Jalabert abandons, Barloworld dumps cycling

Those are two stories.

Nicolas Jalabert of the Agritubel team has abandoned the Tour de France.

And team Barloworld has decided that it will cease sponsorship of cycling effective the day after the end of the 2008 Tour de France.

Jalabert was just tired and he decided enough was enough with Alps coming tomorrow.

Barloworld made their move because their rider - and the winner of the time trial in stage 6 - tested positive for EPO. And their company policy forbids drug use. So, to be consistent they cannot rightly keep paying riders if any of those riders are using drugs.

Idiot riders! Stupid doping.

DOPING

I forgot to mention that some riders are forced to abandon the race due to doping.

After each stage, some riders (and especially those on the podium for the day) are tested for illegal substances.

If they're found positive for anything deemed illegal (and this could open a whole can of worms on what constitutes an illegal substance), they're out of the race and subject to an investigation.

One rider that I know of has been yanked from the 2008 Tour because he tested positive for EPO. This rider is Moises Nevado of the Barloworld squad.

He was tested after his finish in the time trial seven stages ago and overnight he was informed that he was out of the race. He was in 19th place overall after ten stages.