As a former racing colleague of Mathias, news like this is not easy for me to swallow. Cases of doping are extremely unpleasant for our sport, as for every other sport, and I condemn the use of banned substances. But I also condemn the hasty punishment, because for the time being there are only the findings from the A sample. Mathias Flückiger's ban is therefore only provisional.

The B sample is decisive

If the B sample is negative, this would clear him of the doping accusations, but the damage is still done. It is standard practice in this country to publish the results of the A sample, as Swiss Cycling did in this case. For me, however, this borders on prejudgement, even if this is not the case. In Germany, for example, this is not done, also to protect the athletes concerned. Whether the B sample is opened is up to Mathias Flückiger. If he decides against further analysis, he would be admitting to an offense and accepting the resulting penalty. But Swiss Cycling should have at least waited for this decision. Because from all indications, he will not do so and will have the second sample tested.

The past has shown that after positive A samples, the B samples often also turn out positive. But that would be early enough to publish such findings. Until then, however, the presumption of innocence should apply to an athlete without premature publication. Unfortunately, once a positive A sample has been announced, public opinion has already been formed and the athlete has been labeled. Nowadays, the whole thing is usually accelerated by the unreflective loudmouths in the social media. If Flückiger's B sample turns out to be negative - which I wish for him, all those involved and the sport - then he will still never completely get rid of this disreputable image. The only reason for this de facto character assassination is unnecessarily early communication.