Alexander Kristoff (28) commenting cocaine scandal for the first time.
RENNES / OSLO: Yesterday cracked bomb: Alexander Kristoff Italian team mate in Katjusja, Luca Paolini (38), perhaps the Norwegian’s main domestique, has tested positive for cocaine during the Tour de France.
Today commented Alexander Kristoff matter first time.
– It was a shock for everyone on the team. He’s taken cocaine, it’s not something you want on the team, of course. And he is sent home. It’s kind of the team, he is an important player for me in the sprints. He did a good job yesterday. Without him things get much harder. In that sense it is a kind sporty seen, but it is clear – one can not have one on cocaine team, says Alexander Kristoff to a press corps in Rennes.
– Shock and disbelief
Teammates did not believe what they heard when nyhetne became known last night.
– There was shock and disbelief. That he had tested postive during competition at the Tour de France. We have not seen anything. We have not seen that he had cocaine in the room, just so there we had a hard time believing. But the test is positive and the lie as a rule, so yes – it looks like he had it, says Kristoff.
– It could happen, he has got it in before the Tour the France, I do not know, he adds.
Last night took Luca Paolini use Twitter and made some statements. The Italian apologies to Kristoff and the other teammates. Meanwhile, he says he does not understand how he has cocaine in it.
Alexander Kristoff has little faith that this is an accident.
– I do not know how he got it in itself, but you can not do it without reason. I do not think he had it in him through a glass or a bottle of water.
Believe layer can not be blamed
– Do you feel that it drags your name down in mire?
– It’s never good to have a case of the team. It is the third time one on my team is caught doping, and twice here in Katjusja. It is never positive.
– Do you get less desire to be in Katjusja?
– I do not feel that this is a matter which team can have anything whatever . It’s not like we’ve been offered cocaine on the table, says Kristoff.
Paolini was perhaps considered as the most important help the rider to Kristoff. To get success at the legendary final stage of the Tour de France, and asked to victory on the Champs Elysees, was Paolini considered absolutely necessary and an important contributor.
– Cocaine is performance enhancing
– The chances of my weakened maybe a little. Luca is man who is important to me. But there are not too many chances left for me, maybe two, says Kristoff.
– Do you still trust Paolini?
– We are still waiting for the case to find out what has happened, so I can not really comment on it yet. You’d better ask me when we know more. I want to know more how he’s got this in, says 27-year-old – and explains why:
– Cocaine is performance enhancing considering that you know the pain less. So if he has done in connection with the race, I have no confidence in him. If this is something he has taken the party, he needs the help of a lifestyle change. When there is a problem he has outside the sport in a way, says Kristoff.
28-year-old denies that he has any clause in the contract that allows him to leave the team now as one of teammates is taken for doping .
Expect that he gets fired
– No, I can not break the contract because of this, says Kristoff – who think team mate may be finished as a professional cyclist.
– I assume he gets fired if the B sample is positive. Then it will be up to the UCI and the team to calculate how long ban he will get. He starts to get a few years now, so it is perhaps time to thank for themselves if the ban is long enough.
He does not seem particularly keen to talk so much with the Italian team mate.
– Hitting I see him, so I talk with him.
– But you do not take the phone if he rings?
– I mean, he do not speak too good English, so we have not talked too much together, in that respect. But I have a good relationship with him, and we have worked well together here.
– I disappointed that he puts himself in this situation, it is most himself compromising, but it is clear – it goes beyond us teammates, says Kristoff.
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