Los Angeles, Calif. (March 1, 2008) – Rock Racing today announced Scott Analytics, Inc. as the team’s anti-doping partner. The team will participate in the company’s new Athlete Passport Program, a testing methodology that ensures athletes are in compliance with anti-doping regulations by monitoring biological markers in urine and blood.
“Rock Racing is proud to partner with Scott Analytics in our commitment to change this sport for the better,” said Team Owner Michael Ball. “The Athlete Passport Program will ensure the integrity of our team and reinforce our position that all of our riders should be eligible to race.”
Similar in scope to the UCI Passport Program, the Athlete Passport Program consists of approximately twelve blood collections per rider per year, monitoring biological markers indicative of possible blood doping, and approximately four urine and serum collections per rider per year, monitoring biological markers indicative of anabolic or hormone doping.
The program was developed by respected anti-doping researcher and Scott Analytics Founder and President, Paul Scott, who also served as Director of Clients at the UCLA Olympic Analytical Laboratory and Chief Scientific Officer and Chief Operating Officer of the Agency for Cycling Ethics, Inc.
“We are thrilled to have Rock Racing on board at the launch of our program,” Scott said. “Rock Racing and Team Owner Michael Ball are serious about the ethical conduct of their riders and we are proud to support the team’s commitment to fairness.”
The implementation of Rock Racing’s testing program follows the conclusion of the 2008 Amgen Tour of California where three of the team’s riders – American Tyler Hamilton, Colombian Santiago Botero and Spaniard Oscar Sevilla – were barred from competition in a controversial decision by race organizer, AEG, citing open doping investigations as the basis. All three had previously received clearance from their respective national federations confirming they were not the subject of any current investigations and were free and clear to race.
2 comments:
EXCERPTS FROM PINOT AFFIDAVIT - MARKUS KLINKO VS ROCK & REPUBLIC / MICHAEL BALL
2. I write this affidavit to explain what I believe are clear motivations of defendant Michael Ball leading up to the claims made in this lawsuit.
Based upon my personal knowledge of Fernanda and Michael Ball, I am convinced that Michael Ball’s improper motivations caused the situation that Markus Klinko and his company are facing now. I firmly believe that the entire soap opera that was and is the relationship between Michael Ball and Fernanda directly lead to, contributed to and was the motivation behind the threats allegedly made by Mr. Ball against Markus Klinko and his company.
5. First and foremost, the sexually explicit photos that are in question in this lawsuit, were indeed shown to Michael Ball by Fernanda. I specifically recall Fernanda telling me that she showed them to Michael Ball, and that she was the one that let him see them.
Fernanda’s marriage to Kent Ross is common knowledge among all of our friends and associates. What is also common knowledge is that their marriage was arranged by Michael Ball for the sole purpose of gaining U.S. citizenship for Fernanda. No one doubts this as Fernanda made that very clear. In fact, Fernanda has never really lived with her “husband”. Fernanda told me about Michael Ball’s help and his introduction to Kent Ross. Fernanda also explained to me how Kent Ross was even paid to marry her.
This information is likely something that Michael Ball would not want disclosed to anyone - let alone to plaintiff Markus Klinko, who was living with Fernanda and was in a very close, intimate relationship with her for all of 2006. I know that Fernanda would eventually tell Markus Klinko everything about her relationship with Michael Ball. Fernanda also had a violent and turbulent relationship with Michael Ball, leading to a police involvement that I personally witnessed (described below); something that Mr. Ball would likely not want to be disclosed either.
10. I have also become aware that Michael Ball did not know of Fernanda’s close relationship with Markus Klinko until after the Rock & Republic photo shoot with Mr. Klinko. With my knowledge of Mr. Ball, it is very likely that such a disclosure evoked a powerful motivation to keep both his violent history with Fernanda and complicity in her immigration status a secret.
11. I have witnessed Michael Ball’s frightening, violent and jealous behavior firsthand, along with Fernanda and two other friends. In this particular incident in June 2003, not only did Michael Ball physically assault two of my male friends and follow us in a horrific car chase through Santa Monica, Hollywood and Los Angeles, but when he caught up to us, he pulled Fernanda by the hair from our car and kicked her in a jealous rage. In this incident, police were called two times before they arrested him and lead him away in handcuffs.
22. I remained friends with Fernanda after that horrible night, right up until recently. Despite my total fear and repulsion for Michael Ball, she continued her “relationship” with him, however strange. At a certain point, especially after the incidents leading up to this lawsuit, I could handle it no more.
23. I firmly believe, and respectfully submit, that such a horrific past clearly is a motivation for Michael Ball to attempt to silence Markus Klinko - and anyone who gets in his way.
TMZ obtained the lawsuit, filed August 17 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, that claims in November of 2006, Nicole Baros interviewed with Ball to be his personal assistant. During the five-minute interview, Baros alleges Ball asked her if she “had a boyfriend.” The lawsuit claims that during her first month of employment, Ball made unwanted sexual advances towards her, such as “touching her hair, and continually staring at Baros’ breasts and butt,” and one point told her he wanted to “sleep with her.”
The lawsuit also alleges at the company Christmas party Ball “cornered Baros in a room and attempted to kiss her … then proceeded to stick his hand down plaintiff’s pants.” Later that month, she says she went to Ball’s home to have him sign company checks and he answered the door in his underwear. She then says he chased her “around his apartment, grabbed her and threw her on his bed.”
In the end, Baros claims she was not selected to go to Fashion Week in New York City, and was “let go and was told that there was not enough work for her.”
Rock and Republic clothing has adorned the backsides of celebrities like Carmen Electra, Kate Winslet and Avril Lavigne.
A rep for the fashion line did not return our call for comment.
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