Its all about the blood…

And so it is. All about the blood that is.

Multiple news sources have been reporting over the past few days that a blood bank in Vienna is under suspicion of  assisting top athletes with blood doping:

This feature is from New Europe news agency from Saturday last(12th Jan)  http://www.neurope.eu/view_news.php?id=81684

However news reports today are naming athletes who have allegedly visited the lab:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/more/01/15/rasmussen.doping.ap/

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/jan08/jan16news

Among those named are two time and current Vuelta champion Denis Menchov and two of his former team mates: Dutchman Michael Boogerd, now retired and Michael Rasmussen, the disgraced Danish almost winner of the 2007 Tour de France. Also implicated, according to news sources is the now also retired former Team Telekom and Gerolsteiner rider Georg Totschnig.

The lab is currently under investigation by WADA.

If proven, this is yet another sad blow to cycling’s credibility.

It doesnt bode well for the cyclists involved either:

Denis Menchov was awarded the 2005 Vuelta after Roberto Heras tested positive. He was crowned Vuelta champion once again in 2007.

Michael Boogerd, although now retired, was a great rider in his day winning both the Amstel Gold Race and Paris-Nice along with two stages of the TdF.

Georg Totschnig is another retired TdF stage winner(stage 14, 2005).

Michael Rasmussen needs no explanation. Kicked out of the Tour over ‘whereabouts’ issues?? Ah yes, I hear you say, that guy.

I sincerely hope none of these riders are involved. Boogerd and Totschnig have left cycling- theres nothing that can be done about them now really. Menchov has the appearance of a worthy champion and Rasmussen, well, whatever he has done, whatever he hasnt done, I’m sure this is another scandal he doesnt need. Providing its false, of course.

But it really is another kick in the face for the cycling world.