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Filip Meirhaeghe retiring

2113 Views 16 Replies 14 Participants Last post by  FuelForThought
According to a Belgian newspaper (het Nieuwsblad - www.hetnieuwsblad.be for those who can read dutch), Filip (the reigning MTB world champion) has announced his retirement effective immediately.Quite a shocker, since the Olympics are about to start and he was a shoe in for a medal. Apparently, the cause of the retirement is a positive doping test....
I haven't found any independent confirmation of this, though...
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translation for your convenience.

I copy-pasted the article to an Alta Vista translation engine... i guess this is the best we can do. Here it is unedited in fear that I might screw it up if i do try to edit. It couldn't translate everything so you'd have to fill-in the blanks:

After Christophe burns and Dave Bruylandts now also Filip Meirhaeghe have been caught on doping. The mountainbiker (33) stop immediately with rates. He today will provide text and explanation on a press conference.

Meirhaeghe will have delivered positive plasje during a control in Canada. Yesterday he, but today call the mountainbiker refused still give comment a press conference. Meirhaeghe are the third positive doping case within Belgian cycling racing in hardly three weeks time. Lotto-rennerlotto-renner lotto-renner Christophe burns from the tour was firstly put after tracks of methadone in its urine were found. And last week still appeared that Dave Bruylandts at a control beginning tested April positively on EPO.

The positive control of Meirhaeghe is not only bad news for Belgian cycling racing, but also for the Belgian Olympic committee. Meirhaeghe were considered as one of our large candidates on an Olympic medal in Athens within two weeks. In Sydney four years suffered the oost-Vlaming caught still zilver.

Reports

association President the Backer reacted reports:
Bruylandts the way and Meirhaeghe in the field: that is two medal chances we see which passing in Athens to our nose. But on the other side: he who its breach burns, but must on the blisters zitten.''

Mountainbikecoach Rudy (de) Bie could hardly believe it: , Filip are the man who has made the mountainbiken large in Belgium. This is possible in the long run disastrous consequences has on sport.''
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You know, in the mid to late 90's, Euro's came from nowhere to win almost all the XC races by huge margins. Many people said it was EPO aided. I am starting to think that EPO and other performance enhancing drugs are more common than people want to believe.
Double edged sword.......

Good to see cheats getting caught. Not good for the sports image.

He should loose his wins from this year and quite possibly his World Champion stripes.
What once was a champion is now reduced to a poor loser.

Sad but true story.

What bike did he drive? Specialized? They should take him to court for spoiling their name. Also consider the competitors who ended up without results cause some guy cheated. Thanks Filip for ruin their carreers.

And finally on behalf of all who love the sport: Thanks for attempt to destroy it´s reputation and that we are left with some illusions now.
a response from specialized is on their site
Bad Month for the Big S

In July,
Cipolini, Specialized's biggest name rider dropped out early from the TDF with a very lackluster performance, gathering no stage wins nor any close seconds.
The one potential TDF stage win by a Specialized rider (Simeoni) was nipped just before the finish line in Stage 9.
Stage 18 and 20 scrums between Lance Armstrong and Filippo Simeoni made both riders look bad, although some may say Simeoni looked like the biggest idiot, challenging the Yellow Jersey during Stage 20.
Filip Meirhaeghe tests positive for EPO that he claims he started taking a couple months ago. True or not, no one will likely believe this. Also, Filip is apparently very prominent in company advertising and next year's promotional material.

The only thing left is for something catestrophic to happen to (the man) Ned Overend.

The big S's marketing muscle on the race course is pretty weak right now . . . bummer.
DMFT said:
Good to see cheats getting caught. Not good for the sports image.

He should loose his wins from this year and quite possibly his World Champion stripes.
Same situation happened a couple years back when the GT Team rider, Jerome Chiotti was found doing performance enhancing drugs and the UCI took away the World Champion status (jersey/medal) that he "won" in '97 (if I remember correctly) and gave it to Thomas Frishkenect (sp?).

They should do the same for Filip if they find out he was on drugs during that time.
Was Mario expected to do anything this year. The dude is over the hill, and fat. I don't think it's a surprised he didn't do anthing.

And if Simeoni would have kept his big mouth shut regarding Lance's doctor, he might have had a win or two.
Cool Hand Griff said:
In July,
Cipolini, Specialized's biggest name rider dropped out early from the TDF with a very lackluster performance, gathering no stage wins nor any close seconds.
The one potential TDF stage win by a Specialized rider (Simeoni) was nipped just before the finish line in Stage 9.
Stage 18 and 20 scrums between Lance Armstrong and Filippo Simeoni made both riders look bad, although some may say Simeoni looked like the biggest idiot, challenging the Yellow Jersey during Stage 20.
Filip Meirhaeghe tests positive for EPO that he claims he started taking a couple months ago. True or not, no one will likely believe this. Also, Filip is apparently very prominent in company advertising and next year's promotional material.

The only thing left is for something catestrophic to happen to (the man) Ned Overend.

The big S's marketing muscle on the race course is pretty weak right now . . . bummer.
Not recent, but wasn't Specialised the bike sponsor for Festina when they got bust in '97 or something?
skinny-tire said:
Was Mario expected to do anything this year. The dude is over the hill, and fat. I don't think it's a surprised he didn't do anthing.

And if Simeoni would have kept his big mouth shut regarding Lance's doctor, he might have had a win or two.
Fat? Sheesh - Perhaps I wish I were that fat :confused: I always thought he was OK weight?

It's a sad shame mario didn't do too well this year. I would have loved him to take a sprint.

I suppose every dog has his day.
add another, more 'local', link to the pile

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=36980



here you can see Filip in the Silver Rush race in Leadville a few weeks ago. i figure if i can get a few more of the top 5 finishers to test positive then i might win...already went from 6th to 5th.
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Domina recently DUMPED Cipo...... For comments about his teamate Simeoni.

He IS over-the-hill but still REALLY fast when he want's to be. - The guy IS a rockstar!!!
Nope, Chiotti was never caught (just like Millar).
He admitted guilt after his conscience was getting so bad he could not stand it anymore.
He visited Frishknecht and gave hime the jersey back.
Then he tried to go on a crusade to rid MTB of drugs and everyone tried to ignore him.

Pro cycling is SAD.
What happened to Filip is terrible for the sport.

Max

commo_soulja said:
Same situation happened a couple years back when the GT Team rider, Jerome Chiotti was found doing performance enhancing drugs and the UCI took away the World Champion status (jersey/medal) that he "won" in '97 (if I remember correctly) and gave it to Thomas Frishkenect (sp?).

They should do the same for Filip if they find out he was on drugs during that time.
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