January 6/04 9:30 am - Hughes Wins 5000M, Ballerini Investigation, Australian Doping Rumour, Victoria TT

Posted by Editor on 01/6/04
 

Hughes Wins 5000M
Courtesy Speedskating Canada

Olympic medallist Clara Hughes of Glen Sutton, Que., won the women's 5,000 metre final but it wasn't enough to dislodge Ottawa's Kristina Groves from first place overall on Monday at the 2004 Canada Post All Round Canadian Championships long track speed skating competition.

Hughes, who was paired with Groves, clocked seven minutes and 05.31 seconds for the win in the 5,000. Groves was second in 7:10.81 and Cindy Overland of Kitchener, Ont., was third in 7:25.66.

Groves, who won the 3,000 and 1,500 metre races on the weekend, wrapped up her first career Canadian all round title with 164.187 points. Hughes, last year's champion, was second at 165.869 and Overland third at 167.765.

"Kristina stepped it up a notch in the shorter distances and that was the difference," said Hughes. "There was just too much of a gap to make up. But I was happy with my race today. I had a good feeling about it and that better things are still to come."

Hughes and Groves were among four skaters named to the Canadian women's team for the world all round championships February 7-8 in Hamar, Norway. The others are Overland and Tara Risling of Medicine Hat, Alta.

"I'm ahead of where I was last year at this time," said Groves, fourth overall at the all round worlds last winter which was won by Winnipeg's Cindy Klassen, who is injured this season. "My top end speed in particular is very good right
now."


CCES News

The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sports gathers and re-releases news articles from around the world. We occasionally publish ones that are of interest to the cycling community.


Cycle coach on doping charges (AFP)

January 5, 2004

ITALIAN national team cycling coach and former race star Franco Ballerini has been called before a judge here to answer charges of taking doping products in 1998, the year he won the Paris-Roubaix classic for the second time, the Ansa news agency reported Sunday.

Ballerini will appear before a judge at Pistoia, just outside Florence on January 14, to answer charges of taking anabolic steroids.

His summoning comes following an enquiry opened by a court at Brescia which implicated former national coach Antonio Fusi and nine riders including Ballerini for alleged sporting fraud.

Ballerini's case is being dealt with by authorities in Pistoia because he lives in the Tuscany region.

"I'm extremely calm and serene because I have nothing to reproach myself in this affair," said 39-year-old Ballerini, who won the tough Paris-Roubaix one-day classic in 1995 and 1998, before retiring two years ago.


Cyclist in drug probe

By Michael Stevens (Herald Sun)

January 6, 2004

AUSTRALIAN cycling has been rocked by a drugs investigation involving an Australian Institute of Sport scholarship holder.

It is understood that drugs were found in the rider's possession at the national training facility in Adelaide about three weeks ago.

Cycling Australia chief executive Graham Fredericks last night confirmed that an investigation was being conducted jointly by the AIS and Cycling Australia.

Fredericks said that the independent investigation was being conducted jointly because the rider was an AIS scholarship holder.

He said the outcome of the investigation was expected towards the end of this month.

"Because of privacy and legal reasons I can't say any more," Fredericks said.

It is not known if the rider's scholarship has been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.

Rumours have been rife that an Australian track rider had tested positive, but Fredericks was adamant this was not the case.

Nonetheless, the fact there was a drugs investigation within the national team could have far-reaching repercussions for Australian cycling.


Victoria Wheelers Boxing Day Time Trial
Courtesy John Errington

13.5 km

Men
1 Chris Wille 21:52
2 Fraser Hayes 22:59
3 Peter Tonkin 23:35
4 Stephen Price 23:49
5 Vaughn Marshall 24:21
6 David Emery 25:14
7 Bruce Tonkin 25:22
8 Brian Payne 25:24
9 Ralph Hayes 33:05

Women
1 Marcy Bennett 26:14
2 Kristina Vaudry 27:01
3 Ruth Errington 28:42
4 Amy Errington 30:16

Tandem
1 Pat/Kathleen Leask 24:30