UCI Reveals 'Top Rider' is Positive . . . But Who?

Science is finally starting to catch up with today's cheats as the war against doping continues

UCI head Pat McQuaid and colleague Anne Gripper announced yesterday in Switzerland that a 'top rider' has been found with abnormal blood values, and will face sanctioning for the positive test. With the lack of a positive ID, the speculation can begin for who the big name is that will face sanctioning. Although innocent until proven guilty, below are the most likely suspects.

Alejandro Valverde, Caisse d'Epargne

"The Green Bullet," or "valv.piti" according to the Operacio Puerto documents, has long been under suspicion for doping, even if he has never been convicted. A talented rider, Valverde was referenced numerous times in the Puerto documentation, and was saved by his country's governing body closing the case on Puerto, effectively ending any chance at disclosure, which was a shame for the sport of cycling. He had a very quiet early season until his win at Liege, which may point to the fact that he was lying low trying to avoid further suspicion. Should the Spaniard be 'the one', the LBL title would go to a much deserving Davide Rebellin.

Danilo Di Luca, LPR Brakes

Di Luca too has been suspected of foul play, and the 2007 Liege-Bastogne-Liege winner even served a three month sentence in the "Oil for Drugs" case from a few years ago. Always calm, the sauve Italian says he has nothing to worry about. He has logged very few results thus far in 2008, much like Valverde. With the Giro right around the corner, Di Luca must hope he'll not be kept from riding in defense of his 2007 title. A suspension at this point in his career would effectively end his tenure as a pro cyclist.

Andreas Kloden, Astana

Kloden has made strange choices recently that have drawn suspicion to the aging German stage racer. He decided to leave team High Road (then T-Mobile) just as they began their exhaustive anti-doping program, and then he was "sick" for the majority of the early season. Recently, German authorities have alleged that he was among the T-Mobile riders that blood doped in the 2006 Tour de France, but no charges have been formally filed. If Kloden is found guilty, the Astana team would fall even further out of grace with ASO and RCS Sport, the organizers of many of the important European races. Needless to say, Astana can't afford any more doping cases as they try to rebuild their credibility.

Allessandro Petacchi, Milram

"Ale-Jet," like all of the other riders on this list, has already been accused of doping, either frormally or informally. In fact, the Italian sprinting ace is waiting for judgement to be passed down for a non-negative test in last year's Giro. Also, like the others above, a two year sanction for Petacchi will no doubt spell the end to his career. Once one of the most feared sprinters in the peloton, Petacchi has not been able to harness his winning form since injuring his knee cap two seasons ago.

Whomever is named as the rider guilty of doping, it can't be good for cycling, and the bigger the name, the worse the sport will suffer. But it's like they say, "you can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs." Hopefully the rider found guilty will serve as one more warning to riders thinking of doping. As time goes on, the biological passport system will make it more and more difficult to cheat, which is just how most fans and riders want it.