Keith A. Prior

From Cyclingnews.com



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Hamilton positive

By Jeff Jones



Tyler Hamilton (Phonak),

Photo ?: Lavuelta.com

The Vuelta a Espa?a has been rocked this morning by news that Tyler Hamilton

(Phonak), has returned two positive blood tests that showed evidence of a

homologous blood transfusion. One test was performed at the Athens Olympics

and another at the Vuelta on September 13. Both tests showed evidence of a

"mixed red blood cell population, an indication of a homologous blood

transfusion," Phonak's press officer Georges L?chinger was quoted by AP as

saying. The results of the counter-analyses are not yet known, but are

expected today (Tuesday).



Hamilton, winner of the gold medal at the Athens 2004 Olympics in the

individual time trial as well as the Vuelta's eighth stage time trial,

abandoned the race prior to stage 13 claiming stomach problems. Hamilton has

denied having a transfusion, saying the positive test was the result of a

surgical intervention he had some time ago. If the B samples are confirmed

positive, then he risks losing his Olympic gold medal, which would make

Viatcheslav Ekimov the Olympic time trial champion again.



Phonak team director Alvaro Pino said, "I have spoken to Tyler and he has

claimed he is innocent and apart from whatever the (Phonak) team decides, he

will do whatever he has to do to defend himself from these accusations."

Phonak will hold a press conference later this evening.



Enhancing endurance performance via blood transfusion is nothing new:

Athletes admitted to using it at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984, when it

was not illegal. Typically, a quantity of blood is withdrawn from an athlete

some time before an important competition, and when the time comes, the red

cells are reinjected to provide an extra boost. This can also be done with

another person's blood and even with EPO-enhanced blood, although the risk

of detection is far greater. Former Kelme cyclist Jesus Manzano claimed that

he nearly died when he was reinjected with some "bad blood" late in 2003.



Tyler Hamilton's case is the first ever positive for a blood transfusion, as

up until very recently, doping via this method has been undetectable. A

powerful blood test developed by Australian researchers was implemented at

this year's Tour de France. The test didn't look for a particular banned

substance, but instead examined whether there were any abnormalities in a

person's blood as a result of artificial manipulation. At the Tour, it was

announced that homologous blood transfusions could be detected, but

autologous transfusions could not.



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