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Canadian pro cyclist Ryder Hesjedal publicly apologized on Wednesday after a soon-to-be-released book revealed that he was taught how to take a banned substance when he was a mountain bike racer in 2003. Rockies Jerseys China . "Cycling is my life and has been ever since I can remember," said Hesjedal in a statement issued by his management group Slipstream Sports. "I have loved and lived this sport but more than a decade ago, I chose the wrong path. And even though those mistakes happened more than 10 years ago, and they were short-lived, it does not change the fact that I made them and I have lived with that and been sorry for it ever since. To everyone in my life, inside and outside the sport - to those that have supported me and my dreams - including my friends, my family, the media, fans, my peers, sponsors - to riders who didnt make the same choices as me all those years ago, I sincerely apologize for my part in the dark past of the sport. I will always be sorry." Danish newspaper Politiken published an excerpt from former cyclist Michael Rasmussens autobiography Yellow Fever on Wednesday, which said that Rasmussen taught Hesjedal - among other Canadian cyclists - how to take Erythropoietin. The excerpt did not say whether Rasmussen ever saw Hesjedal or any other Canadian cyclist actually take EPO or any other banned substance, or whether they ever used these substances at any time in their career. "It soon became evident that the three Canadian mountain bikers Seamus McGrath, Chris Sheppard and Ryder Hesjedal, had seen the light: A good result in the World Cup (2003) would send them to the Olympics in Athens in 2004," read the books excerpt from Politiken. "They moved into my basement in August, before I went to the Vuelta a Espana, and after I had ridden the Championship of Zurich. They stayed for a fortnight. I trained with them in the Dolomites and taught them how to do vitamin injections and how to take EPO and Synacthen." EPO is a naturally-produced hormone released from the kidneys and acts on the bone marrow to stimulate red blood cell production. The increase in red blood cells improves the amount of oxygen that the blood can carry to the bodys muscles. Hesjedal added that he was contacted by anti-doping authorities over a year ago and was "open and honest" about what happened in his past. "Although I stopped what I was doing many years before I joined Slipstream Sports, I was and am deeply grateful to be a part of an organization that makes racing clean its first priority and that supports athletes for telling the truth," he said in his statement. "I believe that being truthful will help the sport continue to move forward, and over a year ago when I was contacted by anti-doping authorities, I was open and honest about my past. I have seen the best and the worst of the sport and I believe that it is now in the best place its ever been. I look at young riders on our team and throughout the peloton, and I know the future of the sport has arrived. Im glad that they didnt have to make the same choices I did, and I will do everything I can to continue to help the sport that I love." Hesjedal made the move to stage racing in 2005 and won the Giro dItalia in 2012, becoming the first Canadian to win a Grand Tour race. The victory also earned him the Lionel Conacher Award as Canadas male athlete of the year. Rasmussen has admitted to using performance enhancing drugs through his professional career. The Danish rider said in his own media conference last January that he doped from 1998 through 2010 and was served with a two-year ban by Anti-Doping Denmark. Cycling Canada released its own statement on Hesjedals apology later on Wednesday. "Like many Canadian cycling fans, we were shocked and saddened to learn that Ryder Hesjedal was involved in doping over a decade ago. To his credit, he has been open and honest with the anti-doping authorities that investigate such matters in a confidential fashion as we learned today through his statement and the subsequent statement of Travis Tygart, CEO of USADA. "We continue to urge any athletes that have information about doping in the sport to come forward to the CCES to help with the ongoing fight against doping." Cheap Rockies Jerseys . -- Kurt Buschs Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, in some ways, was like his career wrapped into one afternoon. Colorado Rockies Pro Shop . 8 Sergio Parisse for its penultimate Six Nations match against Ireland at Lansdowne Road. https://www.cheaprockiesjerseys.us/ . In a pregame tribute commemorating his final contest at Coors Field on Wednesday night, Helton caught the ceremonial first pitch from his daughter with his wife, younger daughter and good friend Peyton Manning watching from the field.CALGARY - The CFLs marquee player gave the Calgary Stampeders a real scare in their 29-8 win over the Montreal Alouettes to open the season Saturday. Jon Cornish lay face down on the field in the fourth quarter after the Stampeders running back took a high, hard hit on the run from Alouettes linebacker Kyries Hebert. It looked grim for the CFLs leading rusher and most outstanding player in 2013 when an ambulance was summoned onto the field. But an immediate trip to the hospital wasnt required as the 29-year-old from New Westminster, B.C., got up and walked to the clubhouse accompanied by medical staff. "I was knocked out," Cornish said following the game. "Im going to have to go through concussion protocol 100 per cent. "Youd expect me to feel a little bit worse, but Im pretty good. I can remember what happened before and immediately after." What happened a few minutes before that play was Cornish running for an 18-yard touchdown off a direct snap to pad Calgarys lead to 26-1. The Stampeders posted the CFLs best record last season at 14-4 and were quick out of the gates to start 2014. An opening-day starter for the first time in his CFL career, quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell was efficient throwing for 313 yards, a pair of touchdowns and zero interceptions. The Texan completed 16 of 25 passes. He threw out of Calgarys end zone to Maurice Price for a 102-touchdown pass in the opening quarter and tossed to Anthony Parker for another major in the fourth. Rene Paredes kicked a pair of field goals and punter Rob Maver contributed two punt singles in front of announced attendance of 26,135 at McMahon Stadium. Cornish had 67 yards on 14 carries before leaving the game. "I thought we played very physical on both sides of the football and special teams, we played fast," Stampeder coach and general manager John Hufnagel said. "I think we took a first right step going in the direction we want to go. A lot of work to be done though." Montreal, 8-10 last season, have large wrinkles to iron out on both sides of the football. Troy Smiths season debut for the Alouettes marked the first time since 1999 a quarterback other than Anthony Calvillo was Montreals opening-day starter. The CFLs all-time passing leader retired in January after 16 seasons with the Alouettes. Smith, a former Heisman Trophy winner with Ohio State, completed 17 of 40 passes for 127 yards. He was sacked four times and intercepted once. Sean Whytes punt single was Montreals only point until fullback Steven Lumbala dove for a one-yard major on the final play of the game. A gaffe by Montreals secondary left Price open for his touchdown as the Als had two defenders on Calgary receiver Jeff Fuller. "I dont feel good at all," Smith said. "Theres a whole different feel when you leave the field after a weeks work of preparation and nothing works. "You definitely have to look yourself in the mirror and you have to understand that things arent going to go the exact ideal way that you want them to all the time. Custom Colorado Rockies Jerseys. "Youve got to go back to the drawing board and accept the Calgary Stampeders played a great game today. They game-planned and they paid also, and they made plays." Former NFL star receiver Chad Johnson had two catches for 20 yards in his CFL debut. "Ive got a long way to go, man," Johnson said. "With this being my first time experiencing a real live game with the bullets flying, the level of competition is really not that far off from the NFL and the speed of the game is equivalent." Hebert was slapped with a major foul and ejected for his hit on Cornish. Calgary parlayed Montreals 25-yard penalty into another touchdown as Mitchell threw to Parker in the end zone. Cornish says hes yet to be diagnosed with a concussion in his career. The leagues top rusher the past two seasons said he bore Hebert no ill-will. "I dont really blame him," Cornish said. "I got a pretty good cut block on him earlier in the game, so thats how it goes sometimes." Hufnagel had said it was a "photo finish" between Mitchell and Drew Tate in choosing a first-day starting quarterback. Mitchell cleaned up his game considerably Saturday after a pre-season loss to the Lions a week earlier, when he completed half his pass attempts and was intercepted twice. The quarterback checked off the boxes of throwing touchdowns, moving the offence and not allowing any interceptions Saturday. "Im still not going to check the box of going out and doing exactly what I wanted to do and thats just making sure were executing on everything we can," Mitchell said. "A couple plays early on I can myself clean up. "I felt like there was a quarter where we didnt move the ball very well. I felt like I played good, but its easy when your receivers are making those kind of plays and your O-line is giving you time." Paredes, winner of the CFLs special-teams player award last season, booted field goals from 25 and 38 yards in the game. Maver kicked punt singles of 78 and 88 yards. Whyte was wide on a 39-yard attempt midway through the first quarter. Calgarys defence held the Als under 100 offensive yards in the first half when Charleston Hughes, Corey Mace and DeQuin Evans each recorded sacks and Hughes knocked down a pass. Juwan Simpson also sacked Smith later in the game. Cornerback Fred Bennett would have collected two interceptions in the half had his second not been negated by Deron Mayos horse-collar tackle on Smith. The Stampeders head immediately into their bye week. Their next game is in Toronto against the Argonauts on July 12. The Als host the B.C. Lions on Friday. With the Blue Bombers moving to the West Division, Montreal wont face an East Division rival until Aug. 1. ' ' '