Cycling union lifts doping ban on Australian Rogers

The International Cycling Union (UCI) on Wednesday lifted itsdoping ban on Australian Michael Rogers, who last year tested positive forclenbuterol.Rogers was provisionally banned after testing for the banned stimulant, whichincreases aerobic capacity, in a urine sample at the Japan Cup last October.However, the 34-year-old has now been partially exonerated as the UCI accepted hisclaim that he had not taken the substance intentionally."Upon careful analysis of Mr Rogers' explanations and the accompanying technicalreports, the UCI found that that there was a significant probability that the presenceof clenbuterol may have resulted from the consumption of contaminated meat fromChina –- where he had taken part in a race before travelling to Japan," said a UCIstatement.The Tinkoff-Saxo rider was nonetheless stripped of his victory in Japan, although he is now free to continue racing.Rogers was one of double Tour de France winner Alberto Contador's mainlieutenants at last year's Grand Boucle.He is a three-time track world champion and finished second to Bradley Wiggins at the prestigious 2012 Criterium du Dauphine.Rogers is not the first athlete to be caught out by meat contaminated withclenbuterol in China.Beijing Olympic heavyweight judo champion Tong Wen tested positive forclenbuterol in 2010 and was initially banned for two years and stripped of her 2009world title.However, she contested the ban, took her case to the Court of Arbitration for Sportand successfully had her suspension overturned, allowing her to win another worldtitle in 2011 and take bronze at the London Olympics the next year.The UCI were keen to stress, though, that eating contaminated meat will not alwaysbe accepted as an excuse for taking clenbuterol."The UCI reiterates that the presence of clenbuterol in a urine sample constitutes ananti-doping rule violation under the World Anti-Doping Code and the UCI Anti-Doping Rules."It is generally acknowledged that in certain countries a risk of meat contaminatedby clenbuterol can exist and produce, in specific conditions, a positive sample froman athlete. "WADA has issued specific warnings about this problem in China and Mexico.Consequently, the UCI reiterates its recommendations to the athletes and teamsconcerned to avoid eating meat in these countries." Source: AFP