Eurosport.com is reporting that, pre-race favorite and winner of stages 13 & 15 of this years race, Alexander Vinokourov has tested positive for doping. His A sample found two different types of red blood cells, which assumes the athlete has had blood transfusion. The test wast taken just prior to his stage 13 time trial win. Vino has withdrawn from the Tour.
Despite the positive sample A test I believe judgment needs to be withheld until the process has been completed. I hope Dick Pound and Pat McQuaid will bite their tongues, and avoid the media debacle they created around Floyd Landis. I believe there is little due process for athletes in the middle of doping scandals, so it is important to be objective and fair before casting judgment. I hope for the sport of cycling and for the Tour de France this is a mistake. If it turns out to be true I hope the athletes will get their damn priorities straight.
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