Allegations: Sinkewitz denies Bettini involvement despite reports

What is it about Germany and doping? Jan has never been caught, possibly because he's innocent. T-Mobile apparently had a few problems keeping EPO away from their riders for a while. And German TV keeps on threatening pullouts from major events if anyone else gets caught. (But isn't getting caught a good thing?) Worse still for cycling fans who just want to see some racing, the World Champs are on in Germany this year. So let the fun begin.

Firstly, let's ban a few people from attending and even looking on. Via CN: The organizers of the Worlds in Stuttgart had already asked previous ambassadors Rudi Altig and Erik Zabel not to attend, later adding the names of Gianni Bugno and Eddy Merckx. Cyclingnews confirmed Bugno to be in Stuttgart, where he won his first Worlds' title 16 years ago.

Now let's ban some more people who may actually win the road race. From CN: Paolo Bettini and Patrick Lefevere have both denied alleged statements by Patrik Sinkewitz that Bettini supplied the Italian with testosterone products while they were both on Lefevere's Mapei/Quick.Step team. The charges were made public yesterday by the German TV sender ZDF, which claimed to have notes from an interrogation of the German rider. Sinkewitz' attorney has also denied that his client said that.

So Sinkewitz (who was a doper and got caught) is quoted as having said something that he now denies saying, apparently. On that basis let's exclude Bettini from the race, despite his denials, and Di Luca too as he has had abnormal hormone readings this year. Again from CN: Italian ProTour leader Danilo Di Luca withdrew from the World Road Race Championships on Thursday, calling his treatment "a scandal". The Italian bowed to pressure from the Stuttgart organisers who objected to the participation of the Giro d'Italia Champion who has been the subject of two separate doping investigations this year.

And on with the racing.

Jaksche speaks, Ullrich denies

Just for contrast we have 2 sides of the doping story on Cyclingnews.com. We have Jaksche confessing and commenting on others, like this: Looking at various Tour de France performances, Jaksche said that he could not comment on Alberto Contador and Michael Rasmussen because he "was not at the Tour and therefore can't judge them. But one thing is sure, there are still doping methods which cannot be proved." He did comment on Linus Gerdemann, however, noting that Gerdemann rode well one day and not the next, and said that "Gerdemann rides like one who is clean."

And we have Ullrich in denial whilst we read about his as yet unexplained bank account transactions to Fuentes: Prosecutors in Bonn, Germany, continue to make their way through Jan Ullrich's Bank records. They have now come up with "suspicious cash withdrawals", the dates of which correspond to notes in Dr. Eufemiano Fuentes' records, Focus magazine has reported. The magazine also reports that there is evidence that Ullrich and his mentor Rudy Pevenage flew repeatedly to Madrid..

Dope of the Year? Landis snagged

Landis, love him or loathe him, trust him or not, has lost his case. But will he appeal?

Fron CN:The long awaited decision is in, and Floyd Landis has lost his appeal to the American Arbitration Association to overturn the sanction for his positive drug test from the 2006 Tour de France. The three member arbitration panel, led by president Patrice Brunet along with Christopher Campbell and Richard McLaren, was split 2-1 in the guilty verdict, with Campbell dissenting.

Guilty as Charged: Jaksche

You spin the wheel and take your chances in life.

From CyclingNews:Jörg Jaksche was handed a one year suspension by the Austrian cycling federation on Wednesday, having been found guilty of taking EPO and growth hormones, as well as having used blood doping. The suspension was backdated to run from July 2, 2007, the day Jaksche made his public confession to German magazine Speigel. Such violations usually carry a two year ban, but the federation applied the 'state's witness' regulation, which reduces the sentence when the suspect cooperates.

It's only money after all - Ullrich donates to Fuentes

From the 'it doesn't prove anything' dept: Prosecutors in Bonn, Germany, have reviewed Jan Ullrich's bank records and announced Thursday that the records show that the cyclist transferred 25,000 Euros from his bank in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland, to an account of Dr. Eufemiano Fuentes in early 2004. In addition, there was another "significantly higher" sum transferred at the beginning of 2006, about which no further details were yet available, according to prosecutor Jörg Schindler.

Lots more (well a bit more) at Cyclingnews if you click on it.

Wham bam thank you VAM

Is Contador super-human? Johan Bruyneel says NO, and whilst saying he wouldn't cast aspersions like this himself, manages to do just that to Moreau. It's all about VAM. Which is all about climbing speed. Contador's a climber, Moreau less so. And Simoni beats them all. So what does it all mean? Are they all doping or is it just that on a particular day and on a particular road a rider can get it "just right"? Is it science or nonsense?

It's more surprising to me that climber Contador turned in a great TT than a great climb, to be honest.

CN reports: Cyclingnews has obtained a document sent by Discovery Channel Sports Manager Johan Bruyneel to members of the International Professional Cycling Teams (IPCT) organization where he defends Discovery Channel rider Alberto Contador's recent Tour de France win from criticism from two French team directors, Vincent Lavenu (Ag2r Prévoyance) and Marc Madiot (Française de Jeux).

Asthma man cleared, wins Grand Tour Stage

As you do. Piepoli had a problem with his asthma medication but is currently breathing easy at the Vuelta. From CN: Piepoli, who ran into some difficulties after testing 'non-negative' for the asthma medication Ventolin during the Giro d'Italia, was allowed to race after the Monaco cycling federation dropped the charges. The Italian admitted he had no aspirations to win the overall Vuelta. "Why not fight for the GC? I used to do it, once I ended 8th, but now I'd rather raise my arms in victory after a stage. At my age, my career is almost done so I prefer this to being 4th or 6th in the GC. I'd like to dedicate this victory to my first son, Yanis, who'll be born soon."

Dope of the Day: Bernucci (Lose weight fast, ask me...)

Bernucci gets caught trying to lose weight fast (ask me how), T-Mobile acts... from CN and AAP:
T-Mobile Team has terminated its contract with Lorenzo Bernucci, effective immediately, after being notified by the UCI that he had tested positive for Sibultramine, an appetite suppressant. The team ruled that the Italian rider's action violated the team's internal code of ethics.