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Two Test Positive For EPO At Gran Fondo New York

by Henry Peacock

Two cyclists tested positive for EPO at Gran Fondo New York on May 20,2012. David Anthony of New York City admitted today to having used the drug to enhance his performance at bike races. The other rider who tested positive is awaiting the result of the B sample. As soon as appropriate, Gran Fondo New York will comment further on the second case.

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"Of course we were shocked to hear the news on the positive tests, inparticular given the use of EPO. EPO is a blood boosting drug that hasto be injected and is not a simple over the counter product," says Gran Fondo New York CEO Ulrich Fluhme. "Doping control helps clean ridershave fair competition. We believe that we came closer to achieving that by introducing out-of-competition (OOC) and in-competiton (IC) testing.All our OOC tests came back negative as did the vast majority of IC tests.

Plus, the announcement of testing before the event kept away notorious cheaters."The US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) was onsite in Weehawken, NJ, the finish site of Gran Fondo New York, on May 20, 2012 and conducted the testing. Gran Fondo New York appointed USADA to perform urine testing for both OOC and IC testing on its behalf. All doping control tests were conducted in accordance with the USA Anti-Doping Rules, which are inaccord with World Anti-Doping Code and the International Standard forTesting.

In his statement issued on NYVelocity.com Anthony says: "I was using ways to improve my performance that were cheating. This was something that I alone did, and I take responsibility for it. My team, coaches andfriends had absolutely no knowledge or participation in this.""I hope he takes the chance to help fight doping," adds Gran Fondo NewYork President Lidia Fluhme. "He's done the first step: not fighting the test result.

Now he has the opportunity to apologize to his rivals aswell as reveal his suppliers and anyone else involved. While we willnever again allow him to participate in Gran Fondo New York, we'reinviting him for a Q&A with other athletes provided he does all of the above. Instead of just admitting it and going away from cycling, we hopehe can become an outspoken advocate against doping, help cyclists who are doping to stop doping, and raise money for doping control programs at local races."

The UK and USA have different rules and regulations when it comes to Gran Fondo or Sportive type events. The USA model enables Gran Fondo's to be run under what appear to be race regulations, with placings according to time with prize money as a factor.