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Haro rider Chris Sheppard tests positive for EPO use
Hot on the heels of the controversy surrounding L’Equipe, Lance Armstrong, and alleged EPO use comes news that Canadian National Team cyclist Chris Sheppard tested positive for EPO and has been suspended from competition for two years.
According to the Canadian Cycling website:
Mr. Sheppard was subject to an out-of-competition urine test at his home in Kamloops, BC, on May 29, 2005; the presence of rEPO in his A-sample was communicated to the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport on June 15, and confirmed in his B-sample on July 4.
The matter was referred to the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada as provided for in the Canadian Anti-Doping Program rules, and the final decision of the arbitrator was handed down yesterday. In accordance with CCES and WADA rules, Mr. Sheppard was given the minimum two-year suspension for a first-time doping offence. In addition, he is now permanently ineligible to receive financial support from the federal government.
The Canadian Cycling Association is firm in its commitment to the fight against doping, and is satisfied the CCES and the SDRCC fulfilled their roles in an exemplary manner during this process.
I understand that the pressures associated with being a professional athlete are great but there are so many things that a positive test destroys: credibility amongst your peers and colleagues, financial and material sponsorship opportunities, your place as a role model for youth. While I’m not naive enough to think that Sheppard is the only pro mountain biker to test positive for drug use, it certainly is disappointing to see cycling’s image tarnished in the press once again.
Update (15 September 2005): The cards began falling today for Sheppard. According to Pinkbike.com, Sheppard was formally released from his contract with Haro. To be fair, Haro was classy about the dismissal, reminding everyone that they believed Sheppard simply made a big personal mistake…