“It would be very great if there was a doping control here…I am pretty sure that there are some things going on”
Raising concerns and doubts very soon after he finished eighth in yesterday’s Taiwan KOM Challenge, the 2012 victor John Ebsen made clear that he had questions about the lack of testing at the race plus the dominant victory of Rahim Emami (RTS Santic, pictured).
The Iranian rider finished 27 seconds clear of his team-mate Amir Zargari (RTS Santic) and at least a minute ahead of almost everyone else. Only third-placed Yin Chih Wang (CCN) was within sixty seconds of his time, with others much further back.
Ebsen is concerned by the margin of Emami’s victory and the strength he showed, but the big question mark he has originates from the fact that the RTS Santic rider returned this year from a two year ban for Clenbuterol.
That, his current form plus the dearth of testing at the Taiwan KOM Challenge lead provoke his unease.
“I am quite satisfied with my result, but I am a little bit disappointed in the guys who win. It would be very great if there was a doping control here, because I am pretty sure that there are some things going on that are not 100 percent,” he told VeloNation in the video interview below.
“I really hope that the organiser of this race will take that into consideration for next year, so either put a doping control in, or invite people they know are clean and who don’t have a two year suspension and have just come back from that. It is not fair on any level.”
While riders such as 2012 Vuelta a Espana mountain jersey winner Simon Clarke (Orica GreenEdge) were brought over from Australia and took part, the event didn't have any anti-doping testing in place.
Ebsen took eighth, three minutes and 39 seconds back. It’s some way off his performance of twelve months ago but, given that he was feeling ill before the race due to influenza-type symptoms, he was relatively satisfied.
“I felt sick all the way but I just had this feeling like ‘fuck, no, I am not giving up. That is what drove me all season also. I don’t like giving up, and I didn’t give up today. I probably should…I am pretty sure in a few hours I am going to look like an old man, but we will take it from there,” he said, coughing.
Ebsen also spoke about his experience of racing in Asia, his team plans for next year as regards his destination after competing for Synergy Baku in 2013, his ambitious aims for the Tour de Langkawi after his eighth place this season, and his long-term goal.
See a report from yesterday’s race here:
Also see: Video - Clarke and Cromwell speak about ordeal of racing up one of the toughest climbs in cycling