
The B-sample requested by Dutch cyclist Thomas Dekker has confirmed his positive drugs test for the banned blood-booster EPO.
Dekker has accepted the findings and is awaiting his sanction, ANP news agency reported.
The 24-year-old Silence rider risks a four-year ban.
The sample was originally taken on December 24, 2007, but new procedures introduced since then allowed for further tests which revealed a positive reading for EPO and the rider was ruled out of this year's Tour de France three days before the start in July.
World cycling's governing body the UCI said it had also taken into account elements of Dekker's blood profile in his biological passport in 2008 and 2009 to order disciplinary proceedings on suspicion of doping.
It is not the first time the Dutchman, who won the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race in 2006 and the Tour of Lombardy in 2007, has been embroiled in controversy.
In August last year it was reported that he was not selected for the Tour de France because of abnormally high blood parameters, an indication, though not proof, that blood manipulation has taken place.
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Comment 1 - 13 of 13
I'm going to keep saying this until someone wakes up and takes notice. Riders are not operating in a vacuum. I guarantee they are being pushed in the direction of PEDs. Teams and directeur sportifs want results.
For those of you who want a life ban, I guess you want those CIA agents that tortured suspected terrorists to be prosecuted for war crimes even though they were acting under guidelines from the White House.
Repeat after me
DOPING IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM.
DOPING IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM.
...
and another thing why cannot the sport impose a four year ban on drug cheats and allow time off for good behaviour? this might include naming doctors and other team staff who supplied the drugs who should perhaps be facing the same sort of bans as the riders. (or are they and it is just less well known?) oopps this soap box is getting slippy think I'll go and clean my teeth
sorry this is off topic too I bet I could easy make those teeth noice and white with photoshop
Yet another one,they must be stupid to think they won't get caught.Forget a 4year ban,they should be banned for life,so that the sport we love can be clean & without
these Morons!!!
stam.hans,
A couple of points, the fact that he "attacked" the methods of how he was found out is a very poor defence. I agree with due process however we are dealing with a now Proven, Self Admitted drugs cheat! There is no defence with an admission and the proof, he is guilty of cheating every cycling fan, the wider public not to mention any clean cyclists in the peleton!
Second point, "he has already admitted his mistake and takes full responsibility"... He said it was a one off mistake! Will he help the anti doping organisations and the UCI with exposing more cheats or the suppliers and doctors? Time will tell.
And finally what has HE got to get revenge for in 2 years? He cheated, End of discussion! Belfastfootball is entirely correct in his argument and Dekker like every other cheat should be made to pay the costs of these tests and retests!
@belfastfootball,
Before you say things like this, try to get all the news of this item. Because he has done this already in the Dutch media!
Funny thing is the fact that the first test results came to him he never said he didn't cheat. He only attacked the fact they used other methods that were not allowed. I'm glade he has already admitted his mistake and takes full responsibility. Hopefully he can take revenge in two years.
how ridiculous i mean what an idiot anyone who takes epo or sera deserves 0 respect
Just a point though.....since he joined Silence-Lotto his results have fallen like a rock. maybe he stoped using. whatever the point he still owes everyone at least a 2 year ban. I think 4 years is fair but life is too much. I hate doping it ruins it the sport and i get a lot a grief from co - workers about the sport i love.
Did he say it was a 'mistake'? Well, maybe it was a mistake. Maybe he slipped and fell onto a hypodermic needle with EPO in it. I think that's perfectly plausible. 'Mistake' my jacksee. I hate people refusing to take full responsibility for their actions in situations like this. It's fair enough to say "I did [insert cheating activity] and should now face the repercussions of my actions" but, then again, cheats aren't exactly known for being fair.
It would seem that since he is riding for Silence-Lotto that taking drugs would not be necessary as getting on that team appears to be pretty easy. The only talent they have is Evans and Gilbert.
Give him the full 4 year ban ............... sends out a strong message & gets him out of the road!
He should just admit it now, cooperate with the anti doping people to help them clean up, do his ban and get back to racing if he wants. That should be the plan but..... He is young and there seems to be (I'm unhappy with it but) any number of teams who will take back a proven dope cheat so his career need not be over.
And as for "one time mistake".... Matey, we live in the real world and can smell "bull" at a 1000 metres so please don't treat cycling fans as muppets! See you in 2011 or 2013 or... Your choice!
In his press release he called it a "one-time mistake". Hmmmm - getting caught perhaps, but I'm totally dubious about his previous wins.
Why would he start taking EPO for the first and only time right after some really high profile positives!
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