SA to re-test over 50 ‘top’ cyclists

Lance Armstrong’s confession has pushed South Africa’s anti-doping body to retroactively test blood samples from more than 50 top cyclists for EPO.

The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (Saids) says it will re-test samples from cyclists who competed in all major mountain and road races in South Africa last year.

Saids says this will help it discover “if a major EPO doping problem exists in this country.”

South Africa’s doping body banned David George, one of the country’s best riders and a former teammate of Armstrong, for two years last month for EPO use.

Saids chief executive Khalid Galant says “cycling is being damaged by these high-profile doping cases with a high sense of cynicism existing.”

Galant says riders who doped have an opportunity now to confess.

- Sapa