Duarte: Short-lived glory?

Who's to blame here? A positive test, disputed by the rider, left in abeyance - and simply not followed up. So the rider keeps racing, no-one tells the UCI and all is well and good. Until someone wakes up and realises that the U23 RR champ has a doping charge hanging around his head. Oh dear.

The new Under 23 road world champion, Fabio Duarte, may not be able to celebrate as much as he'd like after his win Friday in Varese, Italy. Like fellow Colombian Santiago Botero, Duarte tested positive for testosterone. The result came during the Clasica de Girardot prior to the Tour of Colombia in July of 2007. Duarte has been adamant that his values were naturally at that level, and the Colombian federation said it would prove so before July of 2008. However, nothing appears to have been done. Furthermore, the UCI said it knew nothing of Duarte's case until Friday.

If he's innocent it's all a bit unfair, isn't it? In any event it's sloppy and lazy all round.