German sports president wants plug on cycling funding
German sports president wants plug on cycling funding (© AFP Photo)
Peter Danckert, the president of the German parliament's sports commission, called on Thursday for public funding of the German Cycling Federation to be suspended in light of Patrik Sinkewitz's failed drugs test.
"If no severe sanction is taken in the fight against doping, then we need to think about stopping the funding of some public bodies," Danckert said after it emerged on Wednesday that Sinkewitz had been found to have high levels of testosterone is his blood.
"Only the Parliament, who manage the taxpayers money, can act and we can't continue to support a sport which does not take the necessary steps to fight against doping."
Danckert welcomed Wednesday's decision of German television channels ARD and ZDF to stop broadcasting this year's Tour, until the Sinkewitz case is fully explained.
He said: "It was the right decision, it is necessary to do something. Things must also change on the Tour de France. The stages must be shortened, a day of additional rest must be introduced."
Sinkewitz, under contract with T-Mobile, was informed on Wednesday that his A sample from June 8, taken during a training session, had tested positive.
"Patrik is suspended and if the B-sample is also positive for elevated testosterone then his contract will be terminated," said T-Mobile team general manager Bob Stapleton. "This is an athlete who committed to our Code of Conduct. If he stepped outside that, it is extremely disappointing."
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shanexs
Posted Thu 19 Jul, 9:25 pm UTC Flag as inappropriate
"Only the Parliament, who manage the taxpayers money, can act and we can't continue to support a sport which does not take the necessary steps to fight against doping"
So now cycling gets put down for actually CATCHING the dopers! How's that not taking the neccessary steps to fight doping?? Fighting Doping is surely about stopping doping but also about catching those who decide to cheat and resort to doping.
In real life we have laws and people still break those laws. Why should it be any different in Sport?
Do the Police get criticized for catching people who break those laws? Or do the Police get congratulated on NOT catching any law breakers because obviously if no criminals were caught then no crimes were committed? No, they get judged on the criminals they are able to catch breaking the law. The more the better! In an ideal world no crimes would be committed but there are always tose who resort to crime.
Cycling I think is taking huge steps to fight doping and it should be congratulations all round if those steps actually catch a cheater! As in life outside of the cycling world there will always be those who break the laws and as in life if someone is caught breaking those laws and bought to justice then isn't that a good thing and not something to be grounds for criticism?
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