The growing possibility of Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso escaping bans from their alleged implication in a doping ring in Spain is starting to cause concern in some sections of the peloton.
The pair were among 13 riders prevented from racing the Tour de France in July when evidence from a Spanish doping investigation dubbed `Operation Puerto' suggested their involvement in the ring.
It has been suggested this week however the evidence from Spain may not be legally valid to force either the national federations (NF) concerned or the International Cycling Union (UCI) to sanction the pair.
Basso, still employed by CSC but who is said to be talking to other teams, is the reigning Tour of Italy champion.
Ullrich, who was sacked by T-Mobile in July, is a 32-year-old former Tour de France winner who has made millions from the sport.
Both riders were pulled out of the Tour by their respective teams before the July 3 start in what was seen as a largely preventative move while authorities further investigated evidence.
Now, after three months of the UCI compiling the evidence from Spain and sending it out to the NFs, it could all be for nothing.
The possibility that Basso and Ullrich will get off scot-free is gaining impetus, so much so that the pair have already been linked to Pro Tour teams for next season.
On Monday Ullrich was cheekily linked in the Spanish press with a move to the Discovery Channel team of his biggest rival -- the now-retired seven-time Tour winner Lance Armstrong.
That report was soon kicked into touch by the American team's manager, Johan Bruyneel. "We've never contacted Ullrich. I consider him a great rider but our roster for 2007 is full and Jan isn't on it," said Bruyneel.
Basso has attended two hearings at the Italian Olympic Committee since the affair but Italian officials said in recent weeks there was "little real" evidence against him.
A decision on whether to sanction the Italian may not be taken until the end of this month.
A seven-year-old horse had to be euthanized on Friday after breaking its back on the final fence of a Grand National steeplechase race that it won despite sustaining the serious injury. It follows the death of four horses at the Cheltenham Festival last month — including one after the prestigious Gold Cup. Gold Dancer was competing in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase during Ladies Day at Aintree’s Grand National Festival. The horse managed to cross the finish line approximately four lengths ahead of runner-up Regent’s Stroll. “The winner of our second race of the day, Gold Dancer, was pulled up after
Taiwanese gymnast Tang Chia-hung on Sunday topped the men’s horizontal bar event at the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) World Cup in Osijek, Croatia, scoring 15.233 to take his third title this season. Tang delivered an outstanding performance in the final, earning a difficulty score of 6.500 and an execution score of 8.633 with a 0.1 stick bonus. His closest competitor was Milad Karimi of Kazakhstan, who finished second with 14.933 points. It was Tang’s third gold medal in the FIG World Cup series this year, following his horizontal bar wins in Azerbaijan on March 8, and in Turkey on March
Hans Niemann declares he would become a “stone cold killer” in a Netflix documentary released on Tuesday about his feud with five-time classical world champion Magnus Carlsen, a pledge that injects new edge into the lingering fallout from the cheating scandal that shook elite chess. “I’m gonna be a stone cold killer the rest of my life,” the US’ Niemann says in the film. “I’m going to become the best player in the world, and no one is going to believe that now, but this clip will play over and over again in 10 years — just wait.” “I just
The Daredevils yesterday took eight catches in the final as they eked out a victory in the Taiwan Cricket Triangular Tournament against PCCT at Yingfeng Cricket Ground in Taipei’s Songshan District. PCCT’s batting lineup collapsed after they asked the Daredevils to bowl in the T20 decider of the weekend tournament that also involved the Formosa Cricket Club. PCCT were bundled out for 76 in 16.2 overs against a disciplined Daredevils attack. Ninad Malwade was the top scorer in the innings with 21, but he was among those who offered chances to the fielders. Shane Ferreira and Jason Cameron took three wickets each, with
RSS