Adios Amigo!

Kirk O'Bee is out this time. Probably for good.

The Bissell Pro Cycling team issued a terse press release Friday noting that it had dismissed Kirk O’Bee for a contract breach that involved a violation of the team’s “zero-tolerance policy” regarding performance-enhancing drugs.

Short on specifics, the team’s statement referred to “actions (that) are an isolated incident that occurred independently and without the knowledge of both team management and his teammates.”

The team also noted that O’Bee is now cooperating with both the U.S. and World Anti-Doping Agencies to address an apparent doping violation.

O’Bee, too, issued a statement noting that he regrets “that a mistake I made as an individual will reflect poorly on the entire sport. I’d especially like to apologize to my teammates and to my sponsors, and hope that my actions will not damage their good names.”

If the case is pursued by USADA, O'Bee could face up to a life-time suspension for a second doping violation.

Kind of sad when half your Wiki Page is about your doping problem.

Kirk O'Bee (born April 9, 1977 in Ada, Michigan) is a professional road racing cyclist from the United States. O'Bee is a three-time United States national champion: in 1997, O'Bee captured the USPRO Championship in pursuit; followed in 2001 to become the USPRO Criterium Champion. In 2007, he again won the USPRO Criterium Championship in Downers Grove, IL, while finishing second overall in the race to Canadian Martin Gilbert. In 2002, Kirk O'Bee received a one-year suspension from professional cycling due to an elevated testosterone to epitestosterone ratio as a result of testing performed at the 2001 US Professional Cycling Championships. O'Bee declared that his positive drug test "resulted from a special training regimen recommended by his coach, which involved dietary supplements and exercise."
On July 31, 2009, O'Bee was fired by the Bissell Pro Cycling Team for an apparent doping violation

O'Bee is from the 616. His title sponsor, Bissell, is also here in my home town. I'd like to say he is a local hero. But you can't be a hero when you end your career like that.