Eurosport News Announces Cofidis Cycling Team Suspends Operation

Chumpito

From Eurosport.com "Cofidis Suspends Team"

"Embattled cycling outfit Cofidis have suspended their team in the
face of revelations about their inquiry into alleged drug taking. A
team statement said that recent allegations meant that they would not
compete in Sunday's Paris-Roubaix and subsequent races until they deem
it appropriate to return."

Poor Stuart O'Grady, he just came on board this year. This thing with
Kelme and Cofidis is getting scary. French Papers are now saying
Gaumont is implicating David Millar. I did not believe that cycling
was doping widespread, but I am now having second thoughts about that
with all the revelations coming forth. I believe they are too
detailed to just dismiss as sour grapes. Will it continue with every
pro cyclist who feels slighted coming forth with new revelations? Or
those who are now caught doping will they take suit and spill the
beans because everyone is starting to come out? I'm almost afraid of
the news that will come forth in the future. Should we be worried
about that?

Chumpito

tispectrum

PARIS, April 9 (Reuters) - French cycling team Cofidis, rocked by a doping
scandal for the last four months, decided on Friday to quit competition
until further notice to give itself "the time and means to clarify the
situation".

Earlier this year, the team sacked Philippe Gaumont and suspended two other
riders, Cedric Vasseur and Mederic Clain, charged on doping grounds
following the arrest of a former team rider found with doping products in
January.

"From today, and for the time that will be necessary, Cofidis will not enter
teams at the start of races," Cofidis said in a statement.

The decision came on the day French sports daily l'Equipe published official
documents from the investigation accusing Cofidis riders and team staff of
dealing and taking doping substances.

The French team has complained about seeing documents in the press that they
had been unable to obtain for their defence.

"That is why Cofidis is taking the case to court for breaching of the
investigation secrecy," the team statement said.

The first impact of Friday's decision will be seen on Sunday when Cofidis
riders will not take part in the Paris-Roubaix World Cup classic.


"Chumpito" <rayj3@msn.com> wrote in message
news:7980458e.0404091244.2b173095@posting.google.com...
> From Eurosport.com "Cofidis Suspends Team"
>
> "Embattled cycling outfit Cofidis have suspended their team in the
> face of revelations about their inquiry into alleged drug taking. A
> team statement said that recent allegations meant that they would not
> compete in Sunday's Paris-Roubaix and subsequent races until they deem
> it appropriate to return."
>
> Poor Stuart O'Grady, he just came on board this year. This thing with
> Kelme and Cofidis is getting scary. French Papers are now saying
> Gaumont is implicating David Millar. I did not believe that cycling
> was doping widespread, but I am now having second thoughts about that
> with all the revelations coming forth. I believe they are too
> detailed to just dismiss as sour grapes. Will it continue with every
> pro cyclist who feels slighted coming forth with new revelations? Or
> those who are now caught doping will they take suit and spill the
> beans because everyone is starting to come out? I'm almost afraid of
> the news that will come forth in the future. Should we be worried
> about that?
>
> Chumpito

Sonarrat

"Chumpito" <rayj3@msn.com> wrote in message
news:7980458e.0404091244.2b173095@posting.google.com...
> From Eurosport.com "Cofidis Suspends Team"
>
> "Embattled cycling outfit Cofidis have suspended their team in the
> face of revelations about their inquiry into alleged drug taking. A
> team statement said that recent allegations meant that they would not
> compete in Sunday's Paris-Roubaix and subsequent races until they deem
> it appropriate to return."
>
> Poor Stuart O'Grady, he just came on board this year.

Matthew White, Igor Astarloa and Jimmy Casper just joined, too.

-Sonarrat.

Davey Crockett

"Sonarrat" <sonarrat@postmark.fishn..> writes:

> "Chumpito" <rayj3@msn.com> wrote in message
> news:7980458e.0404091244.2b173095@posting.google.com...
>> From Eurosport.com "Cofidis Suspends Team"
>>
>> "Embattled cycling outfit Cofidis have suspended their team in the
>> face of revelations about their inquiry into alleged drug taking. A
>> team statement said that recent allegations meant that they would not
>> compete in Sunday's Paris-Roubaix and subsequent races until they deem
>> it appropriate to return."
>>
>> Poor Stuart O'Grady, he just came on board this year.
>
> Matthew White, Igor Astarloa and Jimmy Casper just joined, too.
>

Yes, a tragedy.

It looks like the death of bike racing as we know it.

--
le Vent a Dos
Davey Crockett
Six-Day site: http://members.rogers.com/sixday/sixday.html

Dopey

"Chumpito" <rayj3@msn.com> wrote in message
news:7980458e.0404091244.2b173095@posting.google.com...
> I'm almost afraid of
> the news that will come forth in the future. Should we be worried
> about that?

Do not be afraid. The UCI is working with WADA to solve the meanace of
drugs which are being used by losers and disgruntled failures. The sport is
now at least 90% clean if not more so. The clean riders, such as Lance
Armstrong, must continue to speak out for the clean ones.

I will be on vacation for the next month is Central Asia, looking at
possible venues for the World Road Championships. Some agracultural
interests in Western Afghanistan say they may want to sponsor the events.
They tell me they raise flowers that are every bit as colorful as our Dutch
tulips.

Until I return, I would advise all cyclists to, "Just say NO!" Dare to race
clean!

Nev Shea

"Sonarrat" <sonarrat@postmark.fishn..> wrote in news:107e3s72f625j85
@corp.supernews.com:

>
> "Chumpito" <rayj3@msn.com> wrote in message
> news:7980458e.0404091244.2b173095@posting.google.com...
>> From Eurosport.com "Cofidis Suspends Team"
>>
>> "Embattled cycling outfit Cofidis have suspended their team in the
>> face of revelations about their inquiry into alleged drug taking. A
>> team statement said that recent allegations meant that they would not
>> compete in Sunday's Paris-Roubaix and subsequent races until they deem
>> it appropriate to return."
>>
>> Poor Stuart O'Grady, he just came on board this year.
>
> Matthew White, Igor Astarloa and Jimmy Casper just joined, too.


Suspending opertions may be the best thing that happens this season to
the guys that joined this cursed team. First Cofidis gave Armstrong
cancer (and visited him in the hospital to cancel his contract), then VDB
had his mental problems, then Kivelev got killed . . . and I won't even
mention the "emotionally fragile" David Millar -- oops, I just did.

So Matt, Igor and Jimmy -- run for your lives and count your blessings.

NS

TritonRider

>From: Davey Crockett Davey_Crockett@rogers.com

>It looks like the death of bike racing as we know it.
>
>--
>le Vent a Dos
>Davey Crockett

Hey Davey
Is that a bad thing?
Just a point to consider.
Bill C

Davey Crockett

tritonrider@aol.com (TritonRider) writes:

>>From: Davey Crockett Davey_Crockett@rogers.com
>
>>It looks like the death of bike racing as we know it.
>>
>>--
>>le Vent a Dos
>>Davey Crockett
>
> Hey Davey
> Is that a bad thing?
> Just a point to consider.
> Bill C

Right. The hell with bike racing.

The upcoming pissing match, Gaumont versus the rest, will be much more amusing......

--
le Vent a Dos
Davey Crockett
Six-Day site: http://members.rogers.com/sixday/sixday.html

TritonRider

>From: Davey Crockett Davey_Crockett@rogers.com

>Right. The hell with bike racing.
>

>le Vent a Dos
>Davey Crockett

So your saying that bike racing has to be the way it is today?
Looks like Hockey is going to shut down in a labor dispute to fix fundamental
problems that could end the sport at the professional level for good.
I think that a major adjustment in cycling is needed too. Unfortunately the
polls of French kids and most of Europe point to doping being acceptable, and
even approved.
If that's how it's going to go we need to have it removed from the Olympics
and make it a "gladiator" sport.
Let's make the line winning or ODing? Eh?
Bill C
P.S.
I don't think Museeuw is doping, and I do think he is what a bike racer should
try to be.

Faster Bordello

> It looks like the death of bike racing as *we know it*.

That may be the key. Recently *as we know it* really isn't what we want
it to be is it?

I for one would like to see it cleaned up and returned as something
improved... will it happen? One can only hope.