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Yomiuri Shimbun
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Tour De France Confronts a New Threat: Are Cyclists Using Tiny Motors?
MUR-DE-BRETAGNE, France – After the world's best cyclists charged up the final climb in Stage 7 of the Tour de France, passing a roaring crowd at the finish line, a group of officials in black polo shirts darted toward their bikes. The officials put red bracelets on the carbon frames. Their job was to conduct a little-known check in one of the world's most scandal-stained sports: The bikes were being inspected for tiny motors. Eight bikes were wheeled to a black tent a few feet from the podium, the handlebar tape still wet with riders' sweat. One belonged to the winner of the stage, Tadej Pogacar. The other bikes belonged to riders who cycling officials had targeted based on questionable performances or tips. Twenty years after a doping scandal upended the sport, professional cycling is pursuing dual challenges of keeping the world's most famous cycling race honest and convincing a skeptical audience of the Tour's legitimacy. That's why Nicholas Raudenski, a former U.S. Homeland Security investigator, was standing next to the finish line as officials escorted the bikes to an X-ray machine. Raudenski was hired last year as the head of the global cycling federation's unit against technological fraud, a form of cheating known colloquially as 'mechanical doping.' If he caught anyone, it would send a shock through a sport in which athletes routinely do the superhuman. What if the reason cyclists were able to glide up the Pyrenees mountains was because they weren't pedaling unassisted? Raudenski knew that only one professional cyclist had been caught competing with a hidden motor – a Belgian rider at the 2016 cyclo-cross world championships under-23 race. But the technology had improved dramatically since then. If he wasn't vigilant, Raudenski believed, the Tour could be consumed by riders propelled by tiny motors. The cycling federation, known by its name in French, Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), was also trying to send a message to its fans. Many had followed the growing online discourse suggesting that cycling was once again turning a blind eye to cheaters. Fans posted videos about how easy it had become to sneak miniature motors into bike frames; they analyzed race footage which allegedly showed superhuman performances; they quoted former cyclists who swore the sport was still corrupt. 'If people are watching the Tour at home, or they're out here braving the heat, they need to be confident that what they see is legitimate, that it's credible,' said Raudenski. 'Without controls, it turns into a circus. … It turns in to motorized bike races.' Some fans have found an additional reason for skepticism in the performance of Tadej Pogacar, the Slovenian cyclist who, at 26, is competing for his fourth Tour de France victory. By some measures, he is a stronger rider than even Lance Armstrong during his drug-aided peak. Armstrong, who now has a popular podcast, perhaps unhelpfully called Pogacar the greatest cyclist of all time and said he's glad they never raced head-to-head. Pogacar has repeatedly denied both mechanical and conventional doping allegations, calling cycling 'a victim of its past.' 'There was no trust, and it was up to us, the cyclists, to regain the trust. But there's nothing we can do,' he said at a news conference last year. In another sport, the rise of a generational talent might prompt an outpouring of admiration and a renewed interest in top competitions, like what Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps did for their disciplines. But the shadow of the doping scandals of the late 1990s and early 2000s, in which Armstrong and other top riders were retroactively found to be taking performance enhancing drugs, continues to undermine the sport. 'When someone is that good, that much better than everyone else, it's not surprising that people ask the same questions that they were asking a generation ago,' said Brian Cookson, the former head of the global cycling federation. The way the sport drug tests its athletes has changed. Cycling now spends far more money on anti-doping programs than any other sport and its tests have become more sensitive. Athletes present daily whereabouts to authorities during the offseason, so they can be available for unscheduled drug tests. The kind of 'blood doping' that Armstrong utilized, which was difficult to detect in the early 2000s, is now easily flagged. 'There's been a clear shift in the way that doping has been tackled in the sport,' said Olivier Banuls, the head of testing at the International Testing Agency, which runs the anti-doping program for professional cycling. Relatively few well-known professional cyclists have tested positive for drugs in the last decade, which Banuls says is proof of a strong testing regime and a changed culture. But some fans of the sport saw in that void the likelihood of foul play. And then, amid conventional doping suspicions, rumors about small motors emerged. The threats were concerning enough the French prosecutor's office took up the case. Cycling officials saw another existential threat to the sport, potentially more corrosive than drugs. As electronic bikes – with motors that provide up to 1,000 watts of power – have become available for recreational cyclists, hobbyists began building lighter road bikes with more discreet motors. Some of those are about 50 watts, hidden near the rear hub. It's theoretically enough power to change the conclusion of a race. There's no proof that professional cyclists are using those systems (the French prosecutor dropped its case), but rumors have surfaced enough to encourage skepticism. In 2021, the Swiss newspaper Le Temps reported that three riders claimed they heard 'strange noises' coming from the rear wheels of their competitors in the Tour de France. A Hungarian engineer said he had been commissioned to make bikes with hidden motors as far back as 1998 to be used by professionals. No cyclists were formally linked to those allegations. Raudenski's unit is trying to close gaps that would have allowed cyclists to avoid detection. During the Tour de France, bikes are now taken directly to be tested instead of returning first to team mechanics, as they once were. The bikes in question are weighed and then scanned with a handheld X-ray machine and tested with a magnetometer. In some cases, the bikes are almost completely disassembled. UCI announced last year that they would pay informants and whistleblowers who have information about mechanical doping. Raudenski wouldn't disclose what information those informants have offered, but said, 'We have people reaching out all the time.' After leaving the U.S. government, Raudenski worked as an internal investigator at FIFA, the world soccer association, where he looked into match fixing and corruption. He's aware that his work is both about catching possible cheaters – 'I ask myself, 'If I wanted to use a motor at a race, how I would do it?'' – as well as signaling to cycling fans that the sport has regained its integrity. The day before the Mur-de-Bretagne finish, Raudenski's unit inspected a bike that belonged to the Tudor Pro team. That team's coach, Sebastian Deckert, said he too was frustrated by the distrust still attached to cycling. He said he didn't understand the mechanics of inserting a motor into a bike frame, but was supportive of officials testing one of his riders' bikes. 'Anything that is possible to prevent cheating should be done,' he said.
GMA Network
09-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
US Homeland Security ends shoes-off policy in airports
NEW YORK —The US Department of Homeland Security has officially ended the "Shoes-Off" policy that was implemented after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that the policy aims to improve the travel experience and reduce wait times at security checkpoints. 'Ending the 'Shoes-Off' policy is the latest step by the Department of Homeland Security to modernize and enhance the travel experience at airports nationwide,' she said. New technologies and a multi-layered security approach will be implemented to ensure the safety of all airports in the United States. 'We expect this will help speed up the process at TSA checkpoints, resulting in a smoother and more efficient travel experience. As always, security remains our top priority. With advanced technology and a multi-layered security system, we are confident this change can be implemented while maintaining the highest safety standards. This is one of many initiatives being advanced by the Trump administration to realize the President's vision for a New Golden Age of Travel in America,' said Noem. Although shoe removal is no longer required, other parts of the TSA security process will remain in place, such as identity verification, Secure Flight vetting, and other essential steps. The end of the 'Shoes-Off' policy is part of a broader series of changes implemented by DHS under the Trump administration. On July 2, the TSA launched the 'Serve with Honor, Travel with Ease' program, offering benefits to uniformed service members and their families—including discounts on TSA PreCheck enrollment and access to expedited lanes at select airports. In May, TSA also began enforcing the REAL ID requirement at airport checkpoints, achieving a 94 percent compliance rate—significantly contributing to a faster and more secure screening process.—AOL, GMA Integrated News
Los Angeles Times
03-07-2025
- Los Angeles Times
Man found with fake U.S. Marshals jacket killed by sheriff's deputies
A man who was recently arrested for impersonating a U.S. Marshal and found carrying a fake badge, gun and zip ties is dead after he was shot by San Luis Obispo County sheriff's deputies while holding a pellet gun, officials said. Just before midnight on Tuesday, a woman in San Luis Obispo County called 911 because a man she knew was near her home. The woman said this man had a history of violent behavior and had access to weapons. The man was Andrew Biscay of Chowchilla, authorities announced in a news release. Biscay, 40, had recently been arrested by sheriff's deputies in Madera County on several felony and misdemeanor charges. In a news release, the department said he fought deputies who responded to a family disturbance call on June 20 and discovered he had warrants and tried to take him into custody. After his arrest, Madera County sheriff's deputies found several unusual items in his vehicle, including a jacket with the words 'U.S. Marshal Deputy' in crude lettering on the back and several insignias attached to the clothing. Biscay also had a self-made baton, self-manufactured firearm, ammunition, zip ties and an emergency light for his vehicle, according to the Sheriff's Office. Madera County asked residents to come forward if they ever encountered Biscay while he was impersonating a police officer. But then deputies in San Luis Obispo County encountered him on Tuesday. According to a news release, sheriff's deputies arrived just after midnight and spoke to the woman who reported seeing a man she knew with a violent past near her home. More deputies arrived in the area and found Biscay in his vehicle. Officials say Biscay got out of his vehicle, took a shooting stance and aimed a handgun at the deputies, who opened fire after he walked toward them and refused to drop the gun. After he was shot, deputies found a Beretta PX4 Storm semi-automatic pellet gun, which is a replica of a .40 caliber handgun, near his body, according to authorities. The Sheriff's Office released an image from a deputy's cruiser dashcam that shows Biscay standing next to his vehicle and pointing a weapon. The shooting comes amid heightened fears across California that people may be disguising themselves as federal law enforcement and interacting with the public while legitimate operations are underway elsewhere. On June 24, Huntington Park police arrested Fernando Diaz, 23, on a bench warrant then discovered items inside his vehicle that led them to believe he may have been impersonating a U.S. Border Patrol agent. His Dodge Durango was modified with red-and-blue visor lights, and inside the vehicle were more than a dozen U.S. Homeland Security notices from 2022 to 'detain, remove or present alien,' according to city officials. Officers also found multiple phones, mounted radios similar to what law enforcement uses and a gun, officials said. Diaz was taken into custody on an outstanding bench warrant related to a DUI case and, but he was released on $5,000 bail. Times staff writer Ruben Vives contributed to this report.
Straits Times
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Trump administration to end deportation relief for Haitian migrants
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem looks on during a press conference after Colombian migrants board a deportation flight bound for Medellin, Colombia, at Albrook Gelabert Airport in Panama City, Panama June 24, 2025. REUTERS/Enea Lebrun/File photo WASHINGTON - U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will end deportation protections for half a million Haitians, the latest move by the Trump administration to strip migrants of legal status as it ramps up deportations. Noem, who shortened the duration of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for some 521,000 Haitians earlier this year, will terminate the status on September 2, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said. President Donald Trump, a Republican, has sought to crack down on both legal and illegal immigration during the first four months of his presidency. Noem, who shares Trump's hardline stance, moved in February to end TPS for some 350,000 Venezuelans, as well as thousands of people from Afghanistan and Cameroon. The Supreme Court ruled on May 19 that the Trump administration could proceed with ending TPS for those Venezuelans, signaling that other terminations also may be permitted to move forward. The court in a separate order on May 30 said that the administration could immediately revoke a separate status known as parole for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans. TPS - a humanitarian program created by the U.S. Congress in 1990 - is available to people whose home country has experienced a natural disaster, armed conflict or other extraordinary event. Two months before the status expires, the homeland security secretary must determine whether to renew it, expand it to include new arrivals from the country, or terminate it. Trump sought to wipe out most TPS enrolment during his first term but was stymied by federal courts. In a statement, a DHS spokesperson said conditions in Haiti would now allow people to return but did not explain what exactly had changed to lessen the risk. 'The environmental situation in Haiti has improved enough that it is safe for Haitian citizens to return home," the spokesperson said. Advocates argue that the conditions in Haiti warrant extending the relief. The country has not held elections since 2016 and capital city Port-au-Prince is almost entirely controlled by armed gangs. Despite the dire conditions, the Trump administration has frozen some funding earlier pledged to support a U.N.-backed mission in Haiti. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Glendale ends ICE contract, will no longer hold detainees
Amid rising tensions over immigration raids in the Los Angeles area, the city of Glendale announced Sunday night it has ended its agreement with the federal government to house detainees captured by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 'After careful consideration, the City of Glendale has decided to end its agreement with U.S. Homeland Security/ICE to house federal immigration detainees,' the city said in a statement posted online. 'This local decision reflects our core values: public safety, transparency, and community trust.' The decision came after The Times reported that Glendale had continued its 2007 ICE contract and agreed to house detainees at its city jail despite California passing SB 54, known as the California Values Act, which prohibited local and state municipalities from using funds for federal immigration enforcement purposes, including the use of jail facilities. The landmark law made California the first sanctuary state in the nation. Other municipalities terminated their contracts after then-Gov. Jerry Brown signed SB 54. But Glendale's then-Police Chief Robert Castro, who opposed the law, did not. At the time, the city manager warned against nixing the contract in a bid to maintain a good relationship with federal authorities. Read more: Immigration raids roil L.A., dozens of people detained. What we know so far In its statement Sunday, the city maintained that its agreement remained in compliance with state law. "Nevertheless, despite the transparency and safeguards the City has upheld, the City recognizes that public perception of the ICE contract — no matter how limited or carefully managed, no matter the good — has become divisive," the city said. The city said ending the contract would make it difficult for some families to visit those being detained by ICE. Sarah Houston, an immigration lawyer at the Immigrant Defenders Law Center, raised the issue at a city council meeting last week after learning that a client who was held in Glendale had been without food for nine hours and was due to be transferred to multiple facilities. She questioned why Glendale was adhering to a decades-old agreement that runs afoul of SB 54, while city council officials defended the decision. 'After the horrific raids and violations this weekend, it is all the more important that our local communities stand together to protect our immigrant brothers and sisters as intended in the California Values Act,' she said after the city's announcement. Glendale has held at least 82 individuals for ICE since January, according to Andrés Kwon, a senior policy counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California. 'With a population that is more than 50% immigrant, the city of Glendale should be a beacon for immigrants' rights,' Kwon said. 'As we've witnessed masked ICE and federal agents abducting Angelenos, locking up entire families in basements, and separating families — how could the city of Glendale ensure that the Angelenos it held for ICE weren't unconstitutionally detained?' Amigos Unidos for Immigrant Justice, an immigrant rights advocacy group in Glendale, said in a statement that ending the contract is the "right step toward rebuilding trust" in the city. "As we move forward, Glendale is our home, our community, and our responsibility. We believe deeply in protecting what makes Glendale strong: a commitment to fairness, compassion, and civic integrity," the group said. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
