Valjavec back, Crater banned
Tadej Valjavec was handed a provisional suspension in May by Team AG2R when the Union Cycliste International requested that disciplinary proceedings be taken against the Slovenian rider, based on the blood profile in his biological passport. The Slovenian Cycling Federation announced him cleared of the charges at the end of July, and AG2R began the process of reintegrating the rider into the team. Last weekend, he rode the Tour de Doubs in France, his first professional race since April, but the UCI announced today that the case wasn’t necessarily over.
"We are studying the file and will decide on September 17 if we'll appeal or accept the decision," confirmed UCI spokesman Enrico Carpani.
Meanwhile, the United States Anti-Doping Agency announced today that 32-year old cyclist Andrew Crater has received a three-month suspension for the use of marijuana, a substance prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency, whose list of prohibited substances in used by the UCI and the USADA. This has also resulted in the disqualification of his results from the Tour of Elk Grove, where the test was administered, and the stripping of his victory at the US Masters National Championship on August 4.
Roy Sentjens, who was provisionally suspended yesterday for the use of EPO, has gone to the Belgian press to claim his innocence after returning home from the Vuelta a Espana. “I don't understand what is going on. I know everyone says this, but I'm really innocent,” said Sentjens to the Het Belang van Limburg. “I am perplexed … Maybe even the B sample will be positive. It is a thing which I cannot win. I fear for the end of my career.”
If the B sample tests positive, the 29-year old Team Milram rider will be handed a two-year ban by the UCI, and in today’s militant, unforgiving climate toward doping, this could spell disaster. The test was administered in a random, out-of-competition control in August, at a Mallorca training camp, and the results were announced on Wednesday. “They were at my door at 6 a.m. According to my whereabouts, I didn't have to open my door at that time, but I have nothing to hide. I'm in a mess. Milram is being tough on me. I must arrange and pay everything myself.”
As tired as it sounds, the example demonstrated by Valjavec has proven that the UCI has been wrong before, and that they have a knack for reacting before anything is proven, so the innocence of Sentjens is uncertain.
"We took our responsibilities as a team and suspended him straight away as soon as the UCI notified us,” said Valjavec’s team manager, Vincent Lavenu. “But it is a bit annoying to find out that in the end, there was nothing... [T]his affair hasn't tarnished our image much, because we reacted swiftly, but it would have been less damaging for everybody if more research had been carried out before making the accusation."
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