Thursday Roundup

News
The IHT prints the AP Pereiro story with a twist, Oscar is waiting for an apology:

MADRID, Spain: Tour de France runner-up Oscar Pereiro denied doping allegations Thursday, saying he will send French authorities documentation of his waiver to take an asthma medication during last year's race and then wait for someone to "apologize" to him.

Below is a translation of the Pereiro story from LeMonde by correspondent Marc:

Oscar Pereiro, second in the 2006 Tour de France, tested positive during the Grande Boucle

by Stéphane Mandard

Oscar Pereiro has been quiet for several weeks. The Spanish rider, second in the 2006 Grande Boucle, has not demanded any longer (as he did last summer when Floyd Landis' positive result for testosterone was revealed) that he be named the winner of the Tour de France instead of the American. For good reason. According to our sources, the rider for the Caisse d'Epargne team also tested positive during the Tour de France, on two occasions: July 17 for the 14th stage Montélimar-Gap and July 19 after the 16th stage Bourg-d'Oisans-La Toussuire.

The substance that was found in the Spaniard's urine was salbutamol, a product usually prescribed for asthma, but forbidden whether in competition or not. The International Cyclists Union (UCI), which granted Oscar Pererio an authorisation for therapeutic use (TUE) for salbutamol, declared his case "closed." However, the French Anti-doping Agency (AFLD) considers that the TUE given the rider does not (so far) have any medical justification.

"Suspicious" authorizations given to some French riders

Since August, the AFLD has sent three registered letters to the Spaniard, asking him to send it medical evidence that would demonstrate that the rider really does suffer from an illness requiring the use of salbutamol, and that the TUE granted by the UCI is not concealing doping. As of Thursday, January 18, the agency had not received any response from the rider, apart from the return receipts indicating delivery of the three letters. It also asked the UCI to give a medical justification for the authorization it granted Oscar Pereiro--so far in vain. "We will not be satisfied with an administrative file," Pierre Bordry (president of the AFLD) declared to Le Monde. On Thursday, January 25, the agency's technical council will consider the Pereiro case. If the rider has not sent the agency the information it requested by that date, or if the information does not convince the experts, Pierry Bordry will then decide whether to open a disciplinary proceeding against him.

Since the authority of the AFLD is limited to French territory, Oscar Pereiro is at risk of not being allowed to race the next Tour de France, and also of losing his 2006 second place, should proceedings be pursued all the way to their end. Six other cases of riders who tested positive during the 2006 Tour (all with "suspicious" TUEs) will also be considered by the AFLD on January 25. Among them are some French riders whose names were not revealed. Some of these riders, like Oscar Pereiro, have still not answered the Agency's request for medical justificatons, while others have furnished evidence that the anti-doping specialists have judged insufficient.
In total, twelve riders with TUEs tested positive during the last Grande Boucle. Five cases have been declared closed, with the AFLD judging that the authorizations were justified. The fate of the others is in suspense until the meeting of January 25.

[Story appearing in the Le Monde edition of Friday, Jan. 19]

But wait, there's more:

AFP carries a statement by Christian Prudhomme (director of the Tour de France)

"Pereiro is clearly in order with the UCI. But I understand perfectly the AFLD's desire to have the precise details of the TUE granted. It does not seem illegitimate to me that a testing organization would want to know more about a medical case. I want to believe that this is a case of regrettable and culpable administrative negligence, and that everything will be in order again by next Thursday [note: the deadline set for Pereiro to complete his file]. That is certainly is very messy.

And even more than that the story continues (a very big thanks goes to TbV correspondent Marc):

Latest from AFP:

The Spanish sports newpaper, As, indicated Thursday on its internet site that Spaniard Oscar Pereiro, who is suspected of doping, will send the documents proving his innocence to the AFLD Monday.

Oscar Pereiro (Caisse d'Epargne) indicated to As that he was going to send the AFLD results of allergy examinations completed three years ago in Vigo, near where he lives. In this way, the Spaniard wishes to respond to stories which appeared in Le Monde Thursday, revealing that the AFLD suspected Pereiro of doping after two positive tests for salbutamol during the 2006 Tour de France (in which he finished second). [Salbutamol] is a product usually prescribed for asthma. The rider had a therapeutic authorization (TUE) considered valid by the International Cyclists Union (UCI). The UCI judged his case closed. But the AFLD, with authority over French territory, had been asking the Spaniard for additional information since July--in vain, according to Le Monde.

CyclingNews covers, and thinks it's a spat with the UCI about excessive TUEs, and gives background on "the 12" and Igor Gonzalez. USAToday also covers the Pereiro story.

The Townsville Bulletin has posted the story from Le Monde about the Oscar Pereiro's positive test for a banned substance:

France daily Le Monde's website reported overnight that Pereiro, who finished second behind American Floyd Landis, twice tested positive for the banned substance salbutamol, which is used for the treatment of asthma.
But Le Monde added that the Caisse d'Epargne rider had an exemption from the sport's governing body, the International Cycling Federation (UCI), to use the substance.

Cyclingnews notes reaction to yesterday's special report on WADA reform, and specifically cites a statement from the FFF:

In a statement issued by the 'Floyd Fairness Fund', an organization set up to help the rider beat a doping charge from the 2006 Tour, Landis said, "It is a positive change in WADA's approach to release to the public these criticisms and calls for rule revisions from organizations ranging from the United States Olympic Committee to a wide range of national sports federations."

Oscar Peirero is having his own engagement with the AFLD (French Doping Agency). Velonews is reporting that LeMonde is reporting that Pereiro tested positive for sabutamol twice during the Tour. He had a TUE, but the AFLD is citing lack of documentation. Townsville Bulletin carries a similar story. Christian Prudhomme, the Tour Director, said via AFP:

Pereiro is clearly in order with the UCI. But I understand perfectly the AFLD's desire to have the precise details of the TUE granted. It does not seem illegitimate to me that a testing organization would want to know more about a medical case. I want to believe that this is a case of regrettable and culpable administrative negligence, and that everything will be in order again by next Thursday [note: the deadline set for Pereiro to complete his file]. That is certainly is
very messy."

with this reaction from the team:

The Caisse d'Epargne team said Thursday that it considered that its rider, Oscar Pereiro, second in the last Tour de France, but suspected of doping, erred simply by negligence in not responding to requests for evidence from French anti-doping authorities.

Francis Lafargue (spokesman for Caisse d’Epargne): "Oscar (Pereiro) received two letters from the AFLD in October and November (asking) for additional medical information. He had the (requested) documents, but did not respond to the Agency. This was negligent. Recently, he received another letter, which threatened to forbid him from racing on French territory. It's only then that he reacted."

Blogs
Deuces's Wild talks about Peirero, under the title, "Pot, meet Mr. Kettle." in a somewhat factually challenged post.

SciFiTwin chips in a "Go Oscar!" and has a cunningn plan for next year.

Rant discusses Oscar's glass house.

Jared Roy notes the scandals just keep coming.

Tour Squad still thinks FL got a raw deal, but his eyes are starting to glaze over.

Pommis World notes that debts have not been paid for the OP investigation, and he speculates that this and the Landis case are being manipulated to drain the athletes dry.

DC Johnny gets a letter from Mike ranting about Landis and the FFF.

Forums
At DPF, jellotrip mines the WADA draft feedback and finds a lot of support for Landis' positions on testosterone testing from the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations.
Peirero's dust up is discussed here.