(Note, the developments here are place in reverse chronological order)
Update #2: Here is the link to even more interesting information. A PR man for this racing team -Quickstep- resigned yesterday, facing prosecution for anabolic use and distribution: HGH, amphetamines, EPO, and steroids. Further, a Belgium newspaper is breaking the story of doping and drug use on the team, including bribery of officials.
I am not an expert on cycling, however to place it in perspective, this would be like Dusty Baker announcing that he had used steroids during his playing days, and that he supplied HGH, testosterone, amphetamines, and EPO to his players, while bribing MLB officials.
Update: this story is getting more interesting by the minute. Charges and counter-charges. Further Lefevere admits to using anabolic steroids too...you know once. (studies indicate that steroid users are more likely to use other drugs) From Cycling news:
The newspaper titled the series of articles: "Patrick Lefevre, 30 years of doping". The key sources for the articles are a former cyclist who raced with Lefevere in the '70s, but is now a convicted criminal serving time, and the director of the race, Driedaagse van De Panne (Three Days of De Panne). The other key sources have remained anonymous, and there are no revelations of previously unannounced positive dope tests from riders that Lefevere' managed.
The articles claim to review an alleged doping history starting from when the manager was himself a pro cyclist. One source told the newspaper, "Lefevere stopped racing because he was addicted to amphetamines himself" when describing Lefevere's cycling career in the seventies. Another claimed that Lefevere also dealt in doping products.
An Italian doctor that took care of Lefevere's riders during the years of the Mapei-team, featuring Johan Museeuw, also claimed that there was organised use of doping products. "Growth hormone came from the pharmacy, EPO was ordered online. If you wanted to ride a good season, you needed 20,000 to 30,000 euro, including products. Lefevere knew about it, saw it happening and approved it all", said one claim in the newspaper.
Lefevere's response (in part) in which he admits to Deca (nandrolone):
"These are all just foolish accusations. As an amateur I didn't know what an injection needle looked like but as a professional I tried amphetamines about seven, eight times... my doctor was the inspector at the race. Once I used deca-durabolin but my body rejected it. That I was a dealer? Complete nonsense. The few times I used doping, I had to buy it myself," Lefevere said.
This story is heating up...
(more after the jump)
Found here at Cyclingpost.com references a Belgian newspaper accusing Patrick Lefevere, manager of the Quickstep-Innergetic team of promoting doping in riders. Lefevere is quick to deny, stating he only abused amphetamine. That's comforting.
According to the Belgian news paper Het Laatste Nieuws, Quickstep-Innergetic manager Patrick Lefevere was involved with doping as well.
Some anonymous persons stated that the Belgian incited his riders to the use of doping. It was rumoured that Lefevere himself took doping during his professional career as cyclist as well.
A doctor of the former Italian team Mapei spoke about the organised use of doping at the team. According to the Italian, Lefevere would have known everything and even have exhorted his riders to the use of forbidden substances.
Lefevere reacted already, saying that "these are ridiculous accusations. The only true thing is that I used amfetamines as professional cyclist. Seven, eight times, and my body did not endure it."
Lefevere also admitted 'roids as a rider:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2007/jan07/jan23news2
Posted by: Softie | 01/23/2007 at 14:54
Thanks for the comment. It will be noted above.
Posted by: grg51 | 01/23/2007 at 15:39
The article in Het Laastse today alleges that the Quickstep riders bribed officials to pass doping controls.
http://www.hln.be/hlns/cache/det/art_358802.html?wt.bron=homeArt1
Posted by: Ferren | 01/24/2007 at 05:47