It appears that last week was a bad week for bike racing dopers, as USADA announced suspensions for three US cyclists, including North Carolina cyclist, coach and former masters road and time trial National Champion Peter Cannell, Alberto Blanco (GS Mengoni alum and B ‘cross racer?) and Andrew Tilin, an Oakland Cat 4 cyclist and travel and doping journalist. USADA news releases below.
Peter Cannell Receives Two-Year Suspension From USADA
Colorado Springs, Colo. (April 8, 2011) The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced today that Peter Cannell, an athlete in the sport of cycling, has accepted a two-year suspension for violating the applicable sport anti-doping rules, including the Union Cycliste Internationale (“UCI”) Rules and the World Anti-Doping Code (“Code”). Mr. Cannell’s anti-doping rule violation was based on the presence of the anabolic agent, drostanolone, in his urine sample collected as part of the USADA out of competition testing program on April 16, 2010.
Cannell, 37, of Mebane, North Carolina, accepted a two-year period of ineligibility for his doping offense, beginning on May 17, 2010, the day he accepted a provisional suspension. Through the course of an investigation into the case conducted by USADA, Mr. Cannell also acknowledged his previous use of an anabolic agent, and therefore all of Cannell’s competitive results will be disqualified, including forfeiture of all medals, points, and prizes since February 6, 2007.
CAS Panel Upholds Two Year Suspension Imposed on Cyclist Alberto Blanco; Dismisses His Appeal
Colorado Springs, Colo. (April 4, 2011) USADA announced that a three-member panel of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) based in Lausanne, Switzerland, rendered its decision in the appeal, filed by cyclist Alberto Blanco, that sought to challenge the earlier American Arbitration Association (AAA) award finding that Blanco committed an anti-doping rule violation.
The CAS Panel confirmed the AAA panel’s ruling, and dismissed Blanco’s appeal. Blanco’s two year suspension will stand.
Blanco, 29, of San Mateo, California, provided a urine sample on December 15, 2008, after completing the second stage of the Tour of the South China Sea competition held December 14-21, 2008. The WADA-accredited laboratory at Beijing, China analyzed Blanco’s sample. The sample resulted in an Adverse Analytical Finding for testosterone or its precursors, which are prohibited in the class of Anabolic Agents on the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List, which has been adopted by the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing and the rules of the International Cycling Union (UCI).
The CAS panel found the laboratory’s results to be reliable, and sustained the AAA panel’s findings, with respect to the fact that Blanco committed an anti-doping rule violation. Blanco’s two-year period of ineligibility began December 15, 2008, the day of his positive test. As a result of the doping violation, Blanco has also been disqualified from all competitive results achieved at and subsequent to the 2008 Tour of the South China Sea competition, including forfeiture of any medals, points, and prizes.
The CAS decision is available on the USADA website at http://www.usada.org/arbitration-decisions/
Cyclist Andrew Tilin Receives Sanction For Doping Violation
Colorado Springs, Colo. (April 1, 2011) – USADA announced today that U.S. cycling athlete, Andrew Tilin, of Oakland, California, has accepted a two-year period of ineligibility for an anti-doping rule violation based on his admitted use of the prohibited Anabolic Agents, synthetic testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (“DHEA”).
Synthetic testosterone and DHEA are prohibited substances in the class of Anabolic Agents under the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing and the International Cycling Union (“UCI”) anti-doping rules, both of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code (“Code”) and the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.
Tilin’s two-year period of ineligibility began on March 30, 2011, the day he accepted the sanction. Additionally, Tilin is disqualified from all competitive results achieved on and subsequent to January 1, 2008, which, by his admission and acceptance of sanction, is the date he first committed an anti-doping rule violation using these substances. The sanction includes the forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes.
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In an effort to aid athletes, as well as all support team members such as parents and coaches, in understanding the rules applicable to them, USADA provides comprehensive instruction on its website on the testing process and prohibited substances, how to obtain permission to use a necessary medication, and the risks and dangers of taking supplements as well as performance-enhancing and recreational drugs. In addition, the agency manages a drug reference hotline, Drug Reference Online (www.GlobalDRO.com), conducts educational sessions with National Governing Bodies and their athletes, and proactively distributes a multitude of educational materials, such as the Prohibited List, easy-reference wallet cards, periodic newsletters, and protocol and policy reference documentation.
USADA is responsible for the testing and results management process for athletes in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement, and is equally dedicated to preserving the integrity of sport through research initiatives and educational programs.
