If I were Ezequiel Mosquera

I’d be pissed. A list issued by UCI with all 2011 suspensions, sanctions and disqualifications was published on the website. No press release, no nothing. Just a simple PDF in a dark corner of the site.

The statistics
There are nine Iranians on the 2011 doping list and four women. Almost all riders get a suspension starting immediately or shortly after they were found positive. Not for poor Ezequiel. His results are scrapped from the 12th of September 2010 but his suspension starts on November the 16th 2011.

The money
More exceptional things regarding Mosquera is the fine he received. He must wire a staggering €276,675 to Aigle. That’s over a €100,000 more than Mikel Astarloza or Danilo di Luca. More comparison: Davide Rebellin was not fined and neither was Alejandro Valverde.

It’s €275,000 more than Oscar Sevilla who got caught for exactly the same Hydroxethyl starch and pays 1,500 Swiss francs.

Oscar got six months suspension but that started soon after he was caught. He’s eligible to ride since March 2011. Ezequiel Mosquera gets two years of suspension starting 14 months after the positive doping test.

My outrage
Who makes up these rules? What’s the magic formula for the fines? Why these huge differences?

I just wanna give Ezequiel a hug now…..