Sven Martin/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
David George
Kevin Lancaster
Professional cyclists who passed drug tests last year are not out of the woods just yet as the country’s anti-doping body has announced that there is to be retroactive testing of all their samples.
In a move to clean up the sport, the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport has decided to perform EPO (Erythropoietin) tests on all the blood samples of more than 50 of the top riders who competed in major races last year.
Chief executive officer Khalid Galant said all stored blood samples from top riders – male and female, road and mountain bikers – would be screened for the blood booster.
He explained that not all cyclists had been screened for EPO during competition as the test was expensive and was performed only if there was suspicion of cheating.
But, after the Lance Armstrong doping scandal – and, closer to home, David George’s two-year ban for a doping offence – steps needed to be taken to save the sport from the doping stigma attached to it.
“Cycling is being damaged by these high-profile doping cases, with a high sense of cynicism existing,” Galant said.
“Therefore, we need to act now.”
In a move to encourage the purging of cheats, the institute has offered cyclists the opportunity to admit to doping and provide information on drug cheats in exchange for lighter sentences.
“In doing so they can enter a plea bargain and get a substantially reduced sentence before charges are brought against them,” he said.
Galant said the standard ban for EPO was a minimum of two years and could extend to lifetime exclusion from competition.
“We need to clean up cycling,” Galant said.
“The excuse that ‘everyone is doing it’ does not wash. Cyclists need to question their own values and not get dragged down by a culture of doping.”
In a recent interview with Tread mountain biking magazine, George spoke about his positive test and the seemingly ubiquitous doping in the sport, echoing the “everyone is doing it” sentiment.
“Yes, we shouldn’t be doping. But, hell, if everyone else is, what do you do?” he said.
Armstrong made similar statements in his interview with Oprah Winfrey, which aired on local television last Friday.
Cycling South Africa was meeting the institute today, its president, William Newman, said. He was not fully aware of the retroactive testing, he said.
“Anything that will clean up the sport is welcomed, although I do not think the problem is that big in South Africa,” he said.
