Doping

A verdict was finally expected this week, but has been delayed

A lot more than a two-year ban for Contador

When CAS judges refused to hear key testimony, WADA lawyers threatened to walk out

Contador planning season as if he won't be banned

Saxo Bank held a camp in Israel and a judge presiding over the CAS panel is Israeli

Bauge will lose his individual sprint world title

The UCI has suspended seven South American riders for various doping substances

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"I have not commented on my case and I will not until the process is completed"

Michael Diamond, a 63-year-old racer from St. Augustine, Florida, has accepted a two-year doping suspension after refusing to submit a sample during an out of competition test.

The Danish sorts doping tribunal has dismissed charges against Alex Rasmussen, who was accused of violating whereabouts rules, because the UCI did not meet its deadline in informing the rider of his offense.

The long-running Alberto Contador clenbuterol case likely won't see final resolution until early 2012.

Valverde had maintained close links to Movistar throughout his ban and was expected to welcomed back to the team.

Alberto Contador says he's "optimistic" he will be cleared later this month when his long-running clenbuterol case finally hits the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

News earlier this month that scores of soccer players at the Under-17 World Cup in Mexico tested positive for traces of clenbuterol — and the decision by WADA and FIFA to not pursue any of the cases — reveals just how inconsistent sports justice has been in applying rules in clenbuterol cases.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has set specific dates for hearing the UCI and WADA's appeal of Alberto Contador's doping case. The hearing is set for November 21-24, CAS announced Wednesday.

The slow wheels of cycling justice are finally in motion in the case involving Ezequiel Mosquera dating back to the 2010 Vuelta a España.

Michael Miller of Morgantown, Pennsylvania, has accepted an 8-month ban from cycling after he tested positive for a banned stimulant at USA Cycling's masters track nationals in Trexlertown, Pennsylvania in July.

PARIS (AFP) — The UCI announced Wednesday that no doping positives have emerged from the Tour of Spain after samples from the entire peloton underwent scrutiny.

Alexandr Kolobnev - the only rider to test positive during the 2011 Tour de France - escaped a sanction Tuesday when the Russian cycling federation only fined him and issued a warning.

A French court has given Floyd Landis, in his absence, a suspended sentence of 18 months in prison for his alleged 2006 use of hacked material from the Laboratoire National Antidopage (National Antidoping Lab). The prosecutor in the case before the Correctional Tribune of Nanterre also asked for the same suspended sentence for Landis' former trainer, Arnie Baker.

One shoe has dropped for admitted drug trafficker-turned-anti-doping witness Joe Papp as he awaits sentencing on two felony counts of conspiracy to distribute Human Growth Hormone and Erythropoietin (EPO). The U.S. Anti-doping Agency announced Friday morning that Papp was handed an eight-year sanction for a non-analytical rule violation.

PARIS (VN) — Alberto Contador was doubly optimistic Tuesday after getting a glimpse of what's waiting for the peloton in next year's Tour de France.

Another prominent U.S. masters racer has tested positive for a banned substance and accepted a sanction from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. Nicholas Brandt-Sorensen (Sho-air-Rock ‘n Road), the 2011 national road champion for men 30-34, has informed VeloNews in a fax that he tested positive at nationals in September.

The World Anti-Doping Agency has dropped another clenbuterol case just weeks ahead of Alberto Contador's hearing before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Mexican beef can be a legitimate excuse for clenbuterol in an athlete's blood sample, the World Anti-Doping Agency said Wednesday. Whether a similar excuse will stand up for the Spanish beef that Alberto Contador claims caused his positive test for the banned substance remains to be seen.

A 45-year-old Miami, Florida, cyclist has accepted a two-year suspension from cycling after refusing to submit a sample at the USA Cycling masters national track championships in July, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency announced Thursday.

MENTAUGOU, China (VN) — Worries about clenbuterol are scaring most of the top pros off beef and pork during this week's Tour of Beijing.

A reader wonders how and if there might ever be a test for autologous blood doping.

David Millar statement, October 6, 2011

CAS Press Release, October 6, 2011

TIBURON, Calif. (VN) — Embattled three-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador met fans and the media Tuesday in Sausalito and Tiburon and called for more involvement in anti-doping regulation for riders. Contador (Saxo Bank-Sungard) said he was confident that the Court of Arbitration for Sport would rule in his favor over a 2010 clenbuterol charge next month and that the World Anti-Doping Agency would soon implement new standards for the drug in its code.

Banned Italian doctor Michele Ferrari confirmed today that seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong is among the clients working with his son, Stefano, through a web-based training program. In a statement on his website, Ferrari addressed accusations made against him earlier this week in Italian dailies Corriere della Sera, Repubblica and La Gazzetta dello Sport.

GRENOBLE, France (AFP) — An enquiry has been opened by a court in the southeastern city of Grenoble into claims that the husband and coach of Jeannie Longo purchased the banned blood booster EPO (erythropoietin).

LEON, Spain (VN) — Team Sky's Bradley Wiggins says Vuelta a España race leader Juanjo Cobo deserves a benefit of the doubt against insinuations that the Geox-TMC rider's Angliru performance might appear too good to believe.

ROME (AFP) - An investigation into banned Italian cyclist Riccardo Riccò concluded that he did perform a blood transfusion on himself, the Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper reported on Monday.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (VN) — David Clinger was issued a lifetime doping ban by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) on Friday after testing positive during a random test while serving a prior doping ban.

UCI Press Release on Gerard Vroomen comments

PARIS, Aug 11, 2011 (AFP) - World cycling's ruling body has angrily hit back at suggestions by Cervélo co-founder Gerard Vroomen that the UCI has lacked bite in implementing its own biological passport program.

Two riders back from doping bans return to the pro ranks this week. Thomas Dekker lines up for the Tour of Portugal for the Chipotle development team while Mikel Astarloza returned to action Wednesday with Euskaltel-Euskadi.

The Dutch sports magazine NUsport is reporting Tuesday that former U.S. Postal Service rider Max Van Heeswijk detailed doping at the team in a June interview, then changed his mind and stole the interviewer’s tape. The full story appears in the August edition of NUsport, which hit newstands Tuesday.

ROME (AFP) — Former Tour of Italy winner Damiano Cunego and former world champion Alessandro Ballan have been called before the Italian Olympic Committee's (CONI) anti-doping prosecutor.

Ezequiel Mosquera broke his silence Tuesday and demanded that his ongoing possible doping case be resolved one way or another.

ROME (AFP) - Italian rider Pasquale Muto was on Saturday banned for two-and-a-half years by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) for doping.

A scheduled August hearing on doping charges against Alberto Contador before the International Court of Arbitration for Sport has been delayed until November.

The Contador case will be heard in November 2011

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Former American cycling star Lance Armstrong has accused a group of media giants of reporting grand jury information which had allegedly been illegally leaked.

AURILLAC, France (AFP) — Russian Alexander Kolobnev said Tuesday he had nothing to hide shortly after becoming the first rider to leave this year's Tour de France in disgrace.

AURILLAC, France (VN) — The French sports daily L'Equipe and the UCI are reporting that Russian cycling Alexander Kolobnev, a member of the Katusha team, tested positive for a banned diuretic during the first week of the Tour de France.

LES HERBIERS, France (AFP) - Quick Step sporting director Wilfried Peeters said Friday his team had nothing to worry about despite their bus being given a thorough search by police on the eve of the Tour de France.

Bjarne Riis and Alberto Contador faced down a sometimes-skeptical media mob Thursday ahead of Saturday's Tour de France where Contador will line up as defending champion with an asterisk.

A part-time soigneur with American squad BMC Racing was arrested Monday in connection with an 18-month investigation into performance enhancing drugs in Belgium. Belgian daily Het Nieuwsblad reported that “Sven S., of Zonnebeke” was taken into custody by a magistrate earlier this week after a search of his home uncovered syringes and other doping equipment.

Vuelta a España director Javier Guillén says Roberto Heras could be declared winner once again of the 2005 edition, but he isn't happy about it.

A Spanish civil court has found that Roberto Heras should be cleared of doping charges linked to his 2005 Vuelta a España win. But it's uncertain what impact the ruling will have.

The UCI issued a warning Thursday advising teams and riders that several blood samples are undergoing expert scrutiny in advance of the Tour de France to determine whether blood doping or other forms of manipulation have taken place.

Colombian Lisban Quintero, winner of the 2010 Base Camp International criterium, his first on the National Racing Calendar, has tested positive for a banned substance.

Police working together in Spain and Andorra have uncovered an alleged doping ring that involved up to 42 cyclists, 11 athletes, eight triathletes and even some kayakers and motorcycle drivers. Authorities identified most of the alleged clients as professional athletes.

Speaking to Spanish television (TVE1) during a break in a training camp in the French Alps, Contador said racing the Giro d'Italia before the Tour de France was hardly ideal preparation for the demands of the Tour.

The Italian cycling federation is coming down on hard on ex-dopers and is banning any rider with any sort of doping penalty from competing in the Italian national championships next weekend in Sicily.