Sastre satisfied 'vice is tightening' on cycling drug cheats

Published on Monday 28 July 2008 23:49

A CLUTCH of doping offences may have again tarnished the Tour de France, but 2008 winner Carlos Sastre believes cycling is on the right track after its reputation hit rock bottom last year.

Kazakhstan's Dmitri Fofonov became the fourth rider to test positive for a banned stimulant at this year's Tour when it was discovered, after the 18th stage, that he had taken heptaminol.

The Credit Agricole cyclist, who finished 19th overall, joins Italy's Ricardo Ricco and Spaniards Moises Duenas and Manuel Beltran in testing positive over the past three weeks.

Twelve months earlier, the 2007 event was blighted by doping scandals when high-profile riders Alexandr Vinokourov, the pre-race favourite, and yellow-jersey holder Michael Rasmussen joined the list of shame. The Tour was arguably at the lowest ebb of its 104-year history, and many feared that the death knell had been sounded. Tougher rules were introduced and 2007 winner Alberto Contador was unable to defend his title because of his association with the Astana team, whom Vinokourov represented.

It was the first time in the Tour's modern history that a past winner had not been allowed to start despite not failing a drugs test, an indicator that organisers were gritting their teeth.

That did not stop a quartet of riders falling foul of drug tests this month but Sastre, who clinched overall victory on Sunday, nevertheless sees light at the end of the tunnel.

"There will always be cheats, but the vice is tightening each day," said the Spaniard. "I am saying very forcefully that the majority of the riders are doing things honestly. I know I am, and I know the sacrifices I have always had to make to be wearing this yellow jersey. Certainly suspicions exist, but we are getting closer and closer to better times. I am sure of that."

&#149 Mountain biker Peter Riis Andersen, a member of Denmark's Olympic team, has tested positive for the banned blood-boosting drug EPO.

Andersen was ejected from the Danish Olympic delegation after his B sample was also positive. A tearful Andersen admitted taking the drug and said he had felt under pressure after a string of bad results.

He said: "All I could think about was that I had to raise my level for the Games. I could feel it in my body it was working. It's cowardly to cheat, but it's even more cowardly not to admit it."