Mario Zorzoli believes the new techniques can help UCI catching the culprits more effectively
Responding to the criticism faced by UCI since Lance Armstrong case, the UCI’s Medical Officer Mario Zorzoli has noted that all the other anti-doping organisations across the world are having a tough time in catching the party spoilers and UCI is not the only bird in this nest.
Zorzoli, who has rarely spoken on the issue before defended his firm during the Aspire4Sport Conference stating that the cyclists who confessed doping were tested not only by UCI but also by a number of different organisations as reported by www.insidethegames.biz.
He was quoted as saying, "If you look at the situation, all of the athletes who confessed to doping [in the USADA report on Lance Armstrong] were tested by a number of different organisations, not just by the UCI, and they were never caught".
"But despite what is happening, I'm optimistic going forward. We have new testing procedures that are far more advanced than [those of] five years ago".
"There are now things like the biological passport that are more reliant on getting information so we can actually catch athletes without having to see a positive test from them".
"Essentially we are moving from the toxicology approach....to a more forensic science approach".
USADA’s 1000 page report include testimony from as many as 26 different people including 15 riders with knowledge of Team US Postal Service and eleven of them worked with Lance Armstrong.
These eleven (11) teammates of Lance Armstrong include, Frankie Andreu, Michael Barry, Tom Danielson, Tyler Hamilton, George Hincapie, Christian Vande Velde, Jonathan Vaughters, David Zabriskie, Floyd Landis, Levi Leipheimer and Stephen Swart.
Mario explained that he was not permitted to comment on the Armstrong scandal because of the in-process investigation.
He has however, taken full use of the opportunity and noted that according to his understanding catching the cheats in the past was more difficult because of the lack of technology.
Even the EPO test machine came as late as in 2001 and other advanced tests are being introduced just recently.
Zorzoli is optimistic that with all the latest technology in place and introduction of the UCI rider helpline will definitely help cleaning the sport in the coming years.
Tags: