September 2010
The Contador thing now seems to be incredibly blown up, people are not paying attention to the fact that the amount that the test results detected is so minute.
from the UCI release: “The concentration found by the laboratory was estimated at 50 picograms (or 0,000 000 000 05 grams per ml) which is 400 time less than what the antidoping laboratories accredited by WADA must be able to detect.”
It is a known fact that Clenbuterol is a common ingredient in numerous vitamin supplements; Jessica Hardy's lawsuit against a supplement manufacturer is a great example of this, also see Iljo Keisse's case.
However, UCI does state that all riders are responsible for their own health and nutrition and minimal/trace amounts can lead to serious sanctions.
I'm personally not so sure that they are all doping. I think that cycling is a lot cleaner now than it was in the nineties and early 2000s. That being said, of course there are those who will try to win by any means necessary, and there are those who have a stronger moral fabric. The cynicism directed at cycling as a bunch of lycra wearing skinny boys taking steroids to climb hills in france is an outdated and unfortunately populist view of cycling, people forget that the doping scandals that have hurt cycling, take a turn for the better and affect all sports—more stringent drug testing for athletes in other sports—and a younger generation of riders who are loath to end up like Landis, Ulrich or worse: Pantani.
I won't really comment on LA's case, because it's just too silly. I'm not a fan, but I empathize with those affected by Cancer.
these videos are part of a lecture on doping and performance that dr. aldo sassi gave just recently at the new pathways conference in geelong, they are worth watching.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPtS9K0qT4U&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ1gyyEfUcs&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=an47x6P4a_c&feature=player_embedded
I’d contest the notion that people are not paying attention to the minute volume of substance found. Were that true, there would no case for Contador to try and answer and no discussion of the possibility of the UCI clearing him.
Additionally there are claims that traces of chemicals synonymous with blood-doping were also found in his Tour samples.
This is a little unwieldy but I’m posting it for the informative content (and because I like your blog). If anyone wants to respond to this, we - and I may have mentioned this before - have disqus comments at your disposal! :)
(co-mod Natalie)
The Contador test result and your reply about it reminded me of this clip from the 2008 documentary "Bigger Stronger Faster" (it's about performance-enhancing drug use in sports, and definitely worth watching IMO) where it shows Floyd Landis's altitude chamber. The whole Landis affair makes my head hurt, but still, it's worth asking why some performance-boosting methods are allowed and others not.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUYok77mMCk
Co-mod Sarah again. A lot of soccer players will train at altitude before matches played at altitude, which is also a form of doping. I don’t know why some are allowed and others not. Maybe my dad’s right when he said they should just allow everything and the cyclists must just suffer the consequences.
But if they all dope, doesn't it turn arbitrary with which ones are caught and which ones aren't? As something with a long-running love/hate relationship with Lance, I've been wondering, is it truly right to possibly send him to prison for something his opponents probably did too?
Co-mod Sarah here. And yes, it does turn arbitrary and the UCI have made it that way. It no longer matters who tests positive and who doesn’t. I like it because I like drama and when people get upset about doping, because I’m someone who enjoys schadenfreude, especially when it comes to cycling. As for Armstrong, he’ll get what’s coming to him. I’m a certified Armstrong hater and if they can prove he broke the law, he definitely should be punished. As should they all. But I don’t have faith that he will be punished, nor Contador, etc. Remember, the rules only apply to certain people.
That said, I wish there was a solution to make the peloton doping free, but until the cyclists themselves want to stop (which it’s clear they don’t), nothing will change. And it obviously hasn’t yet.
Are you as disheartened as I am with Contador's positive test?
This is co-mod Sarah here and I am absolutely not disheartened about Contador. In fact, I’m surprised that he hadn’t tested positive earlier. Co-mod Natalie may feel differently, but I subscribe to the belief that all cyclists dope. That belief allows me to enjoy the sport, because if they all dope, it’s back to being a level playing field. I know that most people don’t feel this way, but I decided I just can’t let it bother me anymore. And, besides, I like drama in my sports.
can you post more about women's cycling please?? men's is awesome, but doesn't exactly motivate me as much as seeing other women cyclists would. thanks!
Co-mod Sarah here. I was going to post some Giro Donne photos here, but it somehow got lost in the shuffle. I’ll do my best to get some women’s cycling pictures posted!
Hey!
Will you be posting photos of the UCI championships in Melbourne/Geelong on here? I'd love to see some since I live here but can't get to the races and there is very little media coverage of the event here in Melbourne because of domination of other sports at the same time. :(
Thanks!
I’m sure we’ll be posting stuff from the mens/womens/U23 races. That’s a shame about there being little coverage in Melbourne though :-/
(co-mod Natalie)
Thankyou :) i saw some guy with a saxobank logo riding around the other day
I'll definately see how much flights are
You’ll definitely get a good amount of tv coverage I’d have thought even if you can’t make it in person.
Judging by twitter, there have been a lot of them out and about on training rides already. It’d be pretty exciting to be there to get a feel of the atmosphere as well as see the top men and women in action.
If anyone is going feel free to take pictures and share them with us all here :D
(co-mod Natalie)
hi do you know what frank schleck is doing coming to aus?
im not much of a cycling wizz but watched the tdf and would be interested in seeing him if hes here for some sort of tour
thanks!
x
Frank is coming to Australia for the World Championships!
Right now there are rather a lot of the World’s top cyclists in your country. If you are anywhere near Geelong, you should definitely head along to see everyone and whole cycling circus in general :)
(co-mod Natalie)
