Cycling: Drugs threaten Yates' rep future

Jeremy Yates' chances of representing New Zealand in the future could have been punctured after the road cyclist was found guilty of a doping offence yesterday.

The Athens Olympian, who also wore the silver fern at the under-23 world championships in Italy last month, was banned for two years from December 1 by the Belgium Cycling Union after testing positive for abnormally high levels of testosterone after a race in Belgium in March.

The Hastings rider also failed to supply a B sample at the same time.

BikeNZ chief executive Rodger Thompson said yesterday that Yates, 22, had damaged his chances of representing New Zealand again.

"Clearly, any doping offence would definitely adversely affect any athlete's future selection possibilities, but it's difficult to confirm anything until we receive official notification in writing."

Thompson said BikeNZ had received no confirmation of the case from either the Belgian authorities or the International Cycling Union.

Thompson would not speculate on whether Yates would be eligible for New Zealand after serving his ban, as he didn't have the rules in front of him, but said it would be difficult for Yates to ride for his country after testing positive for an illegal performance-enhancing substance.

Yates, a junior world road champion in 2000, was also fined 750 Swiss francs (about $925). He was unavailable for comment.

Yates' future with glamour French team Credit Agricole also looks uncertain. It was reported in October that Yates' two-year deal had been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.

The team is managed by well-known anti-doping crusader Roger Legeay and includes Rotorua cyclist Julian Dean.

Thompson said he was disappointed with Yates' ban and admitted there was very little they could do to prevent riders from doping.

Yesterday's announcement is the second drugs scandal for New Zealand cycling. Olympian Anthony Peden withdrew from the keiren event after he admitted taking Triamcinoline, a cortisone-type drug which has no performance-enhancing properties but which is on the banned list for in-competition periods under World Anti Doping Agency regulations. His hearing will be held next week.

"The most you can do is put in place a comprehensive programme and ensure every member of the national team signs up to it and has good information through the New Zealand Sports Drug Agency," Thompson said.

Despite the case of two high-profile cyclists being branded as drug cheats, Thompson believed there was no endemic drug problem within the sport in New Zealand.

"You could say that about any cycling federation when they have one or two positive tests, but we would definitely hope that isn't the case. You can't guarantee anything, but I hope this is definitely an isolated incident."

Meanwhile, Yates will be allowed to contest the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge today despite organisers privately opposing his entry.

His ban takes effect from next Thursday, allowing him to race in the 160km Avanti Classic section of the cycle challenge in Taupo.

Organisers cannot stop Yates entering because the race is sanctioned by BikeNZ.

The committee said it had been advised by BikeNZ that Yates held a current race licence, which entitled him to take part.NZPA