Bileka resigns over EPO

The old faxed resignation trick, eh? Ukrainian Volodymyr Bileka quit the sport and Team Silence-Lotto in May due to a positive control for Erythropoietin (EPO). An International Cycling Union (UCI) document stated the reason for the questionable resignation of Bileka, close friend of Yaroslav Popovych and ex-domestique of Lance Armstrong. Bileka tested positive on April 18 in an out-of-competition control. He participated in the Amstel Gold and was in an escape group in the Flèche Wallonne – April 20 and 23 – before he faxed his resignation to Silence-Lotto on May 3.

Popovych, meanwhile, failed to live up to expectations and has broken his Lotto contract to ride (once again) with Armstrong. We shall see whether his form improves this time around.

Museeuw cops a post-dated fine for EPO

We all wanted him to be clean, but we were disappointed. In the end he has copped a post-career fine and a muddied name... Retired Belgian professional cyclist Johan Museeuw, who last raced for Quick Step in 2004, received a 10-month suspended jail sentence and was ordered to pay 2500 euro for his involvement in a 2003 doping scandal, according to a recent AP report.