Vino Positive - Astana Pulls Out

According to the BBC.

Pre-race favourite Alexandre Vinokourov tested positive for blood
doping after winning Saturday's time-trial stage of the Tour de
France.

Vinokourov has asked for a second blood sample to be tested, but his
Astana team have now withdrawn from the race.

Astana said two distinct types of red blood cells were found in
Vinokourov's sample indicating he had had a blood transfusion before
Saturday's stage.

If Vinokourov's B-sample also tests positive he faces a two-year ban.

Astana manager Marc Biver said: "It will be analysed before the end of
the week.

"Vino denies any blood manipulation. He says after his crash on July
12, there may be blood anomalies.

Vinokourov was hotly tipped for this year's title but lost time in a
bad crash on stage five and slipped further back in the stages in the
Alps.

But he looked back to his best in a dominant time-trial on Saturday
and, although he dropped out of overall contention with a disastrous
display on Sunday, he won another arduous mountain stage on Monday.

Before their withdrawal Astana had been leading the team standings in
this year's Tour and had Andreas Kloeden in fifth place and Andrey
Kashechkin in eighth.

The organisers of the Tour de France invited the team to withdraw,
which was immediately accepted

Astana team statement

The team released a statement that said: "The anti-doping control on
Alexandre Vinokourov, which was carried out on July 21 after the time
trial in Albi, has tested positive.

"According to the ethical code of the Astana Cycling Team Alexandre
Vinokourov has been suspended from the team with immediate effect. The
rider has asked nevertheless for a B-sample analysis.

"Informed by the Astana management, the organisers of the Tour de
France invited the team to withdraw, which was immediately accepted."

When I first laid eyes on Vino, I knew he was dirty.

----------------------
According to the BBC.

Pre-race favourite Alexandre Vinokourov tested positive for blood
doping after winning Saturday's time-trial stage of the Tour de
France.

Vinokourov has asked for a second blood sample to be tested, but his
Astana team have now withdrawn from the race.

Astana said two distinct types of red blood cells were found in
Vinokourov's sample indicating he had had a blood transfusion before
Saturday's stage.

If Vinokourov's B-sample also tests positive he faces a two-year ban.

Astana manager Marc Biver said: "It will be analysed before the end of
the week.

"Vino denies any blood manipulation. He says after his crash on July
12, there may be blood anomalies.

Vinokourov was hotly tipped for this year's title but lost time in a
bad crash on stage five and slipped further back in the stages in the
Alps.

But he looked back to his best in a dominant time-trial on Saturday
and, although he dropped out of overall contention with a disastrous
display on Sunday, he won another arduous mountain stage on Monday.

Before their withdrawal Astana had been leading the team standings in
this year's Tour and had Andreas Kloeden in fifth place and Andrey
Kashechkin in eighth.

The organisers of the Tour de France invited the team to withdraw,
which was immediately accepted

Astana team statement

The team released a statement that said: "The anti-doping control on
Alexandre Vinokourov, which was carried out on July 21 after the time
trial in Albi, has tested positive.

"According to the ethical code of the Astana Cycling Team Alexandre
Vinokourov has been suspended from the team with immediate effect. The
rider has asked nevertheless for a B-sample analysis.

"Informed by the Astana management, the organisers of the Tour de
France invited the team to withdraw, which was immediately accepted."

On Jul 24, 6:33 pm, "Crescentius Vespasianus"
wrote:
When I first laid eyes on Vino, I knew he was dirty.

----------------------



According to the BBC.

Pre-race favourite Alexandre Vinokourov tested positive for blood
doping after winning Saturday's time-trial stage of the Tour de
France.

Vinokourov has asked for a second blood sample to be tested, but his
Astana team have now withdrawn from the race.

Astana said two distinct types of red blood cells were found in
Vinokourov's sample indicating he had had a blood transfusion before
Saturday's stage.

If Vinokourov's B-sample also tests positive he faces a two-year ban.

Astana manager Marc Biver said: "It will be analysed before the end of
the week.

"Vino denies any blood manipulation. He says after his crash on July
12, there may be blood anomalies.

Vinokourov was hotly tipped for this year's title but lost time in a
bad crash on stage five and slipped further back in the stages in the
Alps.

But he looked back to his best in a dominant time-trial on Saturday
and, although he dropped out of overall contention with a disastrous
display on Sunday, he won another arduous mountain stage on Monday.

Before their withdrawal Astana had been leading the team standings in
this year's Tour and had Andreas Kloeden in fifth place and Andrey
Kashechkin in eighth.

The organisers of the Tour de France invited the team to withdraw,
which was immediately accepted

Astana team statement

The team released a statement that said: "The anti-doping control on
Alexandre Vinokourov, which was carried out on July 21 after the time
trial in Albi, has tested positive.

"According to the ethical code of the Astana Cycling Team Alexandre
Vinokourov has been suspended from the team with immediate effect. The
rider has asked nevertheless for a B-sample analysis.

"Informed by the Astana management, the organisers of the Tour de
France invited the team to withdraw, which was immediately accepted."- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Why didn't you tell us then?

"Jack Hollis" wrote in message
...
According to the BBC.

Pre-race favourite Alexandre Vinokourov tested positive for blood
doping after winning Saturday's time-trial stage of the Tour de
France.

Vinokourov has asked for a second blood sample to be tested, but his
Astana team have now withdrawn from the race.

Is anyone wondering why Vino would resort to something as easily detected as
homologous blood transfusions? Even if he was that stupid, how could anyone
around him not inform him?

This is beginning to smell like a French Drug Testing Laboratory.....

On Jul 24, 6:39 pm, "Tom Kunich" cyclintom@yahoo. com wrote:


Is anyone wondering why Vino would resort to something as easily detected as
homologous blood transfusions? Even if he was that stupid, how could anyone
around him not inform him?

This is beginning to smell like a French Drug Testing Laboratory.....

As much as I'd like that to be the case, the much simpler explanation
is personal stupidity as opposed to the massive conspiracy.
Bill C

"Bill C" wrote in message
ups.com...
On Jul 24, 6:39 pm, "Tom Kunich" cyclintom@yahoo. com wrote:


Is anyone wondering why Vino would resort to something as easily detected
as
homologous blood transfusions? Even if he was that stupid, how could
anyone
around him not inform him?

This is beginning to smell like a French Drug Testing Laboratory.....

As much as I'd like that to be the case, the much simpler explanation
is personal stupidity as opposed to the massive conspiracy.


But what about a personal stupidity almost beyond belief opposed to a small
conspiracy?

Benjo

"benjo maso" wrote in message
...

"Bill C" wrote in message
ups.com...
On Jul 24, 6:39 pm, "Tom Kunich" cyclintom@yahoo. com wrote:


Is anyone wondering why Vino would resort to something as easily
detected as
homologous blood transfusions? Even if he was that stupid, how could
anyone
around him not inform him?

This is beginning to smell like a French Drug Testing Laboratory.....

As much as I'd like that to be the case, the much simpler explanation
is personal stupidity as opposed to the massive conspiracy.


But what about a personal stupidity almost beyond belief opposed to a
small conspiracy?

Benjo

His racing style is stupid beyond belief. Maybe it is a general trait?

benjo maso wrote:


"Bill C" wrote in message
ups.com...
On Jul 24, 6:39 pm, "Tom Kunich" cyclintom@yahoo. com wrote:


Is anyone wondering why Vino would resort to something as easily
detected as
homologous blood transfusions? Even if he was that stupid, how could
anyone
around him not inform him?

This is beginning to smell like a French Drug Testing
Laboratory.....

As much as I'd like that to be the case, the much simpler explanation
is personal stupidity as opposed to the massive conspiracy.


But what about a personal stupidity almost beyond belief opposed to a
small conspiracy?

How about a bunch of smart and very tired people late at night in a hotel
room doing things they aren't really trained to do making a big mistake?
Is that more believable than conspiracy or stupidity?

--
Bill Asher

"William Asher" wrote in message
...
benjo maso wrote:


"Bill C" wrote in message
ups.com...
On Jul 24, 6:39 pm, "Tom Kunich" cyclintom@yahoo. com wrote:


Is anyone wondering why Vino would resort to something as easily
detected as
homologous blood transfusions? Even if he was that stupid, how could
anyone
around him not inform him?

This is beginning to smell like a French Drug Testing
Laboratory.....

As much as I'd like that to be the case, the much simpler explanation
is personal stupidity as opposed to the massive conspiracy.


But what about a personal stupidity almost beyond belief opposed to a
small conspiracy?

How about a bunch of smart and very tired people late at night in a hotel
room doing things they aren't really trained to do making a big mistake?
Is that more believable than conspiracy or stupidity?

I'm not surprised that you see the rest of the world as being as stupid as
yourself.

"alex beascoechea" wrote in message
...

"benjo maso" wrote in message
...
But what about a personal stupidity almost beyond belief opposed to a
small conspiracy?

His racing style is stupid beyond belief. Maybe it is a general trait?

Well, you might have something there but nevertheless the idea that anyone
would be too stupid to get blood bags right has to be even dumber.