KOTA KINABALU: Tabriz Petrochemical may have put up a superior performance in the Tour of Borneo, with Ghader Mizbani taking the overall, mountain classification and Best Asian Rider titles.
But doubts persist among the peloton after Ghader and team-mate Mirsamad Pourseyedi won by 6:25 ahead their nearest rival Joseph Cooper (Huon Salmon Genesys) in the penultimate stage up Kundasang, with two Category One climbs on the menu.
What is more worrying, though, is the absence of drug test at the race.
Huon Salmon team manager Stephen Price said that he felt “let down by the organisers as there were no doping controls in the race”.
“It’s sad that such a beautiful, well-organised race like this does not have doping controls. This is the first time in the 13 years that I’ve been involved in UCI racing that there are no doping controls,” he said.
“I’m not pointing fingers at anyone although there were some ‘suspicious’ performances in the race. It would have been good to have dope tests to allay fears and suspicions of drug use so that everyone can compete on a level playing field.”
For the record, Le Tour de Langkawi and Jelajah Malaysia had doping controls.
Tabriz’s Mirsamad was banned by the UCI for two years from May 25, 2011 to June 29 this year after testing positive for EPO in the Tour of Iran in 2011.
The inaugural Tour of Borneo also did not have doping controls.
Technical director Yunus Ibrahim said the UCI “did not send any doping controllers” for the race.
“When that is the case, it’s up to the organisers whether to employ doping controllers or not,” he said.
Nathan Earle (Huon Salmon) said that having doping controls would have made the race even better.
“While it’s easy to hurl accusations, it would have been better for the organisers to ensure that nobody is using what he is not supposed to use,” said the Australian, who will be joining Team Sky next season.
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