So, doping only occurs in Cyling? I think not...... how long has there been testing in other arenas? Years? Why did they test if there weren't any drugs around? How about Finland's Lasse Viren's blood doping escapade more than fifty years ago? Why is that only fairly common news now?
Why is cycling in the spotlight yet again? I believe passionately that this is the ONLY sport that is making more positive moves than any other to stamp it out once and for all time! To do that it has to be in the Spotlight and very publicly at that.
You don't hear of other sports taking such strong and positive steps do you? Why not? It can't believe for one minute the drug taking doesn't happen. Do the suppliers of "dope" only supply cyclists? It's an industry.... and a bl$$dy big one at that. There are 1,000s $ £ € thrown at perfecting and developing stealth drugs.... just for cyclists? Do they get away with it.... moot point. Trouble is, sometimes they do......
I don't condone it for one moment.... but I heartily endorse the UCI's efforts to eradicate it. There are more people to be penalised for doping than just the athletes... can you administer a blood doping transfusion yourself? No, of course not. So, shouldn't they go after the doctors, soigneurs, masseurs? Swingeing penalties, life bans, struck off lists..... there are no end of things that can be done. Who enforces these? I'm not too certain. In France ANY form of drug abuse is energetically enforced by the Gendarmerie which is why it (TdF) receives so much publicity throughout the rest of the world by the media when something like this happens.
It would be so good if the rest of the sporting governing bodies took a leaf out of the TdF's book. Get their own house in order and stop hiding their own actions, bring it out in the open. I just hate hypocrisy with a passion.....