Blatter accusation about widespread doping in the TdF

[Isidor Gunsberg]

FIFA (International Football Federation) President Sepp Blatter claims that most of the Tour de
France cyclists take Asthma medication (presumeably to enhance their cycling performance).

Is Blatter nuts, or what?

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2003/soccer/10/09/bc.na.spt.soc.wcup.blatter.ap/

Organizers said there have been no positive drug tests in this tournament. In fact, Blatter
emphasized, other than the doping case of Diego Maradona in 1994, there never has been a positive
result in 2,390 tests. Even with Maradona's positive for what has been described as a "cocktail" of
drugs, the percentage of failed tests is 0.04 in World Cups since '94.

Blatter also contended that in cycling, more than 50 percent of the athletes in the Tour de France
listed a need for some sort of medication for asthma. Nothing like that has occurred in soccer.

"Compared to other sports we are on the good track," he said.

[Kurgan Gringion]

"Isidor Gunsberg" <gunsberg@kasparovchess.com> wrote in message
news:ce29ddd3.0310121353.17d5a246@posting.google.com...
> FIFA (International Football Federation) President Sepp Blatter claims that most of the Tour de
> France cyclists take Asthma medication (presumeably to enhance their cycling performance).
>
> Is Blatter nuts, or what?

No.

[Tim Lines]

Isidor Gunsberg wrote:
> FIFA (International Football Federation) President Sepp Blatter claims that most of the Tour de
> France cyclists take Asthma medication (presumeably to enhance their cycling performance).
>
> Is Blatter nuts, or what?

Yes, he's nuts. Some of them are on allergy medication.

[Richard Adams]

Tim Lines wrote:

>
>
> Isidor Gunsberg wrote:
>
>> FIFA (International Football Federation) President Sepp Blatter claims that most of the Tour de
>> France cyclists take Asthma medication (presumeably to enhance their cycling performance).
>>
>> Is Blatter nuts, or what?
>
>
> Yes, he's nuts. Some of them are on allergy medication.
>

One Igor Gonzales Galdeano comes to mind.

[Benjamin Weiner]

Isidor Gunsberg <gunsberg@kasparovchess.com> wrote:

> Blatter also contended that in cycling, more than 50 percent of the athletes in the Tour de France
> listed a need for some sort of medication for asthma. Nothing like that has occurred in soccer.
> "Compared to other sports we are on the good track," he said.

> Is Blatter nuts, or what?

Not at all. But he's probably hoping that you'll forget Edgar Davids and a number of others testing
positive for nandrolone (not at the World Cup) and getting 8-months-reduced-to-4 suspensions, i.e.
slaps on the wrist. See? You already did forget. That's another reason Blatter isn't nuts.
Verbruggen tries to be a politico but FIFA makes him look like Mini-Blatter.

[Tom Kunich]

"Tim Lines" <lines_tim@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:ttpib.755095$uu5.130754@sccrnsc04...
>
> Isidor Gunsberg wrote:
> > FIFA (International Football Federation) President Sepp Blatter
claims
> > that most of the Tour de France cyclists take Asthma medication (presumeably to enhance their
> > cycling performance).
> >
> > Is Blatter nuts, or what?
>
> Yes, he's nuts. Some of them are on allergy medication.

The percentage is a little higher than in the normal population but about the same as among
other athletes.