Australian physician who 'exposed' Lance Armstrong expresses concerns about the LA Comeback

The Australian physician who guided the lab which found the Lance Armstrong 'controversial' positive EPO in 1999, harbors deep concern about the LA Comeback Tour.  To the Herald-Sun.

Dr Michael Ashenden, whose analysis of Armstrong's urine samples from the 1999 Tour de France allegedly revealed that the cyclist used the blood-boosting drug EPO during the race, said too many people in Australia had been "dazzled" by Armstrong's "star power".

"It surprises me that the Tour is willing to embrace such a controversial figure," Ashenden said.

"It surprises me in the wider context that there hasn't been more adverse reaction to his proposal to come back."

There has been adverse reaction to the LACT (Lance Armstrong Comeback Tour), which is muted.   However note that LA stands to make a little currency and enjoy alot of publicity off the LACT.

The International Cycling Union last week ruled Armstrong could take part in the Tour Down Under, despite the cyclist not complying with a six-month drug testing program in the lead-up to the January event.

"People are dazzled by the star factor and they are not pausing to really reflect on what this is all about and whether or not it would be good for the sport," Dr Ashenden said.

He also questioned Armstrong's motives in appointing prominent anti-doping scientist Don Catlin to his team.

This is the first major medical professional to question Catlin's role in the LACT.  Of course Catlin is violating a major tenet of science -- objectivity.  Sadly he points to his reputation -- which although good -- is not a part of the standard of objective lab testing.

"Everyone recognises that this is prone to abuse. If Don Catlin finds EPO he can't do anything about it," Dr Ashenden said.

Tour de France champion Greg Lemond also questioned the point of self-policing by cycling teams, and said Armstrong must do more if he was to prove he is 100 per cent clean.

"It's like a wolf guarding a hen house. You've got to have a group with no self-interest," Lemond said.

Comments

[Robin]

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[stevieg]

I never even knew the name of this Doctor Ashenden: all we ever hear about is some obscure reference to test samples. More to read up on.

[Dr Troy Delbridge]

Dr Mike Ashenden is a long-time and very well respected member of the anti-doping research establishment - one of the real fighters who has been right on the front line for years. He has been intimately involved in developing the methods that are currently in use to catch the thieves who are robbing the sport of cycling.
You will be surprised at which tests he has been involved in the development of – the 1st EPO test & heterologous blood doping. These are some of the key tests currently catching doping cheats. We will also very soon see a test for ‘autologous’ blood doping being used, and this is the real scourge of endurance sports for some time now. Note that the TdF organisers will be using this test to go back over race samples from 2008 – expect to see a lot more riders go down when these results are released! Along with the new 4 year UCI ban shortly to come in it’s a well overdue change for the better. Personally I believe if you’re caught, you should be thrown out for life.
As an aside, it is odd that other sports are not taking up the challenge and confronting their problems. I’d like to see the scandals erupting in tennis and football should their organisers start testing - cycling is way small change by comparison. Certain member s of the IOC have lately suggested that cycling be doped from the Olympics, when cycling is the only sport really attempting to clean up its act, AND showing other sports the way forward. Clearly the OIC is riddled with corruption and completely unethical, only a complete idiot could make such a suggestion given the history and successes seen in the anti-doping fight that has been underway for so long in cycling.
For a bit more on Mike Ashenden and his research go to - http://www.biomedexperts.com/Profile.bme/54945/Michael_J_Ashenden

[FromLancetoLandis]

Ashenden's testimony as an expert witness covered in the book "From Lance to Landis" is volatile. Even if one doesn't care to know much about what others have said, I think it merits reading what Ashenden's analysis is.