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Rock announces anti-doping plan

Published: Feb. 27, 2008

Stung by the exclusion of three of its top riders from last week’s Amgen Tour of California, the Rock Racing team announced plans to launch an aggressive internal team anti-doping program on Tuesday.

“This internal anti-doping initiative underscores Rock Racing's, and Team Owner Michael Ball's, willingness to take every measure to ensure that its members race clean and fair,” a team press release noted.

The team, however, said that specific details of the program have yet to be finalized, pending selection of an outside anti-doping consultant, a process headed by attorney Maurice Suh.

“Rock Racing has not yet selected a consultant for its internal anti-doping program, but is proud to announce that it will make its formal selection within three days,” the team announced. “The selection process will involve discussions with leading internal anti-doping consultants. The program will include testing for performance enhancing substances known to be used in the sport of professional cycling, including EPO, blood doping and steroids.

“Although Rock Racing is not disclosing the exact dollar figure of the program’s cost, it is a significant investment and one Ball says is necessary.”

The team said that the program was initiated because of the exclusion of Tyler Hamilton, Santiago Botero and Oscar Sevilla from the 2008 Amgen Tour of California.

"Hopefully, by announcing this internal anti-doping program, we will continue to show the world that Tyler, Santiago and Oscar should be eligible to race in the future, and have earned that right," said Ball.