One of South Africa’s most prominent cyclists, David George, has been caught with his hand in the needle jar, testing positive for the banned performance enhancing drug, EPO. He faces a charge of doping, and the scorn of people wearing spandex in coffee shops, everywhere.

Thus spake the CEO of the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS), Khalid Galant:

The blood test showed suspicious activity with regard to possible manipulation of the blood profile and a subsequent urine test came back positive for the banned EPO  [Erythropoietin] drug… “His biological passport, which analyses the athlete’s blood profile indicated suspicious activity and that triggered a targeted test for EPO. EPO testing gives us a window of between six and 12 hours for testing because that’s how long it will show up in a test.

Interestingly, George was a member of Lance Armstrong‘s United States Postal Service cycling team in the 1999-2000 season, but was hesitant to make any comment to the press as the wheels came off (yep, we used that pun) Armstrong’s career.

And, now you know why.

George’s run in with authorities has burned a handful of his athletic colleagues, with Nedbank announcing suspension of sponsorship to the entire team of which George was a member.

South African cycling legend, Robbie Hunter, didn’t shy away from expressing his distaste for the entire affair on Twitter.

15 year time bomb just went bang….

— Robbie Hunter (@RobbieHunter) November 6, 2012

Pity that another great sponsor like Nedbank had been burned by fools..

— Robbie Hunter (@RobbieHunter) November 6, 2012

Birds of a feather, dope together!

[Source : M&G]