Sighs of relief all round, Frankie's one-year suspension is going to end on the 14th July as planned: today we finally got the news that both the UCI and WADA have accepted the ruling of LADA (Lux Anti-Doping Agency) (oh all right, ALAD, if you insist) for a reduced ban, they are not going to appeal, it is going to stand.
An appeal would have been bad - it would have meant that they were asking for the full two-year ban, which would have been unfair in the extreme when you think that LADA concluded that Frankie had inadvertently consumed a contaminated supplement, containing the not-actually-banned-just-restricted diuretic that might have made him seriously ill . And that people like Zabriskie only got 6 months (cunningly positioned in the off-season anyway) for admitting to "real" doping. Sigh.
Anyway, we can now put it behind us, the date for his return is set, and he'll no doubt be targeting la Vuelta.
As will Andy, hopefully: won't it be great to see them cycling together again?
I suspect that RadioShambles will put Andy into the Tour, even if he is not up to full fitness - after all, he is a former winner, even if by default, and he brings his own layer of publicity with him. I'm sure the organisers would want him. But I suspect he'll be in much better form for la Vuelta, especially if he's cycling with Frankie again.
Meanwhile, in the Tour of the Basque country, Andy's doing well: he's still going, he's showing his face, and he's very much "in the bunch". Yes, it would be lovely to see him win a stage or a jersey, but I'm just really happy to see him riding, completing each day, and - we confidently expect - completing the race.
Go, Andy!
Hey, there was a funny moment, LLB and I were watching the recording of Stage 2, and Jensie, in the middle of the bunch, was talking in an animated manner to the Ass-t'nah rider next to him. LLB wondered why - until I pointed out that it was Jakob!
Yay Jakob! I miss him in not being with Andy anymore :( So cute that they can have little chats in the peleton together, I must say though, the Astana colours don't really suit him, though I am biased and would prefer him in Radioshack nissan trek leopard (whatever they call themselves these days)kit.
ReplyDeleteI did hear thet Andy isn't completing in this years TdF, have you heard anything about this? I can't find that particular article anymore, so I'm hoping you would know.
Michelle
Hey Michelle, at the moment Andy is saying (see comments on last entry) that he doesn't think he can win the Tour this year, but the implication is that he will be participating.
ReplyDeleteI guess we won't know until nearer the time...
Coug
Not keen on the Ass-t'nah onesies, either.