Ex-Armstrong teammate George fails doping test
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) - South African cyclist David George, a former teammate of Lance Armstrong, admitted using the blood-boosting drug EPO on Tuesday after failing a doping test.
George failed an out-of-competition test on Aug. 29, the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport said Tuesday. He was provisionally suspended by Cycling South Africa and faces a two-year ban.
George cycled on Armstrong's U.S. Postal Service team in 1999 and 2000. George said he wouldn't ask for his B sample to be tested and would accept his punishment.
"I know the result will ultimately be the same. This decision will be communicated to Cycling South Africa (CSA) and Drug-Free Sport shortly and according to protocol," George said in a statement: "I fully understand the consequences of my admission and will bear the results of this."
Last month, Armstrong was banned for life by the International Cycling Union and stripped of his seven Tour de France titles because of his role in a doping scandal, which was outlined in a report by the U.S. Anti-doping Agency. Other former teammates testified against Armstrong in the report, which said he used steroids, EPO and blood transfusions.
George won silver in the road race at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and bronze in the time trial in the Kuala Lumpur Games in 1998. He also represented South Africa at two Olympics, in 1996 and 2000.
"Cycling, as you know, has been a confusing space, and although it has given me incredible moments it has also given me experiences that no person or young athlete should have to go through," George said.
EPO, or Erythropoietin, increases the red blood cell count and increases an athlete's oxygen carrying capacity.
"His biological passport indicated suspicious activity and that triggered a targeted test for EPO," SAIDS chief executive Khalid Galant said in announcing the positive test Tuesday. "A subsequent urine test came back positive for the banned EPO drug."
George apologized to his sponsors. But Nedbank, the backer of his current 360Life team, said it was immediately withdrawing its sponsorship.
"Nedbank has a zero tolerance towards the use of any banned substances or performance enhancing drugs and does not condone or support such use in any sport," the South African bank said.
William Newman, the president of Cycling South Africa, said doping was "not endemic" in South African cycling despite the sport's battered international image.
George failed an out-of-competition test on Aug. 29, the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport said Tuesday. He was provisionally suspended by Cycling South Africa and faces a two-year ban.
George cycled on Armstrong's U.S. Postal Service team in 1999 and 2000. George said he wouldn't ask for his B sample to be tested and would accept his punishment.
"I know the result will ultimately be the same. This decision will be communicated to Cycling South Africa (CSA) and Drug-Free Sport shortly and according to protocol," George said in a statement: "I fully understand the consequences of my admission and will bear the results of this."
Last month, Armstrong was banned for life by the International Cycling Union and stripped of his seven Tour de France titles because of his role in a doping scandal, which was outlined in a report by the U.S. Anti-doping Agency. Other former teammates testified against Armstrong in the report, which said he used steroids, EPO and blood transfusions.
George won silver in the road race at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and bronze in the time trial in the Kuala Lumpur Games in 1998. He also represented South Africa at two Olympics, in 1996 and 2000.
"Cycling, as you know, has been a confusing space, and although it has given me incredible moments it has also given me experiences that no person or young athlete should have to go through," George said.
EPO, or Erythropoietin, increases the red blood cell count and increases an athlete's oxygen carrying capacity.
"His biological passport indicated suspicious activity and that triggered a targeted test for EPO," SAIDS chief executive Khalid Galant said in announcing the positive test Tuesday. "A subsequent urine test came back positive for the banned EPO drug."
George apologized to his sponsors. But Nedbank, the backer of his current 360Life team, said it was immediately withdrawing its sponsorship.
"Nedbank has a zero tolerance towards the use of any banned substances or performance enhancing drugs and does not condone or support such use in any sport," the South African bank said.
William Newman, the president of Cycling South Africa, said doping was "not endemic" in South African cycling despite the sport's battered international image.
A 2 year ban big woopty doo! If they're not going to make it a lifetime ban then they may as well make it part of the game.
Lets wait for George to say that Armstrong bullied him into doping. "I wouldn't have done it, but Lance still forces me to cheat!"
 @Fugonn Reading this story it sounds like he manned up immediately, not even stalling by going through the B sample testing process. Too bad he wasn't man enough to compete on a level playing ground, but at least he's accepting responsibility and the consequences of his actions.
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Now if Mr. Armstrong would do the same, including discussing the potential link between his hormones and blood doping, and his testicular cancer. He could at least attempt to offset some of the damage he's done to the integrity of the sport by educating young athletes on the dangers of poisoning one's body with this crap.Â