Christian Vande Velde, Tom Danielson and David Zabriskie issued statements that they have been banned by USADA for their roles in USPS doping. They rode for USPS and Discovery but now are with Jonathan Vaugthers’ Garmin-Sharp team. They and Vaughters doped as teammates of Armstrong.
Vande Velde has been banned from September 9 2012, and lost his results from June 4, 2004 through until April 30 2006.
Garmin-Sharp states: “We created Slipstream Sports because we wanted to create a team where cyclists could compete 100% clean. We understood cycling’s history and we were determined to create a different environment for riders; to give them a place to come where they did not have to make the difficult and heartbreaking choices of the past.”
“Today, we are very encouraged to see the incredible strides cycling has taken to clean itself up. But, while it is important to acknowledge pride in the fact that cycling has never been cleaner, we find ourselves at a critical moment in cycling’s evolution: confronting its history.”
Vande Velde, fourth in the Tour de France 2008, turned pro with US Postal in 1998. He rode for Postal through 2003. He also took EPO while racing for Liberty Seguros and at CSC under Bjarne Riis.
USADA reports: “As described in his affidavit, he was a somewhat reluctant doper who nonetheless worked with Dr. Ferrari and submitted to his doping regimen of EPO and the “oil” for several seasons. In 2002 Vande Velde experienced a dressing down from Armstrong in Armstrong’s apartment during which Armstrong threatened Vande Velde that if he did not more strictly adhere to Michele Ferrari’s doping program that Vande Velde would lose his place on the team.”
Vande Velde admitted today to doping and apologies for his past.
“I love cycling, it is and always has been a huge part of who I am. As the son of a track cycling Olympian I was practically born on the bike and my dream, ever since I can remember, was always to be a professional cyclist. I have failed and I have succeeded in one of the most humbling sports in the world. And today is the most humbling moment of my life,” he said.
“As a young pro rider I competed drug free, not winning but holding my own and achieving decent results. Then, one day, I was presented with a choice that to me, at the time, seemed like the only way to continue to follow my dream at the highest level of the sport. I gave in and crossed the line, a decision that I deeply regret. I was wrong to think I didn’t have a choice – the fact is that I did, and I chose wrong. I won races before doping and after doping. Ironically, I never won while doping, I was more or less just treading water. This does not make it ok. I saw the line and I crossed it, myself. I am deeply sorry for the decisions I made in the past — to my family, my fans, my peers, to the sport that I love and those in and out of it – I’m sorry. I always will be.”
“I decided to change what I was doing and started racing clean again well before Slipstream, but I chose to come to Slipstream because I believed in its unbending mission of clean sport. Today, I am proud of the steps that I and cycling have made to improve the future of the sport that I love so much. I am proud to be a part of an organization that implemented a no-needle policy. I am proud that I published my blood values for all of the world to see after almost reaching the podium at the 2008 Tour de France; showing first and foremost myself that it was possible to and then, confirming it for the rest of the world. I continue to be proud of the strides the sport has taken to clean itself up, and the actions our organization has taken to help shape the sport that I love.”
“I’m very sorry for the mistakes I made in my past and I know that forgiveness is a lot to ask for. I know that I have to earn it and I will try, every day, to deserve it – as I have, every day, since making the choice to compete clean. I will never give up on this sport, and I will never stop fighting for its future.”
