Rossi's B-sample negative for "minimum levels" of CERA. Where does that leave us?

It may be a translation problem but by my reading of this report we can say that there was either no CERA or some CERA detected in the B-sample but that whatever was found - if anything - it was below the minimum level set. Do you get that? My personal take on it is that there was no CERA found, or that the evidence is just a trace and so unreliable that the benefit of the doubt must go to the athlete (who has denied everything, of course). 

Rossi's B Sample Negative For CERA | Cyclingnews.com

The Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) announced that the examination of Italian cyclo-cross rider Vania Rossi's B sample has returned a negative result for EPO-CERA.

Doper Kohl dobs on manager Matschiner, but doses were "minimal". So why bother?

Another career lost that could have been spectacular... and according to Matschiner the doses were "mimimal". Presumably it worked, but by how much were performances enhanced? Why not just give placebos and be done with it?

Kohl Testifies Against Former Manager | Cyclingnews.com

Former pro rider Bernhard Kohl testified against his manager Stefan Matschiner on the first day of his trial in front of the Vienna criminal court today. Matschiner was released from custody in May after being accused of having provided performance-enhancing substances and methods - blood doping - to his clients.

Earlier in the day Matschiner admitted having given eight of his athletes EPO, testosterone and growth hormone, but he denied being guilty of supplying blood transfusions - having simply taken the blood doping equipment to Slovenia and Hungary in 2008 - before this kind of practice became illegal in Austria.

Jonker saw no doping at US Postal in 2000, trusts Armstrong's view

Not seeing something doesn't mean it didn't happen, just that you didn't see it. OTOH having been in the team and known Armstrong very well for many years, Pat Jonker's view holds some weight, too. Will the truth ever be told? And will we believe it anyway?

Jonker Speaks Out In Defence Of Armstrong | Cyclingnews.com

Former US Postal Service rider Patrick Jonker has come out strongly in defence of his former leader Lance Armstrong. Speaking with FoxSports.com.au, the Australian claimed that he had never seen any evidence to suggest that Armstrong had doped.

“I didn’t see anything. If I was subpoenaed to go to court and put my hand on the Bible, I’d go,” Jonker said. “This is not a game, it’s very serious.”

When the 'un-American' card is used you know something is brewing.

FloydGate is getting interesting - or more interesting. Armstrong's lawyer is now - seemingly - suggesting that testimony under oath may be recanted due to 'sweetheart deals' - presumably he means bribery. That's a big statement and a very strong suggestion by Mr Daly. Over-reaction, misunderstanding or threat? Take your pick. Not that he's prone to overstatement at all.  

Armstrong Lawyer Condemns "un-American" Investigation | Cyclingnews.com

“We understand that riders may be being offered sweetheart deals to change testimony that they have given in the past, under oath,” Daly said. “The power of the federal government is being abused to pursue dated and discredited allegations, and that’s flat-out wrong, unethical, un-American, and a waste of taxpayer dollars.”

Dopage du Jour

A former US Postal Service team rider has spoken to federal investigators regarding doping practices in the squad, according to the New York Times. The unnamed rider admitted his own performance-enhancing drug use and alleged that systematic doping had taken place in the American squad when questioned by Jeff Novitzky’s investigative team.

Dopage du Jour

I have no firm view on Mr Armstrong's involvement in doping practices but I will take issue with his attorney: "He's gifted physically in ways that are very unique...". OK, so what "gifts" are these? It's a lame comment to make since (a) we are all unique, that's how human genetics works unless he's a clone or an absolutely identical twin - and even then there are differences. And (b) if he has these gifts then let's see 'em - prove it. if we can prove he has natural physical gifts of a higher order than any other tour rider then we have an explanation for 7 consecutive Tour wins and can layoff the search for 'extraterrestrial' gifts. Otherwise it's lame.

Oh dear, more bad news. WADA distrust of UCI grows, decides to take more direct oversight of test results

What a situation the governing body is fiinding itself in... they apparently have 5 riders identified by the biological passport panel of experts - and they just sit on it. Doesn't mean we won't do something, we just haven't done it yet, they say. Even though months are ticking by. Now we may imagine all sorts of reasons to wait and process these things but few of them stack up. Except for the worst sort of reasons, of course. UCI, please explain?

Anti-Doping Officials Step Up Cycling Oversight - WSJ.com

A person familiar with the situation said that WADA has received complaints in recent months from several individuals and representatives of antidoping organizations who have raised concerns about the UCI's oversight.

This person said antidoping officials are particularly concerned about the status of five professional riders who were flagged for doping in December but have not yet been sanctioned by the UCI. The riders, whose names are known only to the UCI, were determined to be doping by an independent committee of nine scientists and experts that was appointed by the UCI to review data from blood and urine tests.

The person said at least two members of the panel have voiced concerns that the UCI may be disregarding these positive tests or shielding guilty riders from punishment.

Pat McQuaid, president of the UCI, said the UCI has complied with all of the guidelines set by WADA for the Passport program and was unaware of any complaints about the UCI's handling of the drug testing program. "I contest that there is a lack of effort to catch drug cheats," he said.

Holczer on being caught in a financial bind with Leipheimer, and unnamed FloydGate rider's admission

Interesting to see in print what was going through a team owner's mind as his riders fell under suspicion. And of course FloydGate continues...

Holczer Accuses Leipheimer Of Blood Manipulation | Cyclingnews.com

Former Gerolsteiner team manager Hans-Michael Holczer has claimed that Levi Leipheimer's blood values during the 2005 Tour de France “showed a very high probability of manipulation,” the German press agency SID has reported.

Holczer made the accusation during the presentation of his book called “Garantiert Positiv” (“Guaranteed Positive”) in Germany on Wednesday.

He claimed that the UCI informed him on the first rest day of the 2005 Tour de France in Grenoble that Leipheimer's blood values had an off-score co-efficient of 132.8. That is just 0.2 under the limit of 133. A normal score is 85-95 and scores over 133 can be considered evidence of doping.

US Postal Investigation Gathers Pace | Cyclingnews.com

A former US Postal Service team rider has spoken to federal investigators regarding doping practices in the squad, according to the New York Times. The unnamed rider admitted his own performance-enhancing drug use and alleged that systematic doping had taken place in the American squad when questioned by Jeff Novitzky’s investigative team.

A+B=C for Clenbuterol. RadioShack rider Li Fuyu positive

It's easy enough to imagine a scenario when Li Fuyu or any rider could 'unknowingly' take some Clenbuterol, however it's no excuse. It's linked with weight loss as well as bronchdilation, 2 things that may improve an athlete's performance. I remember racing in the '80s when the asthma "puffer" become somewhat unusually common among the roadies, as were a few other quasi-legal pills and potions (like caffeine pills). It seemed a fairly harmless pre-race ritual at the time (although possibly it did cause some side-effect related damage) and more of a placebo than anything else, but it's also (arguably) the thin end of a doping wedge. 

RadioShack’s Li Fuyu Positive Test Confirmed | Cyclingnews.com

The Chinese Cycling Association has confirmed that RadioShack rider Li Fuyu has failed a dope test after his B sample also showed traces of the banned substance Clenbuterol.

Fuyu was provisionally suspended by the UCI and the RadioShack team on April 22 after his A sample resulted positive for Clenbuterol. The test was carried out after the Dwars Door Vlaanderen race in Belgium on March 24. Fuyu finished 122nd in the race, more than nine minutes behind Matt Breschel (Saxo Bank).

Clenbuterol - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Clenbuterol (Spirovent, Ventipulmin) is a sympathomimetic amine used by sufferers of breathing disorders as a decongestant and bronchodilator. People with chronic breathing disorders such as asthma use this as a bronchodilator to make breathing easier. It is most commonly available as the hydrochloride salt clenbuterol hydrochloride.