*waves bye to Hamilton*

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » September 21, 2004, 12:16 pm

And another rider goes down the doping drain! Interesting considering how Hamilton spoke out against people taking doping previously.

Tenuvil · Post by **Tenuvil** » September 21, 2004, 12:29 pm

Beat me to it.

Question: is a homologous transfusion "doping"? Still wonder how this can be proven since it's your own blood after all.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » September 21, 2004, 12:42 pm

Found something about it in a Norwegian paper.. they didn't go into detail but said it was a brand new test developed specifically to expose it. And yeah it is classified as doping as far as I know.

Tenuvil · Post by **Tenuvil** » September 21, 2004, 1:15 pm

Hamilton blood tests show 'inconsistencies'
This story has been updated - September 21
By Andrew Hood
VeloNews European correspondent
This report filed September 20, 2004
Tyler Hamilton is denying media reports of blood tampering that have been detected in two samples taken since he won the Olympic time trial gold medal last month.

The Vuelta a España was rocked overnight following reports that the UCI informed Phonak team doctor Iñaki Arratibel that blood samples taken Aug. 19 and Sept. 18 showed traces of mixed blood cells. Follow-up tests were scheduled for later Tuesday.

Phonak confirmed those reports, but said Hamilton has denied any wrong-doing. Phonak officials have scheduled a press conference at the team's headquarters in Zurich on Tuesday afternoon.

"I received the news yesterday evening and I can't say more except to tell you that I spoke with the rider and, knowing him as I do, I'm relatively calm," Phonak sport director Alvaro Pino told MARCA radio. "He told me, ‘Be calm, because this will work out in my favor and I'm telling you that sincerely, because there's absolutely nothing in this.'"

"I'm not the one who can explain everything that has happened," Pino said Tuesday. "The team will give a full explanation later this afternoon in a press conference in Zurich with Tyler there as well. ... I believe what Tyler told me and I believe that he's smart enough not to risk taking a blood transfusion. The rule of the team is the same for any rider. If he is considered positive, he will be fired from the team."

The Associated Press reported that team spokesman Georges Luedinger said Hamilton denied having a transfusion, which can boost an athlete's performance by increasing the amount of oxygen-transporting red blood cells in their system.

"Tyler told us he did nothing," said Luedinger, adding the UCI said the tests revealed "mixed red blood cell population, an indication of a homologous blood transfusion."

The Vuelta has been using a new sophisticated blood screening machine that can detect blood transfusions, human growth hormones and synthetic hemoglobin which were previously undetectable. The apparatus was also used at the Tour de France and the Olympic Games in Athens.

The two tests came following Hamilton's biggest successes of the 2004 season. The first came a day after winning the Olympic time trial gold medal, the first American male road race gold medal since 1984. The second test came on Sept. 18, just days after he won a Vuelta time trial to become the first American to win stages in all three grand tours. Hamilton did not start the 13th stage after complaining of stomach problems.

Hamilton could not be reached by VeloNews on Tuesday morning, but La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that the American is already planning his legal defense against the allegations. Hamilton, 33, has never tested positive for banned substances or been disciplined by the UCI during his 10-year professional career.

noel · Post by **noel** » September 21, 2004, 1:58 pm

Well that's a bit of a surprise.

Hard to take anything away from his performances in the '02 (I think) Giro and '03 Tour, but if there's anything to this, it's highly disappointing.

I'm very, very, very glad the testing is getting better.

For Kelshara's benefit: EVEN IF THEY TEST LANCE AND HE TESTS POSITIVE I WILL BE GLAD.

Siji · Post by **Siji** » September 21, 2004, 1:59 pm

Another article similar..

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_s ... 675726.stm

Olympic time trial champion Tyler Hamilton faces a ban for doping after failing blood tests in Athens and last week's Tour of Spain.

The 33-year-old American was found guilty of blood doping after winning the Vuelta's eighth stage, a time-trial, on 11 September.

Hamilton pulled out of the Tour on 16 September, citing stomach problems.

A previous "A" test carried out in Athens on 19 August also reportedly showed up blood cell irregularities.

Georges Luedinger, a spokesman for Hamilton's Phonak team, said cycling's governing body the UCI had informed them Hamilton's tests showed "presence of a mixed red blood cell population, indication of a homologous blood transfusion".

In this case homologous means blood from another person.

The UCI is awaiting the results of a second "B" test on Tuesday designed to confirm the preliminary results.

Phonak team director Alvaro Pino said: "I received the news yesterday evening and I can't say more except to tell you that I spoke with the rider and, knowing him as I do, I'm relatively calm.

"He told me, 'Be calm, because this will work out in my favour and I'm telling you that sincerely, because there's absolutely nothing in this'."

Hamilton injured his back in a crash which led to his retirement during the 13th stage of the Tour de France in July, but bounced back to take Olympic gold in Athens.

He also famously went on to finish fourth in the 2003 Tour de France after breaking his collarbone in the first stage.

Blood doping is a method of increasing the number of red blood cells in the body which in turn carry more oxygen to the muscles.

In the past, blood would be removed from an athlete's system and then frozen and stored for several weeks before being reinjected into their system a day or two before a big race.

More recently athletes in endurance sports have used intravenously injected drugs such as erythropoietin (EPO) to get similar effects.

I'd be saddened to see this be true. Guess I have that image that Tyler is an all american apple pie kinda guy.

noel · Post by **noel** » September 21, 2004, 2:10 pm

Checking some of the cycling forums, there are some people speculating that with all his crashes, he could have had a transfusion for a surgery. If that is the case, his medical records would bear that out and clearly show that while he did receive a homologous transfusion, he received it for a medical procedure, and not to increase performance.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » September 21, 2004, 2:36 pm

But I don't see any reason why that would not be brought up immediately, it should have been common knowledge and especially his team should have said something. Also, he hasn't had any major crashes this year has he?

noel · Post by **noel** » September 21, 2004, 2:50 pm

He had a major crash in the Tour de France.... Stage 6 if I remember correctly. It was the one where he injured his back and ended up withdrawing after the first mountain stage because he couldn't put any power to the pedals.

I agree it should have been brought up immediately, but consider the fact that he'd already pulled out of the Vuelta like 4 days ago (I'm close), and they're just now announcing it now. They're just now announcing the Olympic test failure now... The press conference is for later today, so that should be when he comes clean with whatever information is going to clear him, assuming there is such information.

I'm not saying he's innocent or guilty here Kelsh, but I do think a surgery which required blood is a reasonable explanation should there be such an explanation.

Again, if the tests are finally catching people than thank God and I don't care who. I'd just like my sport to be clean.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » September 21, 2004, 3:09 pm

Oh yeah forgot about the crash in TdF.. that is true. If he IS dirty though it makes you wonder a bit how far back it goes..

noel · Post by **noel** » September 21, 2004, 3:25 pm

Slightly more info:

They will easily get to the bottom of the case because:

1. If Tyler had any transfusion due to surgery it can be easily established and dated.
2. Any transfusions that are 4 month old (or longer) could not be tested for because red blood cell live only 120 days. So, Tyler has to show that he had been transfused within the last 4 month. There was no any news about that.
3. A lot of circumstantial evidence is not in Tyler's favor.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » September 21, 2004, 3:28 pm

hum.. so in other words, if the TdF fall led to surgery that might be the cause. I can't recall him having another one just before TdF..

Tenuvil · Post by **Tenuvil** » September 21, 2004, 3:32 pm

Whoops. Apparently I confused "homologous transfusion", which is a blood transfusion from another donor that is compatible with yours, with "autologous transfusion", which is your own blood taken, stored, and transfused at some later time.

Hopefully there will be a reasonable explanation for this. It seems odd that Tyler would have had a transfusion from another donor for no reason except doping.

noel · Post by **noel** » September 21, 2004, 3:37 pm

I never heard about him having surgery. I know he had extremely bad abrasions on his back from the fall, but... That generally doesn't require blood. I know he had dental work done after he ground down all of his teeth during the '03 Tour because of the pain of doing the stages with a broken collarbone. Not sure if that requires blood.

Actually, a likely scenario is... Phonak engages in autologous (spelling might be wrong there) blood transfusions. Essentially, athletes withdraw blood, and then reinject it prior to competition to increase their red blood cell (oxygen carrying) count. An autologous transfusion doesn't show up in the testing because the blood is identical. However, what if Hamilton's sample was mislabeled and confused with another rider on the team, and then he received the blood and the control. If the other rider on the team had an incompatible blood type, that could have caused a very serious medical condition (perhaps serious enough to make Hamilton withdraw from the Vuelta). Playing with your blood is a really dangerous business...

The thing that seems unlikely though is that he would have tested the same way twice, basically a month and a half apart (Olympics/Vuelta). Given this, and if we presume innocence, it makes a transfusion for medical reasons (assuming there ARE medical reasons) far more likely.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » September 21, 2004, 3:40 pm

I'm really torn.. I like Hamilton, I admire his riding last year with the broken collarbone but at the same time I detest cheaters and hope they all get caught.

noel · Post by **noel** » September 21, 2004, 3:42 pm

More from FoxNews:

Hamilton said he would "fight this until I don't have a euro left in my pocket."

Tests at the Athens Olympics on Aug. 19 and at the Spanish Vuelta on Sept. 18 showed evidence of blood from another person, cycling's governing body said, according to a spokesman for Hamilton's team, Phonak. Follow-up tests were scheduled for later Tuesday.

Phonak spokesman Georges Luedinger said Hamilton denied having a transfusion - which can boost an athlete's performance by increasing the amount of oxygen-transporting red blood cells in his system.

"Tyler told us he did nothing," Luedinger said.

If found guilty of a violation at the Olympics, Hamilton would lose his gold. Three athletes had gold medals revoked for doping during the Aug. 13-29 games.

"I am 100 percent innocent," Hamilton said.

Former world champion Oscar Camenzind was fired by Phonak and announced his retirement after testing positive for the performance-enhancing substance EPO shortly before the Olympic.

A record 24 athletes - none American - from various sports were cited for drug-test violations at the Athens Olympics.

Asked about Hamilton's reported positive test at the Olympics, IOC medical director Patrick Schamasch said, "For the moment, I can't confirm or deny anything."

IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies said, "As with all doping procedures, while a process is underway, we can't go into details."

USA Cycling CEO Gerard Bisceglia said the IOC had not said anything to his organization about Hamilton's medal. He said he was waiting to see the results of the tests Hamilton was to take Tuesday.

"We're not in a position to take a position. We hope for the best with this, as we do with any athlete," Bisceglia said.

The U.S. Olympic Committee said it had no comment.

Hamilton's gold was one of four medals won by American cyclists at the Athens Games - the team's best showing since winning nine at the boycotted 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Hamilton was the only American cyclist to win a gold medal in Athens, and he called that victory "the highlight of my career, by far."

Hamilton's mother said from her home in Marblehead, Mass., that the family learned of the tests Tuesday morning.

"This comes as a total shock to us," Lorna Hamilton said.

If Hamilton is disqualified, the gold medal would go to Russia's Viatcheslav Ekimov, with American Bobby Julich moving up to silver and Australia's Michael Rogers to the bronze.

Hamilton pulled out midway through the 2004 Tour de France because of a back injury and was fourth in the 2003 Tour.

Hamilton pulled out of the Vuelta on Sept. 16, citing stomach problems.

Siji · Post by **Siji** » September 21, 2004, 5:18 pm

Others may disagree, but personally I think it's wrong doing that whole thing with the blood - even though it's your own. I mean come on people.. where's the sport when science and surgery takes over? I didn't know about that whole 'storing your blood' stuff until the above messages, but I'm definitely not a fan of it. To me that taints the competition.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » September 21, 2004, 5:36 pm

I don't like it either.

That said, I read somebody else on a different board comment on this (and the person is a big fan of both Lance and Tylor): If Hamilton is proven to be guilty, then it will be very hard for the average person to still believe Lance is clean. Tylor is one of the nicest people around, and Lance himself has admitted he can be an asshole.

Now those are not my words but they make sense in a way. Tylor has a very good reputation among the average person. People love him. They really admire his riding with the broken collarbone and cheered when he won the gold in Greece. Now this? Wow, major setback for the cycling sport... MAJOR.

Tenuvil · Post by **Tenuvil** » September 21, 2004, 6:01 pm

Kelsh, nice guys aren't necessarily clean. Nor are assholes universally cheaters.

It's a huge reach to extrapolate Lance Armstrong from this incident, and that's assuming Tyler is guilty (which I do not think is so).

I still believe this was a case of human error in the testing process.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » September 21, 2004, 6:20 pm

Reach yes, but I am talking about the average person who doesn't know that much about cycling. If Hamilton is proven guilty then the sport will have taken a huge step back in the eyes of these average people. Personally, I hope both are clean. I am just not sure if I believe it or not.

noel · Post by **noel** » September 21, 2004, 9:16 pm

This is looking more and more like it's going to come down to Tyler's word. I'll choose to believe him. Probably partially because I can't stomach what it would mean to me if I can't believe him.

Siji · Post by **Siji** » September 22, 2004, 9:45 am

Isn't the ban for those caught doping only like a couple years? Personally I'd have no problem with it being changed to make it a lifetime ban if someone is found (or admits) to be guilty of it without doubt. Increase the consequences.

As you mentioned Kelsh, people like me that are very inexperienced with the whole racing scene are very disappointed to be realizing what a problem this really is in cycling. I was very surprised myself. Of course, being that I don't know that much about it, I'm not sure exactly what the the EPO stuff actually does to the body, so I honestly don't 100% know whether or not I agree/disagree with it being illegal. But going on the basis that the rules have already been made against it, and everyone knows it, I'm disappointed that there's such a problem with it. The whole blood thing though, that just bothers me on a whole different level.

I really hope Tyler isn't guilty. And I agree with noel that even if he is, I wouldn't tie that to Lance. My understanding of the number of times that guy is tested, it would be really hard to hide. *shrug*

Tenuvil · Post by **Tenuvil** » September 22, 2004, 11:03 am

Doping is a problem with every sport to some extent or another. It becomes a huge issue in sports that heavily depend on the athlete's aerobic fitness such as track & field and cycling, and cycling has the largest organized professional circuit of all the aerobic/endurance type sports.

As far as EPO goes, its chemical name is erythropoeitin and goes by the trade names Epogen or Procrit. It's a synthesized hormone that causes the body to produce more red blood cells. It's usually given to cancer patients or people with severe anemias to increase their oxygen capacity. Since more RBCs == more oxygen carrying capacity per given volume of blood, this is a desirable thing for endurance athletes.

Some doctors (Dr Michele Ferrari chief among them) believe that EPO is safe if the doses are moderate and the athlete is monitored continuously. Athletes that have self administered excess doses or otherwise abused EPO have suffered strokes and heart attacks due to excess use of the drug which resulted in extreme excess RBC development to the point that their blood became thick like sludge.

Siji · Post by **Siji** » September 22, 2004, 2:24 pm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_s ... 681022.stm

Hamilton suspended by team

Hamilton may lose the gold medal he won in Athens
Olympic time trial champion Tyler Hamilton has been suspended by his Phonak team after failing a dope test.

The American, who tested positive for blood doping at the Olympics and the Tour of Spain, is waiting for the results of his "B" samples.

"We have to concentrate on the facts. These seem to speak against Tyler," said Phonak boss Andy Rihs.

Rihs added that if Hamilton could not prove his innocence then he would be sacked by Phonak.

Phonak's stance is a complete U-turn from their position on Tuesday, when they gave their full backing to the American.

Hamilton claims he is innocent and says his "B" test results, which are expected on Wednesday, will clear him.

BLOOD DOPING EXPLAINED
What is it?
The administration of red blood cells to increase the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity

Examples include:
Injecting someone else's red blood cells; removing own blood and returning it once body has compensated by making more blood

Why would athletes do it?
The better the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, the better an athlete's endurance

Side effects can include:
Blood clots, overload of circulatory system, kidney damage, transmission of infectious diseases

Chances of being caught:
A new test can only detect the practice if the blood comes from a donor

His positive "A" samples suggest that Hamilton had blood from another person put into his body in order to increase his red blood cell count, giving him greater stamina.

If Hamilton's "B" test also shows proof of a blood transfusion, it would mark the first positive blood doping case.

If he is disqualified from the Olympics the gold medal would go to Russia's Viatcheslav Ekimov, with American Bobby Julich moving up to silver and Australia's Michael Rogers taking the bronze.

Hamilton pulled out of midway through the Tour of Spain citing stomach problems.

He acknowledged on Tuesday that that action had been partly because of his positive test.

Hamilton has returned to Switzerland to watch as his "B" sample is tested.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » September 22, 2004, 3:26 pm

It is interesting to see how Phonak basically went from saying yesterday "We don't fire innocent people" to a way more aggressive comment today.

Tenuvil · Post by **Tenuvil** » September 23, 2004, 12:47 pm

Latest update from Velo News.

Phonak: Hamilton's Vuelta B-Sample positive; Athens sample is not
By Agence France Presse
This report filed September 23, 2004
The B-sample taken from Olympic time-trial champion Tyler Hamilton at the Vuelta a Espana earlier this month as come back positive, his Phonak cycling team announced Thursday.

The team also reported that the B-sample for similar doping test by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) earlier in Athens was negative.

Phonak said it was setting up a scientific board to check the validity of testing methods because of the apparently conflicting results shown by the IOC's procedure, and the one used by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) in Spain.

Hamilton has been suspended from racing by the Phonak team and will be thrown out unless he is able to prove he is innocent of blood doping charges, the Swiss team said Wednesday.

The 33-year-old faces a possible two year ban after testing positive in the first sample for an allegedly illicit blood transfusion following his win on the Tour of Spain's eighth stage time trial on September. He pulled out of the Tour six days later apparently due to stomach problems. But Phonak challenged the testing method, saying it was based on "probability and interpretation measurements" and "uncertainties will remain."

"Because neither UCI nor IOC have so far disclosed data and because legal procedures may last for a long time without a clear outcome, the team management has decided to establish a scientific board in order to achieve clarity as to the medical method and reliability of these new blood testing tools," it added. Hamilton will remain suspended from the team while the probe is carried out, Phonak said. "The team's goal is - and this is in the exact interest of Tyler Hamilton - that we have clarity at the end," a statement issued by the Swiss team said. The US rider reiterated Thursday that he was innocent of blood doping on the Olympics, and had issued a broader denial earlier this week.

"I guarantee that I represented the United States of America as an honest, clean and proud athlete," he said. "As the Olympic Committee did not promptly inform me of the alleged anti-doping violation until one month after the event on August 18, 2004, it was not possible to defend myself before."

"Regardless of this I will prove my innocence," he added. Blood doping is a means of enhancing an athlete's endurance by increasing the amount of oxygen-carrying red cells in the blood stream, using his own blood or a donor of the same group. The method is believed to have entered sport in the 1970s but was not made illegal unitl 1986. It was made redundant in the late 1980s with the arrival of the synthetic version of the blood-boosting hormone erythropoietin (EPO). But the fact that EPO has become detectable since 2000 has given rise to speculation that blood doping has returned.

Siji · Post by **Siji** » September 23, 2004, 1:01 pm

I'm curious, for those of you who know more than I of cycling history.. what's the trend like for cyclists who were in fact guilty.. do most of them admit it after they're caught, or do most of them proclaim their innocence regardless of whatever proof was found?

I think it's kind of fishy for the IOC to wait a month before announcing a supposed accusation of cheating. My gut feeling so far on this is that Tyler is innocent, or perhaps that's just me wanting him to be.

noel · Post by **noel** » September 23, 2004, 2:22 pm

It largely depends on the rider, Siji.

You have some riders who have freely admitted it. Sometimes after intense interrogation by the French police, sometimes as soon as their caught, sometimes they finger other riders/team personnel.

There's a book specifically about this topic called 'Breaking the Chain' which was written by a former soigneur of I believe the Festina cycling team (Festina no longer sponsors a team because of the doping controversy their team was involved in -- Many times the team sponsor does not want their name involved in this type of shit, so they just pull out sponsorship all together see also: Mapei Bricobi) who details some of what has gone on in cycling in the past.

Having said all of that... If this was ANY rider other than Tyler (including and almost especially Lance), I'd read their statements and be like, "yeah right..." Tyler though has always, always, always come off as an honest, hard-working, straightforward guy. The other thing I'll say again. You can get blood transfusions until hell freezes over, but that's not going to help you finish the remaining 19 stages of the '03 Tour de France with a collarbone that's fractured in two places. That takes a lot more than drugs.

I've seen a lot of cyclists post on the forums that their done with cycling because of this, because they're sick of the doping, sick of the controversy, and sick of the sporting fraud. This really pisses me off. When I'm on my bike, busting my ass for 4-6 hours on a Sunday morning, with only some waffles, peanut butter, a banana, water, Accelerade and maybe a Clif bar in my system... My health, my fitness, my enjoyment, and my suffering have fuck all to do with a professional cyclist half a world away doping.

Edit: Tyler's full statement:

Tyler Hamilton's statement
Reproduced here in full is the latest statement from Tyler Hamilton:

First of all I would like to discuss the recent press releases concerning my suspension from the team. This decision was taken jointly by Andy Rihs in his function as team owner and myself and communicated already during the press conference held on Tuesday evening. I am still a member of the Phonak Cycling Team and will continue to participate in the day to day decisions concerning our team.

With regard to the B-test from the Olympic Games, no official information has been provided to me as of today. However, I am sure that the Gold medal that I worked so hard for will stay in my hands. I guarantee that I represented the United States of America as an honest, clean and proud athlete. As the Olympic Committee did not promptly inform me of the alleged anti-doping violation until one month after the event on August 18, 2004, it was not possible to defend myself before. Regardless of this I will prove my innocence.

I will support the scientific board established by Phonak Cycling and myself, which I strongly believe will put light on the questions we have on the reliability of this new test. Hopefully with this scientific team, we can find a foolproof method to this test in order to the prevent other athletes ending up in the same situation. I believe that this is the only way to bring clarity to this matter.

It is necessary that I will be released from the allegations based on a scientifically conducted correction of the testing method. It is of further essence that I can as soon as possible, together with my team, form part of a reinstated reputation with evidence that I have contributed to valid, reliable and watertight measures in the anti-doping campaign. In this sense I fully support this research and development project, and I am confident that its result will bring me back to cycling soon so I can pursue my dream of winning the Tour de France.

I very much appreciate the support of my family, my friends, my team and fans.

Tyler Hamilton

Tenuvil · Post by **Tenuvil** » September 23, 2004, 2:38 pm

I've seen a lot of cyclists post on the forums that their done with cycling because of this, because they're sick of the doping, sick of the controversy, and sick of the sporting fraud. This really pisses me off. When I'm on my bike, busting my ass for 4-6 hours on a Sunday morning, with only some waffles, peanut butter, a banana, water, Accelerade and maybe a Clif bar in my system... My health, my fitness, my enjoyment, and my suffering have fuck all to do with a professional cyclist half a world away doping.

I totally agree.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » September 23, 2004, 2:45 pm

Having said all of that... If this was ANY rider other than Tyler (including and almost especially Lance), I'd read their statements and be like, "yeah right..." Tyler though has always, always, always come off as an honest, hard-working, straightforward guy.

I agree. Which is why IF he is guilty this will hit harder than if pretty much any other rider (with exception of Lance.. Lance being found guilty would tear cycling apart) were caught cheating. Not only has he seemed extremely likeable and honest, but he has also spoken out very strongly against doping in the past. But honestly.. and unfortunately.. no matter what happens this will cast a new shadow over the sport.

Cartalas · Post by **Cartalas** » September 23, 2004, 3:46 pm

Guess He is going to keep his medal

Hamilton will keep Olympic gold after inconclusive test
Story Tools: Print Email
JONATHAN FOWLER / Associated Press
Posted: 30 minutes ago

GENEVA (AP) - Tyler Hamilton will keep his Olympic cycling gold medal because a backup drug test was inconclusive, the International Olympic Committee said Thursday.

noel · Post by **noel** » September 23, 2004, 4:06 pm

I think it says a lot that he's going to out of pocket provide the euros to help with the scientific study of this testing, to make sure the testing works, make sure this doesn't happen to another clean cyclist, and make sure the testing does catch people who are guilty.

I hope to God he's not suspended.

I agree, Kelsh, if it's him, it's horrible, horrible for the sport on the professional level.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » September 23, 2004, 8:38 pm

Backup drug test wasn't inconclusive, the lab did a major mistake:

LONDON (AP) -- Helped by a laboratory's big blunder, Tyler Hamilton will be allowed to keep his Olympic cycling gold medal.

The International Olympic Committee dropped its investigation Thursday into a blood test from the Summer Games that showed Hamilton used a transfusion to boost his endurance. The decision was made only because the Athens lab mistakenly put his backup sample in a deep freeze -- not because the IOC believes he was clean.

Mplor · Post by **Mplor** » September 24, 2004, 1:19 am

As much as I hate to say it, having a charming personality can't overcome the fact that he appears to be pretty darn guilty. What a shame.