Anti-Doping: Local action...?

On Jul 26, 4:08 pm, gplama <gplama.2ub...@no-

mx.forums.cyclingforums.com said:

sorry guys, another doping related thread. i've posted this in a few
places as i'm very interested in what people might be able to add to
this. mikeyoz and daveb - you guys might be able to shed light on the
controls in place for tri's?

I'd like to see an announcement from Cycling Australia and/or local
cycling bodies in regard to their anti-doping stance and actions. The
heart of the sport has been ripped out and kicked all over the place in
the last few days, and there seems to be no let up in sight.

Less melodrama, Llama, it's not that bad. 'The heart of the sport
ripped out'? come on ... we're all still watching it, and we're still
competing in our local races.

Quoted message said:

I understand testing is expensive, but IMO it would be a good show of
strength for them to publicly tackle the issue at all levels - grass
roots to elite. The CA anti-doping policy appears to be thorougher and
relevant. However, producing policy is only the tip of the iceberg.

Are there random tests of open event winners? Local crit/track/combine
place getters? Every winner of a club championship event? (I can claim
the last one at least! Smile )

There is testing, Rob Wilson was done in an out of competition test in
'04 and caught using EPO. In addition, ASADA is quite active.

http://www.asada.gov.au/

Quoted message said:

For the recently announced Timbercorp Cup, CSV have quoted "Total prize
money will be $122,000 and the series will have an $850,000 budget." .
Excellent dollars indeed, but how much of that is being put towards
anti-doping controls? Would releasing that information potentially
discourage international riders or maybe some locals from entering? I'd
hope that would only encourage them to enter.

While it is great to see corporations and local governments getting
behind our sport, failing to act/discuss/stamp out the number one issue
that keeps kicking its reputation may cost them in other ways further
down the track.

Don't mistake this rant as me being overly critical of CA, CSV, or
other cycling bodies. I'm breath tested and drug tested while driving,
why have I never been tested or known of anyone being tested while
racing?

Because you're not good enough. Once you start to win state titles at
elite levels, you'll start getting tested.

On Jul 26, 4:08 pm, gplama <gplama.2ub...@no-

mx.forums.cyclingforums.com said:

I'd like to see an announcement from Cycling Australia and/or local
cycling bodies in regard to their anti-doping stance and actions. The
heart of the sport has been ripped out and kicked all over the place in
the last few days, and there seems to be no let up in sight.

Listening to Radio National this morning, there was a remark that they
hoped the cycling community put as much energy into these problems as
we put into hassling the ABC to cover cycling. That was an ominous
note. I sure hope the ABC is not hinting at pulling out of tour
coverage (heck, they love the scandal as much as any media hound,
don't they?). So good onyer GPL, I agree with you.

donga

Bleve said:

Less melodrama, Llama, it's not that bad. 'The heart of the sport
ripped out'? come on ... we're all still watching it, and we're still
competing in our local races.

We're not watching the important bits if SBS has anything to do with it, Cadel finishing last night? argh! heh. ok, so the sport may still have a heart, but someone killed our pet chicken!

Bleve said:

There is testing, Rob Wilson was done in an out of competition test in
'04 and caught using EPO. In addition, ASADA is quite active.

Excellent.

Bleve said:

Quoted message said:

Don't mistake this rant as me being overly critical of CA, CSV, or
other cycling bodies. I'm breath tested and drug tested while driving,
why have I never been tested or known of anyone being tested while
racing?

Because you're not good enough. Once you start to win state titles at
elite levels, you'll start getting tested.

Yep, but that doesn't put a stop to people using banned substances to enhance the training effect to reach those levels. A long shot to then become clean and still perform at that elevated level, but I smell a chicken when it comes to that tactic.

ok, enough chicken references.. I'm hungry! 🙂

On Jul 26, 4:54 pm, gplama <gplama.2ub...@no-

mx.forums.cyclingforums.com said:

Bleve said:

Less melodrama, Llama, it's not that bad. 'The heart of the sport
ripped out'? come on ... we're all still watching it, and we're still
competing in our local races.

We're not watching the important bits if SBS has anything to do with
it, Cadel finishing last night? argh! heh. ok, so the sport may still
have a heart, but someone killed our pet chicken!

Bleve said:

There is testing, Rob Wilson was done in an out of competition test in
'04 and caught using EPO. In addition, ASADA is quite active.

Excellent.

Bleve said:

Quoted message said:

Don't mistake this rant as me being overly critical of CA, CSV, or
other cycling bodies. I'm breath tested and drug tested while

driving,

Quoted message said:

why have I never been tested or known of anyone being tested while
racing?

Quoted message said:

Because you're not good enough. Once you start to win state titles at
elite levels, you'll start getting tested.

Yep, but that doesn't put a stop to people using banned substances to
enhance the training effect to reach those levels. A long shot to then
become clean and still perform at that elevated level, but I smell a
chicken when it comes to that tactic.

It boils down (chicken stock?) to cost and privacy issues. As racing
cyclists we have voluntarily signed away some privacy rights (have you
read the fine print on your licence, I'll bet you a pint of Guinness
that you haven't). Is it worth chasing every possible elite rider and
testing them? I would contend that it is not. Should you (you,
Lllama ... not a rhetorical ewe) have to tell CSV where you are every
day so you can compete in a regional open in 4 months? The cost to
benefit is just not worth it. We as racing cyclists have to trust
each other to play by the rules, and it's only at the edge case that
the trust level gets out of whack. The edge case is the elite stuff
and as was the case with Rob Wilson, alarm bells rang because of his
rapid improvement and he got tested, and caught.

People play footy, athletics, swimming etc at amateur and semi-pro
levels with all sorts of dope in them ('roids, stimulants etc ...) and
they don't get anything like the scrutiny that you're suggesting for
club riders.

Quoted message said:

ok, enough chicken references.. I'm hungry! 🙂

What's your beef, bro'? Do you think some clubbies are doping?

gplama said:

Sorry guys, another doping related thread. I've posted this in a few places as I'm very interested in what people might be able to add to this. MikeyOz and DaveB - you guys might be able to shed light on the controls in place for tri's?

The only testing they do at Tri's is to make sure you have money for the entry fee, Tri's are a rip-off, but thats another matter!

I agree with all of this.... we/people who train hard may not be elites, but I know when I am full into training, I spend a lot of HOURS training, to make myself be able to run/ride/swim faster or whatever sport it is.

And it frustrates the hell out of me, when you might see people cheating in an event, whether it be, drugs/doping/cutting a course short/drafting, whatever it is, I know when it comes down to it, it is all about your own performance, but it doesn't mean it gets to you. And nothing is done about it. But it is human nature, I can't see them ever being bothered testing local events, until it gets to a point where the testing is a minimal cost, or you can buy over the counter kits 🙂

And I have no doubt there are people in these events who would do it to gain advantage, I know of people that did it in other sports I played, Hockey for example, they were into the sport that much.

gplama said:

We're not watching the important bits if SBS has anything to do with it, Cadel finishing last night? argh! heh. ok, so the sport may still have a heart, but someone killed our pet chicken!

A classic telly moment simultaneously murdered by [censored] reception and the need for a 'word from a our sponsors'.

Bleve said:

What's your beef, bro'? Do you think some clubbies are doping?

Maybe they are, maybe they aint... I'm not and can still make 'em hurt either way.. on a good day 🙂

The seed for the thought/post/ramble was brought about when thinking about the example these Tools De France riders are setting for the up and comers to the sport (of all ages).

Back in the day we got the strap (ok, it was all too PC by the time I hit school, but dad had one at home!) - just the idea the strap existed was enough to keep us in line. I want there to be a doping strap. 🙂

cfsmtb said:

A classic telly moment simultaneously murdered by [censored] reception and the need for a 'word from a our sponsors'.

SNIFF and STIFF!?!?

gplama said:

SNIFF and STIFF!?!?

Yeah, that pair are surely the 2007 ver. of "Skins".

Oppps, Freudian slip. I'll go now.

On Jul 26, 5:36 pm, gplama <gplama.2ub...@no-

mx.forums.cyclingforums.com said:

Bleve said:

What's your beef, bro'? Do you think some clubbies are doping?

Maybe they are, maybe they aint... I'm not and can still make 'em hurt
either way.. on a good day 🙂

The seed for the thought/post/ramble was brought about when thinking
about the example these Tools De France riders are setting for the up
and comers to the sport (of all ages).

The example they're showing at the moment is that they're getting
caught, this would suggest that the controls are actually working.
Especially if you then read what riders like Boonen are saying about
it. Boonen's a far greater role model than Rasmussen or Vino, as is a
rider like Stuart O'Grady, I'd contend. If the current leader of the
tour gets turfed out for breaking the rules, that's about as high a
profile example of justice being done as I can think of in a cycling
context.

Bleve said:

The example they're showing at the moment is that they're getting
caught, this would suggest that the controls are actually working.
Especially if you then read what riders like Boonen are saying about
it. Boonen's a far greater role model than Rasmussen or Vino, as is a
rider like Stuart O'Grady, I'd contend. If the current leader of the
tour gets turfed out for breaking the rules, that's about as high a
profile example of justice being done as I can think of in a cycling
context.

Damn your glass-is-half-full way of thinking! 🙂 You've got a good point though.

In aus.bicycle on Thu, 26 Jul 2007 17:36:39 +1000

gplama said:

Back in the day we got the strap (ok, it was all too PC by the time I
hit school, but dad had one at home!) - just the idea the strap existed
was enough to keep us in line. I want there to be a doping strap. 🙂

Wasn't enough at my school. To be caned was a sign of serious
coolness.

Zebee

Donga said:

Listening to Radio National this morning, there was a remark that they
hoped the cycling community put as much energy into these problems as
we put into hassling the ABC to cover cycling.

Oh, do they cover the TdF?

If so, does the person covering it actually know what a bicycle is?

<shades of other programs>

Zebee Johnstone said:

In aus.bicycle on Thu, 26 Jul 2007 17:36:39 +1000

gplama said:

Back in the day we got the strap (ok, it was all too PC by the time I
hit school, but dad had one at home!) - just the idea the strap existed
was enough to keep us in line. I want there to be a doping strap. 🙂

Wasn't enough at my school. To be caned was a sign of serious
coolness.

Zebee

Ah - now I understand why you ride a bent! 😄

"gplama" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

cfsmtb said:

A classic telly moment simultaneously murdered by [censored] reception and
the need for a 'word from a our sponsors'.

SNIFF and STIFF!?!?

I'm fairly sure that's lifted straight from Tripod

In aus.bicycle on Thu, 26 Jul 2007 22:19:50 +1000

roshea said:

Zebee Johnstone said:

Wasn't enough at my school. To be caned was a sign of serious
coolness.

ZebeeAh - now I understand why you ride a bent! 😄

I got my masochistic leanings out of the way early. Wedgie riders are
obviously the ones who didn't get caned!

Zebee

Resound said:

I'm fairly sure that's lifted straight from Tripod

On the net about 18 months ago.

Terryc said:

Donga said:

Listening to Radio National this morning, there was a remark that
they hoped the cycling community put as much energy into these
problems as we put into hassling the ABC to cover cycling.

Oh, do they cover the TdF?

If so, does the person covering it actually know what a bicycle is?

<shades of other programs>

Why don't you offer your expert services Terry? Then we could [censored] you off.
:-)

Theo
(still living in the world of screw-on 6-speed clusters but appreciating the
Tour cover. You should have seen the coverage of the '81 Tour {Delgado, I
think} to truly appreciate the coverage we have now)

Theo Bekkers said:

Terryc wrote:

Quoted message said:

Why don't you offer your expert services Terry? Then we could [censored] you off.

So, it isn't that good really that you want to tell us about it.

I simply asked it they knew WTF they were talking about. Far too often,
the "expert" has all the knowledge of having read a book on the subject
5 minutes before the subject. You really spend your time working out
what angle they are really trying to push.

Shades of having spent over 30 years trying to promote bicycling and
having to deal with so call "experts". Hint, getting on the radio or TV
can ge good for one's career or business. Media have lists of whom to
contact for what/which opinion.

P.S my expertise does not include racing, but I cam ephasise very
strongly with all those poor [censored] trying to drag their asses over
those hills.. okay, mountains.

Quoted message said:

Theo
(still living in the world of screw-on 6-speed clusters

Why would you change? Then you have to get new deraileirs, levers,
[censored], even a new frame because the dropout has changed.

I never went higher than 6 speed because the axles became too weak.

It is not the technology, it is what you do with it that counts.

Quoted message said:

but appreciating the
Tour cover. You should have seen the coverage of the '81 Tour {Delgado, I
think} to truly appreciate the coverage we have now)

Technology was different. It would be like comparing the cricket
coverage now to the age of coconut shells.