Damn - Frankie gets a ban

News has just broken that LADA have banned Frankie for one year, backdated to the date of the offence, so he's out until the 14th July, which means that he won't be able to ride in the Tour this year.

In a way, I'm happy that LADA have given him a ban - although I do think 6 months, backdated, would have been the correct level of punishment - as this way, the UCI won't feel compelled to step in and throw their weight around, as they did in the Contador affair.

And we just know that if LADA had  dished out a small fine, the UCI would have jumped in with both feet, and it would have dragged on for ages.

Also bearing in mind the Lance thing, I rather think that all the anti-doping agencies are keen to be seen to be doing "their part" in punishing anyone connected to doping: although I do think that Frankie hadn't doped, in that sense, and I am willing to believe that it's an accidental ingestion.

As it is, *sigh* Frankie is banned, and if Andy goes to the Tour, he goes without Frankie.

What do we think about that? Would Andy rather not go to the Tour this year? Will he be back on form by then?  Will he even want to go, without Frankie, without Jakob: at least he still has Jensie this year, *huffs with relief* but if his confidence is shaken by last season's injury, perhaps he won't want to risk going to the Tour?

So many questions....