Why?What a bunch of crap.
I agree, it sounds like a publicity stunt aimed at showing how ASO is committed to cleaning up the sport, but I expect they'll capitulate to the outcry. Either that or the contenders will try to score guest spots on other teams already invited.I'm not sure it's a done deal yet
It might be different team members, but it's the same team.LO, it's a completely different team, with the defending champ and other contenders that have never been proven to dope. Unless there is proof of wrongdoing by this group, they are being punished for the acts of others. As for what they have done, my understanding is that yes, the new team has more controls than the prior group.
I have to disagree here, it's the same name, and yes, the same people are ponying up the money, but new management, new riders, new just about everything, including one of the most stringent anti-doping policies and internal testing out there.It might be different team members, but it's the same team.
They were huge in the dope scandal last year, the team owner (Khazakstan?) should've done what was necessary to make it known that what happened was outside their knowledge, thrown out everyone from last year, thrown them under the bus, established anti-dope controls with the help of WADA or whomever.
Then that's wrong....including one of the most stringent anti-doping policies and internal testing out there.
They do, and they were. It's the French being pissy about getting a black eye last summer with Vino, etc.Then that's wrong.
What I'm saying is, if they have a strict program in place and have done so transparently, then, yes, kicking them out is wrong.
Same goes with T-mobile.
Are people still surprised when this happens?It's the French being pissy...
Have you seen Sicko?Are people still surprised when this happens?
Maybe I am just jaded but don't be so sure. Doping goes way WAY back. Fausto Coppi famously said "you don't win races on mineral water alone" or something like that. Those guys were never caught doping but even in the time of LeMond and Hinault there was less testing, and the testing that was done was less sophisticated.why can't these guys take examples of past great racers like Eddie or LeMonde or Hinault and realize that they can do it clean.
Thank you. Glad someone mentioned that.Maybe I am just jaded but don't be so sure. Doping goes way WAY back. Fausto Coppi famously said "you don't win races on mineral water alone" or something like that. Those guys were never caught doping but even in the time of LeMond and Hinault there was less testing, and the testing that was done was less sophisticated.
good point, i really didn't think of that fact about the sophistication of the testing. i forget who the rider was that died due to EPO i think and it was then that alot of people started to take a look at things and i thought i remember reading that a lot of riders were scared about that and doping fell off quite a bit.Maybe I am just jaded but don't be so sure. Doping goes way WAY back. Fausto Coppi famously said "you don't win races on mineral water alone" or something like that. Those guys were never caught doping but even in the time of LeMond and Hinault there was less testing, and the testing that was done was less sophisticated.
I guess I can see their perspective from this quote. I bet they let Astana in, but they want to be sure the team has really changed first."We cannot wipe away what happened these last two years," Prudhomme explained. "We don't have the right to have a short memory. In 2006, a team came out of the ashes of Liberty Seguros. Within this team, half of the riders were linked to Operacion Puerto and cannot take the start of the Tour. The next year, they explain to us that it's a new team, a new management, that everything about it is new. We trust them and invite them to the Tour. But we made a mistake to take them and we don't want to make that mistake once again."
As I recall, management (Manual Saiz, et al) and many of the riders were essentially the same with the team that came out of the ashes of Liberty Seguros. So, it should not be much of a surprise that the culture (which included doping) did not change. Astana is different - the only thing that is the same is the sponsor.I guess I can see their perspective from this quote. I bet they let Astana in, but they want to be sure the team has really changed first.
They also used to drink liquor.At one point, they smoked tobacco cigarettes. They've always doped.
After Puerto, they dumped all of the management...it was the same situation as now and they still ended up with a bunch of dopers. This same thing has happened once before, rider and management shake up and then several of their stars tested positive. I'm sure a positive doping control in the Tour has an impact of millions for ASO, they want to be as careful as possible this year, and I can't really blame them after the 06 winner loses his crown and then a winner of 2 stages fails a control for blood doping in 07As I recall, management (Manual Saiz, et al) and many of the riders were essentially the same with the team that came out of the ashes of Liberty Seguros. So, it should not be much of a surprise that the culture (which included doping) did not change. Astana is different - the only thing that is the same is the sponsor.
At a time when the big-dollar sponsorships are few and far between, you would think they would do what they can to keep the few who are willing to step up. Instead, they are pushing this sponsor away. Why would Astana remain involved after this?