Bauge Banned ?

Its just been reported on twitter that Bauge has been banned retrospectively for missing a drugs test. His performances were imense, I hope they weren't drugs fueled immense!

He was suspended by the French Federation in November. It's taken UCI since then to strip him of the title. I wonder why? I wonder if there'll be protests?

The suspension was for technical/administrative reasons, he didn't test positive. I don't suspect he's a doper, he is a powerful rider naturally.

road.cc have the story up. Technical infringements rather than overt dope fiend-ery it seems.

Another site said the technical infringments were a skipping of a test, drugs? I do hope I'm wrong ?
UCI release says Bauge had "two breaches of applicable requirements regarding rider availability and one missed test in 18 months"

As expected Kenny has got the worlds title for last year after Bauge was stripped.

Sounds like the French federation tried to hide the suspension....

...that maybe answers my question as to why it took the UCI 2 months to strip Baugé of the title. It also makes me feel less surprised about not hearing anything about it at the time.

On the surface I can't see much difference between this and the Longo case, and she got off scot free, and why did it take the UCI a year to come to a decision on this?
http://www.lequipe.fr/Cyclisme/breves2012/20120107_000424_-bien-sur-j-ai-des-torts.html
Oh well, at least he's free to race this coming season.

I was reading in our local rag earlier that Baugé's misfortunes are to (local lad) Kevin Sireau's advantage. Yes, he'll loose the WC gold he won as part of the sprint team but for some weird and wonderful reason, it means he is able to compete in the qualifiers for the Olympic Games. The report suggested that there was only one space available per country for the sprint*, and Baugé had presumably bagged that with his WC title. Now it's up for grabs.

Begs the question, will Sireau elbow Baugé off this bike to take the spot?

*can't be the case surely... if the report is correct, then the UK could only select Hoy or Kenny (for the individual sprint), not both?? Nah, my local rag has surely got it wrong.

I believe that there is only one space per country per event

So if the UK has the same qualifying process as France (IF!), Kenny will get the spot?

Yep, tis true only one spot per country per event. There was a kerfuffle about it at the time it was announced.