News: November 21, 2007

From USADA on Nov.20:

"The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced today that Jared Bunde of Brooklyn, New York, an athlete in the sport of cycling, accepted a twoyear suspension after testing positive for a prohibited substance.

"Bunde, 31, tested positive for clomiphene July 28, 2007 at the Point Premium Root Beer International Cycling Classic. Clomiphene is classified as an anti-estrogenic substance and is prohibited under the rules of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the international federation for the sport of cycling, and USADA, both of which adopted the World Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti- Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List.

"Bunde’s two-year period of ineligibility commenced October 15, 2007, the date he accepted a provisional suspension. Additionally, his competitive results obtained on and subsequent to July 28, 2007 are disqualified and Bunde forfeits any medals, points and prizes. USA Cycling, the national governing body for the sport in the United States, will carry out the sanction."

The team's manager, John Issendorf, released the following statement:

"With regard to the USADA news release of 11/20/07 concerning Jared Bunde; It would appear that Jared did not knowingly use the banned substance (Clomiphene), but rather it was an unlisted ingredient in a sports supplement.

"However, the USADA code states "The use of vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids and other dietary supplements is completely at the athlete's own risk of committing a doping violation." In view of this, and Jared's knowledge of the G.S. Mengoni USA Team Policy of Zero Tolerance for violations of the USADA anti doping rules, Jared had asked to be removed from the G.S. Mengoni USA roster prior to the above referenced USADA news release. His request has been granted.

"Jared plans on using this experience to teach the younger riders how to avoid the same pitfall he experienced. The knowledge that the US FDA does not verify over-the-counter dietary supplements has to be brought to the younger riders' attention. In fact, the USADA reference to supplements states the following: `There is evidence that some products may not contain the ingredients listed on the label in the stated amount, may not contain the ingredients at all, or may be contaminated or adulterated with other prohibited substances not listed on the label´"

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