Cycling: Roulston determined to ride on

Hayden Roulston's defiant pursuit of Olympic cycling glory is being powered by an ancient Asian healing technique.

Roulston has shunned medical advice to continue riding competitively despite being diagnosed with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, a heart condition which can have fatal consequences when sufferers are stressed.

The diagnosis was made six weeks ago, prompting Roulston to announce his retirement, only to launch a comeback to win the national road race over 183km near Dunedin on Sunday.

BikeNZ high performance director Michael Flynn said yesterday Roulston had chosen an alternative treatment that had led to him completely rearranging his diet.

Flynn identified the treatment as reiki, a natural healing process refined in Japan and thought to have started in Tibet thousands of years ago.

Cycling officials remain wary of Roulston's case but cannot stop him from competing despite obvious concerns about his well being.

"I do know he wants to ride in the [2008] Beijing Olympics and one of his missions is to win gold," Flynn said.

"[But] his health is our primary concern and his primary concern. If we step away from that, we are stepping away from our individual responsibility to Hayden.

"Sunday's race was his fourth race in a month and, at this stage, based on my discussions with him, he's had no ill effects at all.

"He's actually getting stronger and stronger.

"That doesn't mean the diagnosis is incorrect. We only have one diagnosis in front of us and that has not changed."

Flynn said a second medical opinion was being sought on the rider's condition and "we will be taking him with us".

Flynn did not consider Roulston's case to be particularly unusual.

"There are a number of cases of athletes who have been diagnosed with a similar disorder but getting the information about what happened with them from different countries is a long, slow process."

Roulston's case is full of complexities for BikeNZ.

There are no legal barriers to prevent him riding and officials are seeking all the relevant information from overseas on active sportspeople with similar health problems.

"At this stage, based on information from the UCI [International Cycling Union] plus BikeNZ's and CyclingNZ's rules and regulations, we can't stop him from riding.

"Unless he does not have a licence or is under disciplinary action, there is nothing to stop him."

Flynn said the legal issues surrounding Roulston's decision to ride despite his condition had been looked into.

"Every rider who takes a licence for any sport in this country is insured. It is not just a cycling issue, it could be raised in any sport."

Roulston's next planned outing is the six-day Tour of Southland starting on November 6.

Depending on his performance, he may even come into the frame for the eight-strong New Zealand team to contest the Tour Down Under in Australia on January 16-21.

"Everyone's performance in the Tour of Southland will be looked at, including Hayden's," said Flynn, who was not at all floored by Roulston's effort on Sunday when he finished almost seven minutes ahead of his nearest rival.

"I think Roulston is a very, very talented athlete and, to be honest, if he is in good form, in any way, shape or form, the result doesn't surprise me at all.

"At the moment, he's just training and competing in races to ensure he's in the condition he believes he's in.

"If he fulfils what is required under nomination criteria for different races and puts himself up for selection, we'll have to consider it.

"What we do then will have to be discussed by the selectors and myself."

- NZPA