Tyler Hamilton: Depression, luck and illness? horrible combination!

mareblu

THIS IS TYLER'S PRESS RELEASE AS OF TODAY 09/23/2004





Media Release
Tyler Hamilton
Statement by Tyler Hamilton of 23 September 2004
First of all I would like to discuss the recent press releases concerning my suspension from the team. This decision was taken jointly by Andy Rihs in his function as team owner and myself and communicated already during the press conference held on Tuesday evening. I am still a member of the Phonak-Cycling-Team and will continue to participate in the day to day decisions concerning our team.

With regard to the B-test from the Olympic Games no official information has been provided to me as of today. However, I am sure that the Gold medal that I worked so hard for will stay in my hands. I guarantee that I represented the United States of America as an honest, clean and proud athlete. As the Olympic Committee did not promptly inform me of the alleged anti-doping violation until one month after the event on August 18, 2004, it was not possible to defend myself before. Regardless of this I will prove my innocence.

I will support the scientific board established by Phonak Cycling and myself, which I strongly believe will put light on the questions we have on the reliability of this new test. Hopefully with this scientific team, we can find a fool-proof method to this test in order to the prevent other athletes ending up in the same situation. I believe that this is the only way to bring clarity to this matter.

It is necessary that I will be released from the allegations based on a scientifically conducted correction of the testing method. It is of further essence that I can as soon as possible, together with my team, form part of a reinstated reputation with evidence that I have contributed to valid, reliable and watertight measures in the anti-doping campaign. In this sense I fully support this research & development project, and I am confident that its result will bring me back to cycling soon so I can pursue my dream of winning the Tour de France.

I very much appreciate the support of my family, my friends, my team and fans.

Tyler Hamilton

antoineg

The way I understand Camenzind's situation, the out-of-competition test was not conducted by the UCI, but rather by the Swiss Olympic Committee (or their representative).

The Bruylandts situation is new to me -- apparently the UCI were watching him closely and tested him the day of a win, and then visited him again the day after and did another test. He had high hematocrit values, and this was 2000, so they suspended him based on the indirect evidence. Nevertheless, this does give me one example of a UCI-sponsored out-of-competition test.

mareblu

Hello Virenque!, quick question, what is your personal answer about the Hamilton's scandal? did he or didn't he?

Virenque

I think he did, that he and his doctors weren`t careful enough, or they didn`t expect those new tests! No one who tested positive can convince me with opposite!
Bruylandts was cought this year when he was training after injury and he didn`t expect any tests..

mareblu

thanks for answering me........fair enough for me

Virenque

Why do you need my opinion?