T-Mobile women's team not affected by additional anti-doping measures

By Bjorn Haake

T-Mobile had recently announced that it would continue to support the team until 2010, but with some additional measures taken in the fight against doping. Most of the riders agreed with those additional impacts, even the financial ones.

The women's team is not affected by that but as Team Manager Kristy Scrymgeour pointed out to Cyclingnews, "We would definitely support any decision made by the men's team and we'd be willing to participate in anything that would help the fight against doping."

The women on the team were encouraged to continue to focus on their racing and to stay motivated, while the doping drama had been going on lately. The approach was to let things happen. "We have basically just been waiting to see what would eventuate and hoping that T-Mobile would decide to continue to back the team."

Scrymgeour added that "We are lucky in women's cycling that doping cases are rare." She admitted that there were cases in the past, "but never many," and her point of view is "now the peloton is very clean, and I think and hope it will stay that way, especially if the whole push against doping continues in the sport and in sport in general."

The women's team manager was not exactly sure what would happen if another doping case would come about in the men's team. Christian Frommert, Communication Manager, had indicated that this might spell the end of the sponsorship. "It is one team and therefore it is quite likely that if another case of doping occurs then it would also be the end of the women's team."

But she was hopeful that this might not be the case and "We can only think positively and believe fully that there will not be another case of doping and that there will not be a reason for the team to discontinue."

Scrymgeour was hoping things would continue, but also praised Bob Stapleton's approach through tough times. "The program Bob has started to build is excellent. The goals and intentions of everyone involved are very promising for the sport and it would be sad to see such a program disappear."