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Friday's EuroFile: UCI wants DNA; Milram doesn't want Ullrich
The UCI announced Friday that it intends to seek ways to oblige riders to submit DNA samples and undergo physiological profiling in a bid to stamp out doping. After a summer of serious doping allegations and affairs which are still ongoing, the International Cycling Union is desperate to stamp cheating out of the sport.
After a series of meetings on Friday between the body which distributes team licenses for the Pro Tour and the racing series' legal advisers, the UCI's Pro Tour council announced that DNA profiling and physiological profiling of riders would be one of the measures they are hoping to introduce.
"After consultation with the riders' association, the Pro Tour Council has also decided to look into the possibility of demanding that riders be obliged to submit DNA samples,” the statement released Friday noted. "They would also be asked to undergo tests which would be used to gauge their physiological potential."
The moves would allow the UCI to up the ante in the fight against doping.
Despite huge investment and increased controls, numerous scandals have further sullied the sport.
Prior to the Tour de France it was alleged that around 58 riders were implicated in a doping affair in Spain.
Spanish doctor, Eufemiano Fuentes is alleged to have run a blood doping and illegal substance network although for the moment much of the evidence from the investigation is circumstantial.
Nevertheless evidence from Operaæion Puerto was serious enough for Giro d’Italia winner Ivan Basso and former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich to be barred from the Tour de France by their respective teams.
Both riders have denied any involvement with Fuentes.
American Floyd Landis went on to win the race, but tested positive for testosterone. Landis continues to maintain his innocence and is awaiting a decision from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency on when his case will be heard.
Milram denies Ullrich talks
Pro Tour cycling team Milram on Friday denied that its representatives were in talks to sign German cyclist Jan Ullrich, sacked by his T-Mobile team after a Spanish investigation offered evidence that he was involved in doping. "We have no intention of recruiting Jan Ullrich. We're not in talks with him or his advisors," said Milram manager Gianluigi Stanga in a statement Friday. "It's true our recruitment campaign is not over but hiring Jan Ullrich is absolutely not part of our plans." Milram, a German-Italian team, have built their squad around sprinters Alessandro Petacchi and Erik Zabel since the team's creation this year. The 1997 Tour de France champion Ullrich was barred from competing in this year's race and sacked by T-Mobile after a Spanish police investigation alleged that he was given EPO and other banned substances by Madrid-based sports doctor Eufemiano Fuentes.
