Just listening to the extensive media coverage of the latest crisis in cycling today.
The 2007 TDF has been the headline news on TV/Radio and print media over here.
Paul Kimmage interviewed this morning expressed some very interesting views. I think that there is a lot of merit in what Paul says at the best of times however I think he made the most perceptive comment of all this morning. He said that for him the Rasmussen case and the Vino case, though shocking, are less serious that the Moreni case.
He said that the Cofidis case - Moreni's doping - was the most worrying aspect of the doping controversies. Kimmage said that Eric Boyer (Cofidis manager) is at the forefront of the anti-doping lobby and for one of his riders to be found to have cheated is a more serious body blow to the sport. Kimmage's view is that the french teams in particular - such as FDJ, Agricole, Buyg - have enforced very very strict policies resulting from the French federations decision to take a hardline on doping.
I agree with Kimmage.
It was a salutory image seeing Moreni being taken away for questioning by the French police.
He said that the Cofidis case - Moreni's doping - was the most worrying aspect of the doping controversies. Kimmage said that Eric Boyer (Cofidis manager) is at the forefront of the anti-doping lobby and for one of his riders to be found to have cheated is a more serious body blow to the sport.
I don't think so. There is only so much a team can do and using testosterone is so easy. If the doping could be cleaned up enough that the occasional rider uses "minor" dope like T instead of most top tier riders using EPO, blood doping, and other exotic stuff then we would have come a very long way toward cleaning up the sport.
I suspect Moreni's career in the top division is over. There is no toleration any more for riders who are caught. That will make others think twice about doping.
Paul Kimmage ...said that for him the Rasmussen case and the Vino case, though shocking, are less serious that the Moreni case.
He said that the Cofidis case - Moreni's doping - was the most worrying aspect of the doping controversies. Kimmage said that Eric Boyer (Cofidis manager) is at the forefront of the anti-doping lobby and for one of his riders to be found to have cheated is a more serious body blow to the sport. Kimmage's view is that the french teams in particular - such as FDJ, Agricole, Buyg - have enforced very very strict policies resulting from the French federations decision to take a hardline on doping.
I agree with Kimmage.
It was a salutory image seeing Moreni being taken away for questioning by the French police.
He is still under investigation. But Boyer was extremely shocked, he was call in live by a radio during the TDF when he wasn't still knowing that Moreni had been caught. He explained that all riders have no results obligation, Moreni had just to carry water, they have just to show their sponsor... The only positive, Moreni is an old rider with old use probably.. Maybe it would be good to push out all "old riders".
How can blood doping be less serious than doping with testosterone? Is it now going to be an excuse that the team ridden for has less strict doping policies? Vino has a much higher profile, and his doping can in no way be less damaging than Moreni's.
I like Kimmage as a journalist and man. His book was a brave thing to do. But sometimes, himself and Walshe need to do something other than condemn. Profer solutions, champion those who despise drugs, don't whinge all the time. The time for whingeing is over.
