Kopp positive for cocaine

Former Gerolsteiner and Cycle Collstrop rider David Kopp tested positive for cocaine last September in Belgium, the Bund Deutscher Radfahrer (BDR, German cycling federation) announced Thursday. Kopp declined to have the B-sample opened.

According to the BDR, Kopp tested positive on September 11 at a Belgian national race. The Belgian federation cannot sanction riders who do not have a Belgian license, and only one month ago sent the case to the UCI and the World Anti-Doping Agency. The UCI said that it would send the BDR the documents of the case by this weekend, according to the BDR's website.

Kopp, 30, turned pro with Team Telekom in 2001. He rode for Team Lamonta in 2004 and Wiesenhof in 2005, before joining Gerolsteiner in 2006 and 2007. Last year he was with the Belgian Continental Team Cycle Collstrop. Kopp did not have a contract for this season.

The use of cocaine during competition is illegal under sporting regulations, but not out of competition. Quick Step's Tom Boonen tested positive for cocaine last spring, but since it was an out-of-competition test, he was not officially sanctioned.

For a change, no rumour, with Kopp's positive surfacing several months after the race. The discussion keeps going on. (SW)