| The first thing I thought of was defection, but after reading a little deeper into the story... it smells a little fishy. |
Following months of negotiations between the race organiser Dermot Dignam and what appeared to be a legitimate vice-president of the Iranian national cycling federation, visas were granted for five riders and four team officials to travel to the race, marking the first entry from the Middle Eastern country.
The first indication that something was amiss was when four of the group arrived a week earlier than scheduled. Mr Dignam arranged for them to check in early to the official pre-race accommodation venue but they did not show up. Two more from the group then flew into Dublin airport on Thursday but were refused entry to the country.
Mahdi Fathi, Mohammad Rastad, Amir Shakeri, Mobin Bagherzadegan and Mahmoud Talei had been entered as the riders for the race.
Mr Dignam believed he had been in negotiations with Ali Zangi Abadi, double bronze medallist in the 1982 Asian games and current vice-president of the Cycling Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, but it now seems that the person concerned was posing as the former international rider. "Following discussions with the Iranian embassy and immigration officials we immediately cancelled arrangements for the team's participation in the FBD Rás," said Mr Dignam yesterday, confirming that the squad was bogus.