http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/lars-boom-excluded-from-tour-de-france-over-cortisol-levels

I should have gone with Lars Booooooooooooooooo(m)

Was about to post the same! I’d have gone with “Boom! And the race is gone!”

Astana? Who’d have thunk it?.

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As no beer said. Was going to be astana.
Wonder if more will get pinged during the race

thats a shame. i like lars boom. i’m not well up on my masking agents and microdosing strategies these days, what are the chances this is all entirely innocent?

what are the chances this is all entirely innocent?

I wonder what it’d take for them to revisit the general case against astana – supposedly UCI reserved the right/intention to do so if there was more smoke

Witch hunt.

I wonder what it’d take for them to revisit the general case against astana – supposedly UCI reserved the right/intention to do so if there was more smoke

If that isn’t game over for Astana, surely it’s only just round the corner?

sdb – is that different from close scrutiny following a flurry of infringements and a near loss of licence ?

Witch hunt?
Not when it is astana, you don’t get that many doping positives in a team without something going on systematically.
Having read the reasoned decision it was pretty clear they wouldn’t have got a license last year had all the doping issues been identified before the applications

TUE misuse I’ll bet. Not explicitly against the rules and I’m sure it’s widely abused, including by some closer to home.

But unfortunately as it’s been shown that the bio passport can be managed, I’m sure this is the least of the real issues.

If that isn’t game over for Astana, surely it’s only just round the corner?

Astana = Greece

OK, OK, one more chance, but this is SERIOUSLY the last time, OK? No, seriously.

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This is a voluntary withdrawal in line with mpcc ‘rules’ and not a formal ban. And from what I hear, Astana are challenging it which may mean he rides anyway as has happened before.

Basically they’re taking the proverbial but since it’s voluntary I can’t see that there could be any formal sanction for Astana

But Lars 😕
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Vino saying Boom will ride, and they will leave MPCC. They aren’t allowed to replace him this late so it’s either that or start a man down.

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Just ridiculous that they are allowed a license.

One more then i’m off to bed..

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The way teams are dropping from MPCC I would be surprised if he didn’t ride. It’s hard but let’s not jump the gun, this isn’t necessarily doping…It is but you know…benefit of the doubt and all that…

Credible cycling movement and it has Astana in it :-/

This is not making my fantasy league team any easier.

It’s just a low cortisol level. Not a doping positive. The MPCC withdrawal rules are around rider health.

What matts said, its to protect riders health , http://inrng.com/2013/06/mpcc-cortisol-test/

Low cortisol – has he taken too much inhaled corticosteroid for pollen-induced asthma?

Not in my team but bertie is at the moment

Low Cortisol levels are more often caused by overtraining syndrome and anxiety. They can be a sign that someone has been taking hydrocortisone (your body stops producing it if you take supplements), but it could be for many other reasons too.

As much as any association with Astana & Vino coupled with a chemical imbalance looks bad, it’s a bit of a leap to state he’s been doping. It’s also shows an utterly shoddy attitude towards their employees if they insist an athlete rides with low cortisol levels (unless they know why it’s low…).

As much as any association with Astana & Vino coupled with a chemical imbalance looks bad, it’s a bit of a leap to state he’s been doping.

I get that, but with their recent history they need to be cleaner than clean and this doesn’t help.

Vino saying Boom will ride, and they will leave MPCC. They aren’t allowed to replace him this late so it’s either that or start a man down.

Same attitude as Lotto and no-one is complaining about that. In fact almost everyone was over the moon that Kruijswijk was lighting up the mountains as a bit of a lesser known rider but no-one had any funny connotations about that.

Morning 😥

Actually I’m a huge fan of his, bothered by the low levels, more concerned that he’s not riding TBH than any speculation over the speculative conversations..

Hard man off the front in the early stages ? what could be more thrilling….

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Much the same thoughts as bikebouy when I heard this, do like Lars, shame he rides for Astana.

I’m surprised Astana even bother with the MPCC. I’d be surprised if any of their sponsors or supporters give a toss about whether they are in or out. And it’s not really made them any more credible in the eyes of the general public!