Lance doping/not doping.
It has been said that all the top finishers in cycling are doping. That may be but it begs the question that if they are then they're all competing on an equal footing and by definition are therefore not cheating. It could be further argued that taking the juice doesn't make them racehorses without doing the work therefore those doping are even more motivated than the rest.
The truth is that whilst doping may be rife we don't actually know who is doing it. Has Lance doped? Well if he had I am inclined to believe that the samples every one refers to would have been hauled out regardless - Lances name would have been total mud. The samples have been alluded to but never used. This is simply not credible if they are Lances and if they are +ve. There must be room for singificant doubt about these samples or he would have been given a very hard time. Is there achance that they are Lances and that they are positive - yeah I guess so but there must also be a view that either due process wasn't followed to the extent that there is a strong likelihood thta they could have been tampered with or that the results could be refuted that the sample results are not credible. Do you ruin someones career for this.
The value of the samples for those who have a bone to pick with Lance have been utilised anyway. The question "Do you beat your wife?" has been asked of Lance and like everyone else who's asked that question his answer damns him both ways.
I have no idea what Lance is like an whether he dopes. He's probably not a very nice person. His focus is so intense on what he does that I suspect he is pretty selfish. He is however an outstanding and exceptional individual and is inspirational for many. There is no formal proof that he is guilty of doping. He does good work for charity. He is helping to make the sport exciting. The American riders have helped to make cycling a great sport and race its profile.
I beelive that until a person is tried in court and found guilty they are innocent. Everything else is hearsay and rumour. The most destructive, valueless and foul forces that one can encounter in modern society.
I hope Lance does well. If he could win an 8th TdF that would be great. if he finishes highly placed that impressive also. If he's found doping and its proved beyond reasonable doubt then he should take his medicine like everyone else. I will be equally happy to see Cadel come out as a winner or Dave Millar or Sastre or Contador or Lepheimer or or or. I want to see great racing.
As for all the other riders. People come out with statements that x or y is clean. if Kohl is right none of them are clean. Why don't the same people start rumours ab out Evans or Sastre or Lepheimer or Menchov or others. Is Dave Millar Clean? I hope so but we can't be sure. Its all very well for Lemond ot cliam to be clean. We'll never know. As for Mercx who the heck knows. I suspect they were no cleaner than the rest either.
Personally I intend to enjoy the sport at the level I see it which is what are the riders doing on the day. History, rumour and all the rest well gee thats b*ll.
