The news of Michael Rogers’ positive test for clenbuterol is a perplexing one for cycling fans.
A second positive test in China a few weeks later by Belgium’s Jonathan Breyne, who subsequently attempted suicide, has reignited discussion about this substance.
On the one hand, weariness and cynicism about doping continue to pervade the sport; but digging a little deeper into clenbuterol reveals the sporting world needs to have a serious discussion about this substance’s handling by authorities.
In cycling, the most famous case of clenbuterol doping is of course Alberto Contador, who was stripped of his 2010 Tour de France victory after testing positive and claiming that it was caused by eating a contaminated steak.
What’s often forgotten is the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) found that Contador had most likely ingested the clenbuterol accidentally in a contaminated supplement, and because of WADA’s strict liability rules he received a two-year backdated ban.
The CAS panel found that both Contador’s claim about contaminated steak, and the UCI’s contention that it was the result of a blood transfusion, were possible, but equally unlikely.
Cases of clenbuterol contamination in meat seem to be vanishingly rare in Spain, and CAS ultimately found Contador’s excuse to be unsatisfactory. You can read the CAS judgement here.
It’s worth pointing out that even the UCI and WADA didn’t allege that Contador had deliberately doped with clenbuterol, probably because there was so little of it (apparently 50 picograms) found in his urine.
The proud dopers over at Steroid.com suggest a daily dose of 40-140 micrograms per day, for men. This puts the amount of clenbuterol found in Contador’s body at approximately 1/1000,000th of an active daily dose.
The recent cases involving Rogers and Breyne will be very interesting, because clenbuterol contaminated meat in China is a different matter to in Spain.
Clenbuterol contamination is a well known problem with Chinese beef, due to its widespread use during beef production, and WADA and sports governing bodies have been warning athletes about the risks associated with eating meat in China for several years.
Indeed, Chinese Olympic athletes were apparently banned from eating meat in the lead-up to the London Olympics, such was the risk of positive tests.
Professional cyclists have no excuse for not being aware of this, and exercising extreme caution.
I haven’t seen reported anywhere the amounts of clenbuterol found in either of Rogers’ or Breyne’s samples, so we don’t know whether their respective positives are similarly low doses to Contador’s.
Both riders vehemently protest their innocence, but of course we’ve been there before.
However, I haven’t seen any serious commentators arguing that these riders were deliberately doping with such an easily-detectable substance, whose main benefit seems to be weight loss (not often a problem for cyclists at the end of a long season), for a relatively meaningless late-season race.
Why would a cyclist use this substance?
According to Wikipedia:
“It causes an increase in aerobic capacity, central nervous system stimulation, blood pressure, and oxygen transportation.
“It increases the rate at which body fat is metabolized while increasing the body’s BMR. It is commonly used for smooth muscle-relaxant properties as a bronchodilator and tocolytic.”
All of which seems useful for an elite athlete, and cyclists in particular, but some reading around some of the less ethical parts of the internet – bodybuilding sites – indicates that clenbuterol is used mainly for weight loss, particularly after an anabolic steroid cycle so that food intake can remain high without worrying about getting fat.
Keeping lean just after you’ve stopped taking steroids is not the kind of use case you would expect from an elite cyclist during competition.
Especially when it’s possible to detect 1/1,000,000th of an active dose in urine.
You would have to be a complete moron to take clenbuterol as a professional cyclist.
Sure, we’ve seen some pretty stupid acts by dopers in the past, but the risk:reward payoff for this substance is absurdly stacked in favour of getting caught.
I just don’t believe that Contador or Rogers are that stupid.
What we do know is that stories of clenbuterol contamination in Chinese food seem highly plausible. Lee Rodgers pointed this out in his piece earlier this week that a WADA-accredited laboratory found that 22 out of 28 recent travellers to China tested positive to clenbuterol.
If 78 percent of the (admittedly small) sample tested positive, it seems clear that the chances of ingesting some clenbuterol from Chinese meat are well beyond “possible” and verge on ‘very likely’.
It’s fair to ask why these riders were eating meat at all. It’s also worth asking how teams with their own chefs, dieticians, and staff (at least in Rogers’ case) could allow something like this to happen.
There is nothing in Michael Rogers’ statement to indicate whether or not he followed guidelines on avoiding meat. It’s possible he went ‘off-piste’ and ate a meal outside of the team environment. Perhaps he only ate in team hotels. We don’t yet know.
But there needs to be a serious discussion about whether eating a meal should be enough to ruin someone’s career and reputation.
At the moment, we have a situation where the rules about substances like clenbuterol (there is no allowable amount and testing for it is phenomenally effective) are extremely strict, but the known risk of accidental positives is high.
Riders are understandably not happy about this.
Garmin-Sharp’s young Australian rider Lachlan Morton put it succinctly on Twitter:
How do you know how your meat was prepared on the road?
— Lachlan Morton (@lachlanmorton) December 19, 2013
I’m worried.
— Lachlan Morton (@lachlanmorton) December 19, 2013
Robbie McEwen was similarly blunt:
i reckon the UCI should take some responsibility & suspend UCI sanctioned races in China #clenbuterol #nocoincidence #$$$$
— Robbie McEwen (@mcewenrobbie) December 19, 2013
McEwen also pointed out that there’ll be a long queue of riders trying to avoid racing in China next season:
i’m saying cover ALL the angles #clenbuterol #racinginchina one thing for sure – not many riders will put their hand up to race there in ’14
— Robbie McEwen (@mcewenrobbie) December 19, 2013
The problem is that World Tour teams are compelled to race in the Tour of Beijing, so somebody is going to have to race there. The UCI has too much invested in China to simply stop racing there.
So what can be done?
In the short term, teams might have to go temporarily vegetarian while in China.
Failing that, they may have to bring their own meat supply in from Europe (or indeed Australia).
But these are just band-aid solutions to a deeper problem regarding banned substances which are known to be used in food production.
WADA needs to urgently investigate whether it’s appropriate to introduce a minimum threshold for returning a positive test for clenbuterol and other similar substances.
It could be far below the level of an active dose, while still remaining high enough to avoid positives from trace amounts found in food.
There is precedent in establishing accepted ranges for particular substances, particularly naturally-occurring substances like testosterone, or several blood cell values.
Clenbuterol does not occur naturally in the body, so this would be setting a precedent for synthetic substances.
For both Contador and Rogers, there is a sense in some cynical circles that this is an ‘Al Capone’ bust: they may have got away with plenty in the past, so getting them on a technicality is some kind of rough justice.
I understand the frustration with doping that engenders this attitude, but I don’t think it’s right to leave doping booby traps around for random riders to fall into.
We need to avoid a repeat of the situation this week, where a young rider (Breyne) attempted suicide because of a positive test that looks reasonably likely to have been caused by food contamination.
Riders who are genuinely trying to behave ethically deserve some protection.
Bogus positives also serve to undermine the trust of riders and fans in the anti-doping movement, and this should be avoided wherever possible.
Lyrcra Virgin
Guest
I can understand peoples reaction in regards to "don't protect Rodgers just because he is an Aussie" or "if he is positive he is a cheat, period". The thing that I just cannot get my head around is if he did use Clenbuterol for either a) keeping off the weight during the off-season or b) for the increase in aerobic capacity, it makes no strategic sense at all to his career in regards to his longevity or performance. My reasons for thinking it was accidental ingestion is that, for point a) why would he need to keep weight off when has 2 months of off-season where he can big out over Christmas (as much as a pro-cyclist possibly could) and easily get back to race weight by late January. For a rider such as Rodgers this would not be a concern, he is a super-domestique required to be firing in July to help Contador, not to be ripping up the rolling hills of Adelaide at the TDU. So if he took it for weight loss, he must have lost his brains... Point b) I will also argue against. If he took Clenbuterol leading into the Japan Cup to help him win, or if fans or casual observers thought he needed a win to conserve his career or contract they and Rodgers must have been having a panic attack/mental breakdown. Equal to my point for reason a), he is a domestique and has been around long enough for genuine TdF contenders such as Wiggins and Contador to require him only as a domestique. He doesn't need to win a tiny race like the Japan Cup and we all do respect, that race has no significance to the pro riders compared to the TdF or even the TDU, especially to a rider like Rodgers. Those are my two points I'll stick with in reasoning Rodgers must have accidentally taken Clenbuterol. It is unfortunate and certainly frustrating. My last point I'll make is that it would be nice if we could see the mainstream media talk about some of the positives in cycling. I understand doping stories get hits on websites and sell books (E.g. The Secret Race by T. Hamilton) but a bit of balance would be nice.
Justin Curran
Roar Rookie
The cyclists should do what Shane Warne used to do. Take their own baked beans to China.
Piggy
Guest
Whilst it is illegal in China, Clenbuterol is widely used and abused within the Chinese pig industry. The major reason for its use is the trade ban on a registered product called Ractopamine, the ban exists primarily due to it being a US held patent. The chance of positives occurring in athlete's was strong enough for the Olympic organizers to import meat for use in the athletes villages during the games. The trade volumes in US pork reflect this very well. This is well-known though so it really is eater beware...
Tim Renowden
Expert
Good post, and yes, that was the UCI's theory about Contador. It may be correct, but the official version is that he took a contaminated supplement. Let's be clear, I'm not saying Contador definitely wasn't blood doping (I can't prove that he wasn't and frankly if you look at his performances before and after, his form has dropped), but I think it's easy to get into dangerous territory speculating about possible ways of getting busted (we could sit here thinking up logically possible chains of events all day - it's possible that he was poisoned by a spurned lover after running off with her best friend, although it's fair to say it's unlikely). As I pointed out in the article, Contador's contaminated meat story was discounted by CAS because - this is the critical point - in Spain there have been no reported cases of contamination. In China, where there have been many documented cases of contamination, and well-understood agricultural practices which cause contamination, it's a different situation. The story is more plausible, but it still needs to be weighed up against other possible stories (like "he was blood doping and his old blood was contaminated"). There will be a long process. They will probably look at his biological passport and search for evidence of blood doping. That science isn't perfect but it is something. I still think Rogers will be banned, as will Breyne. The rules are clear and there have been several previous cases of Chinese athletes being banned for same. It's very difficult to prove that you ate contaminated food, because you probably don't know exactly what it was, and you've already eaten the evidence. I just think this is a bit more nuanced than some would like to admit, and I think there needs to be a serious discussion that goes beyond: "She said she's not a witch" "All the witches say that, so she must be a witch!" "Burn her!"
Tim Renowden
Expert
Did you read the article? It is as much about a Spaniard and a Belgian, and clearly mentions Rogers' shady past (which has been well covered elsewhere on The Roar). We all know which teams he's ridden for, and his involvement with Dr Ferrari. People are taking seriously the spoiled food story because of what we know about the high incidence of spoiled food in China, nothing else.
Paulo
Guest
I did a lot of reading about Contador after his positive and this is what made the most sense from the evidence. The problem was that he blood doped with his own dirty blood from the off season. The amount detected is small because it was coming out of his system and they thought it would be clean when they took the blood and stored it. It may even had been tested by his doctor but the lab that got used for proper testing is very advanced and can detect may smaller amounts than the average lab. The clenbuterol would have been taken to keep the weight off during the off season. It has been blood doping that is the most rampant in the most recent years. Next to impossible to detect so they find it the easiest to abuse. They have developed a test for plasticers. This tests the contamination of the blood with some plastic residue from an IV bag. And guess what? Contador's blood tested positive to this test. This test is not part of the normal testing but was allowed in the cases where there has been a positive result. I for one would like this test introduced if it is proven useful. So on his rest day he took his own contaminated blood for a big push on the next day. I don't buy this stuff with the contaminated meat. I believe Contador cheated and it pains me to say that Rogers more than likely has as well. I also feel that cycling is cleaner than for a long time. Blood doping is a huge problem in endurance sports and I would love some blood tests for it. I'm sure that will have a plastic free IV bag before long and of course new substances will be made at ridiculous rates.
rob
Guest
That Rogers was busted for doping should surprise no-one. I would actually ask if there was anyone out there stupid enough to believe he was clean. He's been a suspected drug cheat for a long, long time.
Simoc
Guest
And how many other sportspeople have competed in China. Thousands including the best in all sports. How many get caught. A cheating Aussie so it becomes Chinas fault. We've heard it all before. Cyclists treat cheating as second nature and getting caught should be career ending.
Jack Russell
Roar Guru
Given 99% of athletes that test positive wheel out excuses like this it's hard to believe any given one of them. Especially cyclists.
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
If it so widely known that there are issues with the meat in China why would you eat it - sorry but he is guilty
Dalgety Carrington
Guest
Wooblies did you read the article or did you just think "oh no drugs", and then just reel out the platitudes?
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Very good piece Tim. It is a tricky one and I think your article shows that it's impossible or near impossible to always know the truth. Any 'normal' human being should have doubts re Rodgers and (especially) the young Breyne. And in any case, doping or not, the simple fact a young lad attempted suicide shows what's wrong with cycling and doping these days. Finger pointing, rumours, omerta you name it. Being very cynical I have the impression doping is still very present in the peloton but it doesn't mean riders mental welfare should be ignored. Personally, as goes the saying "It is better to have ten guilty men go free than have one innocent man be convicted."
Specsavers
Guest
If the meat was tainted, why haven't there been more cases of riders on the Tour of China testing positive? And if it is a known problem, why aren't the riders / teams bringing their own food supplies? And pretty sure export meat from Aus / /NZ is available in China. Why weren't there an avalanche of positive tests last year? Cycling is a sport with a deeply ingrained acceptance of drug culture, and support for these constant claims of 'it's all been an accident" are not helping public perception.
Clare
Guest
Great article, very informative thanks. I agree. I dont think they are that stupid. Something has to be done, we can't have athlete's being required to compete in China and not eat meat for the whole time they are there and competing! That's ridiculous.
Darwin Stubbie
Guest
Surely it's simple .. Australian = non drug taker and definitely not a cheat ... but if he admits to anything he only did it once
Nick
Roar Guru
Its funny that the only reason that people are running with (and maybe even buying) the spoiled food story is because he was Australian.
WoobliesFan
Guest
Tim, Really? Seriously? After all that cycling's been through and you still think there's room in a discussion about a cyclist's innocence? No, sorry mate, there's isn't. Not anymore. And it's not cynicism. It never again will be cynicism (by the fans). Actually, to say its cynicism is offensive. And no, cycling doesn't need to revisit this substance. Clen = kick-ass substance. Ephedrine's got nothing on Clen...hell, you even get a solid anabolic boost from it. Wonderful substance for going to places were the body would not go normally (or would take 10 times as long / 10 times more effort). PS......you DONT indigent Clen (or any banned substance) by accident....professional sportsman, grown men, don't just indigent things by accident. They do it because they want too. It's only when they get caught, that it's by accident. Funny that.