Johan Bruyneel extends his support for Frank Schleck
Johan Bruyneel is struggling to prove his own innocence for the USADA case that accuses him of trafficking and administrating the UCI banned substance.
While struggling to prove his innocence, Bruyneel was shocked to hear about Frank Schleck’s positive test taken during the Tour de France 2012.
Despite being one of the most expensive squads in the peloton, Team RadioShack-Nissan is having a disappointing season and has been surrounded by a number of controversies.
First, it was Andy Schleck, who abandoned the Tour de France because of a knee surgery that he had earlier in May, 2012.
Andy finished second during the most recent version of the Tour and was an ideal candidate to grab the top overall position this year.
Team RadioShack-Nissan had to start the race without the services of Schleck and Fabian Cancellara was given the leadership role.
The Swiss started the race in a superb fashion and claimed the yellow jersey after winning the opening prologue of the race.
Fabian abandoned the race just ahead of the 148 kilometre, stage 11 of the Tour de France because of the birth of his son.
While commenting on Frank Schleck’s positive doping test, Bruyneel noted on his personal blog, “Voice said it all - shocked, devastated, angry and confused”.
“And while no director or any other person can fully monitor, control and watch over any one individual athlete - I believe Frank when he declared his innocence”.
“The kind of substance and low quantity justifies the presumption of innocence”.
He has now pulled Frank out of the Tour, “To give Fränk every opportunity to concentrate on proving his innocence”
“To keep the focus of the team on the race itself; And last but not least”
“To respect the Tour de France, where all attention should be on the competition and battles taking place every day on the road”, Bruyneel concluded.
Team RadioShack-Nissan currently leads the Tour de France team’s ranking and with an impressive lead of 14 minutes and 9 seconds over Team Sky Procycling.
Team BMC, Team Astana Pro and Team Europcar occupies the third, the fourth and the fifth positions in the respective order.
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