The following was released today by the CPA (Cyclists Professional Assoc)
“The CPA states that the Commission of Inquiry of the Senate today has chosen not to publish the list of names of the riders allegedly tested positive for EPO during the Tour de France 1998 and 1999. Instead it will provide evidence to observers to pull into questions, under their responsibility, of some riders.
The CPA said that the findings can in no way claim for recognition of doping. The Inquiry itself points out in the annexes of its report that “no sanction can be taken on the basis of these elements, basically from a scientific study that got published 15 years after the facts.” At the press conference the speaker pointed out that these elements did not constitute “a list of athletes” and that it were better to be “extremely careful and cautious” in the use of these elements.
The Commission has attached to its report the letter by which the CPA, through the voice of its lawyers has underlined the topics that should lead not to publish items whose reliability and accuracy could not be guaranteed.
The CPA regrets the publication of these elements that discredit former riders, in spite of the Commission’s reservations, for facts that are dated back more than 15 years. It does not give them the chance to defend themselves and to contest their public call into question, due to the absence of expert reports, as the CPA already stated in its press release of July 18th.”
Stuart O’Grady, who announced his retirement yesterday, admitted his own usage.
Cycling News published these two lists of riders::
Positive:
Andrea Tafi, Erik Zabel, Bo Hamburger (twice), Laurent Jalabert, Marcos Serrano, Jens Heppner, Jeroen Blijlevens, Nicola Minali, Mario Cipollini, Fabio Sacchi, Eddy Mazzoleni, Jacky Durand, Abraham Olano, Laurent Desbiens, Marco Pantani, Manuel Beltran, Jan Ullrich (twice), Kevin Livingston (twice)
Suspicious:
Ermanno Brignoli, Alain Turicchia, Pascal Chanteur, Frederic Moncassin, Bobby Julich, Roland Meier, Giuseppe Calcaterra, Stefano Zanini, Eddy Mazzoleni, Stephane Barthe, Stuart O’Grady, Axel Merckx
