NPR: Tour de France Leader Has Skipped Two Drug Tests

Tour de France Leader Has Skipped Two Drug Tests

Michael Rasmussen rides uphill during the 12th stage of the 94th Tour de France today.

Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images

I am shocked -- shocked I say -- to hear there may be another drug scandal brewing in the Tour de France.

Morning Edition reports that current race leader Michael Rasmussen "will be dropped from the Danish team for not informing Danish anti-doping authorities of his training whereabouts." And German TV has dropped coverage of the race after a German rider tested positive for a banned substance.

The New York Times reports that Rasmussen was cleared to start the 12th stage this morning, despite the revelation that he skipped drug tests on May 8 and June 28. A third missed test within 18 months would bring a two-year suspension. The Danish Cycling Union tested Rasmussen at the recent Danish national championships and has reported no positive results.

It seems that hardly a season goes by without some now-not-so-shocking allegations involving a well-known cyclist and drugs. It will be interesting to see if the latest news has an effect on how people view seven-time tour winner Lance Armstrong and his adamant denials of drug use. Do you find it more difficult to accept his word when it seems almost every other major cycling star has either been caught cheating or come under a similar cloud of suspicion?

11:32 AM ET | 07-20-2007 | permalink

Comments

I have to continuously defend Lance here in France fro, these same comments! My response: just as the oh-so-intelligent Mr. Regan points out almost every other star has been caught. AND YET Lance one the Tour de France 7 times and was never caught cheating. Curious, huh?

Sent by John Woodward | 12:15 PM ET | 07-20-2007

Lance Armstrong was the most heavily tested athlete in the history of sport. He never declined a toxicology screen and on every analysis tested negative. The unsubstantiated allegations are not and have never been consistent with the facts.

Sent by Howard Lee | 2:10 PM ET | 07-20-2007

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