Cortisone helped Floyd Landis performance?
Cortisone
Former Cofidis professional Philippe Gaumont described his use of Cortisone in his own confession of how he avoided doping controls during competition, noting in one instance that he would scratch his testicles with salt to cause an inflammation which in turn would allow him to receive a prescription for a topical solution. This could be justified in light of doping controls, but instead of the ointment prescribed, different forms of the drug were used to enhance performance.
Manzano also described his use of Cortisone, echoing some of Gaumont's descriptions of a sort of bait and switch tactic, whereby permission is gained for the use of Cortisone to treat a non-existent problem, clearing the way for elevated levels which will likely be detected in the doping controls.
Manzano also noted the differences in regulation between various countries, specifically France and Spain, where different levels of the substance prompt positive test results. Cortisone, like other substances, also comes in a variety of forms, some topical, others by injection, and according to Manzano, a French version which is taken in tablet form. He insists that mixing the various forms is not advised since they are of different chemical compositions. However it seems every drug has its code word in the peloton, meaning white Cortisone tablets were not to be confused with "whites", or caffeine tablets.
"There are many forms of Cortisone," Manzano said, "we could sit here for a week talking about them."
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Vaughters on Gaumont and cortisone
Retired American pro cyclist Jonathan Vaughters was part of the French system during his career, riding for Credit Agricole between 2000 and 2002. Vaughters rode the Tour de France three times, but was never able to finish it, with crashes and bad luck playing a big role.
His most unfortunate incident was in the 2001 Tour, when he was stung by a wasp on the second rest day, and had to pull out on Stage 15 due to his eye being swollen shut. Although cortisone treatment would have enabled him to ride, the UCI rules at the time did not permit it, as Vaughters had not declared cortisone in his medical booklet at the start of the race.
[indent]The recent comments of Philippe Gaumont regarding the use of cortisone in cycling prompted Vaughters to reflect on the circumstances that forced him to abandon the 2001 Tour, and how he could have continued if he had bent the rules a little. In an email to Cyclingnews, Vaughters wrote:
It's interesting to me what Philippe Gaumont has said about the methods used to cheat the system set up to detect unauthorized cortisone use. I wish I'd known this is 2001, when I was stung by a wasp and forced to withdraw [from the Tour] due to my eyes being swollen shut, and the inability to use cortisone to cure it. After I officially dropped out, I was given an injection of cortisone and the swelling was gone in less than 20 minutes.
Anyhow, I see now that it wasn't necessary that I drop out. I could have finished, and apparently had a shot at winning the next stage too! However, at the time, this was not one of the options I was given. the team doctor at Credit Agricole, Hervé Stoicheff, and team director Roger Legeay both knew that the testing wouldn't be able to tell the difference between authorized use of cortisone (I could have faked a knee injury), and unauthorized. However, they felt it was best to follow the rules to the letter and to the spirit, and chose against this course of action.
At the time this was very upsetting to me, as I was so close to finishing a race I never would. I would have rather broken the rules than quit, no question. But looking back on it now, I see that in the greater picture, perhaps it was best that I wasn't allowed to break the rules.
In that I was lucky to have had people around me that were aware of the ramifications of crossing the line even for a good reason; who were concerned about the sport as a whole, and not the results for the next day. Credit Agricole and its staff made decisions like this quite regularly. Dr. Stoicheff had some problems with the '98 Tour scandal, but I think he realized that the time to change had come, and did. Credit Agricole is one team whose members should never be doubted in the slightest.
As an athlete in a fragile and competitive situation it is often difficult to make good decisions. I know that given my own volition, I would have betrayed the rules of the UCI that day to finish the Tour de France. Without a doubt. However, I had honest, intelligent, and less emotionally involved people surrounding me, and preventing me from making a selfish choice. Although I despised them at the time, I now wish that cycling could be full of such honourable people such as Legeay and Dr. Stoicheff. They served the correct role, deflecting the pressures presented to athletes as opposed to magnifying them.
In closing, I simply wish to point out that although Gaumont brings up some issues that do need to be resolved, the whole of cycling should not be condemned. There are many out there that silently go about fighting to keep the integrity of the sport.
I know, a few of them saved me.
JV
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