Tour de France - has it become irrelevant?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pyccku @ Jul 26 2007, 11:30 AM) [snapback]485431[/snapback]</div>

He has been tested 10 (TEN) times in the past 23 days, and each time the tests have been clean.

The cycling clubs have simply decided that any infraction of rules means the rider is guilty of doping, unless proven innocent. But if that was not draconian enough, the rider is not actually given the opportunity to prove himself innocent.

Really, how hard would it have been to look at the guy's passport ?!??
I'm so saddened by all the media declaring Ras a doper, when all we know is that one person says Ras was not where he said he was. Lest you think Ras just quietly went along with this, you would be wrong. The last interview I read, he was just asking for a chance to prove what he said was true.

I hope he comes to Discovery team. His old team Rabobank does not deserve him.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(EricGo @ Jul 26 2007, 12:37 PM) [snapback]485616[/snapback]</div>

Yeah, this is a big problem for me as well. If he is doping AND passing the tests, then we obviously have some testing issues to sort out still as well! If you are passing the tests during the even, I can't figure out why any of the pre-race testing even matters???

 

Darrell, because the effects of some of the chemicals last longer than the presence of the chemicals themselves. Erythropoietin and anabolic steroids are two examples which have been abused.

The problem in Ras' case is that the 'evidence' borders on the whimsical.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pyccku @ Jul 26 2007, 04:24 PM) [snapback]485652[/snapback]</div>

Landis is arguing reasonable doubt. As in, the tests are not perfect.

My personal, completely unfounded conclusions regarding Landis is that his trainer massaged him with anabolic steroid cream without telling him the evening he bonked. It worked well, and Landis the warrior went out the next day and rode the ride of his life, ensuring testing and detection. In case you do not know -- the stage winner is automatically one of the tested riders for that day. The only other hypothesis I can imagine, other than a falsely positive test, is that Landis thought the hormone effects would be undetectable. I find both of those possibilities remote, since in the first scenario the excellent test characteristics would have to be wrong on initial and repeat testing with a gold standard method, and in the second, that Landis was ignorant of the test's excellent sensitivity and is a cheat, or was aware of the excellent sensitivity of the test, decided to flaunt it, and was a cheat.

I'll make due with reasonable proof in Ras' case. Testimony by one stranger that he thinks he saw Ras in Italy ain't it.

 

As to the TDF being irrelevant, of course it is, until another American wins it. (and if you can keep the French testing lab from doctoring everyone's samples) I don't trust those guys or L'Equipe.

As for Landis, It is my understanding that he tested negative on all other days except the tour leg he won and the roids don't work the way they would have had to for Landis to have used them. You can't rub it in one night and then be a superman the next day!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Devil's Advocate @ Jul 26 2007, 05:01 PM) [snapback]485728[/snapback]</div>

Wasn't there also an issue concerning the lab that was doing the testing? They weren't exactly pure and lily white stellar.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(EricGo @ Jul 26 2007, 12:37 PM) [snapback]485616[/snapback]</div>

after the basso fiasco.... i don't think discovery will fall into that "trap" again.....

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pyccku @ Jul 26 2007, 07:03 PM) [snapback]485767[/snapback]</div>

Mexico

 

"Become" irrelevant?

Ya mean, it once was relevant?

 

do not know. Could be that it depends upon your definition of "relevant", and whether you thought it was before.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pyccku @ Jul 26 2007, 08:43 PM) [snapback]485825[/snapback]</div>

Perhaps, but it does not matter. If Ras' passport is stamped with the dates he said he came and left the country, he is in the clear unless you think a conspiracy involving Mexican and Italian border officials has happend.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(EricGo @ Jul 26 2007, 01:10 PM) [snapback]485640[/snapback]</div>

Ah, thanks. I was just pretending ignorance to hide my own doping, of course.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FiftyOneMPG @ Jul 26 2007, 12:00 PM) [snapback]485512[/snapback]</div>

... and where's my flying car. Human chemistry is messy and there is significant red tape involved. Landis' case is pretty much based on bungling both. He's put pretty much all his stuff on the tubes and you can find some commentary on cyclingnews.com It eye opening and pretty much CSI: Get Smart.

My take? Euro pro cycling is the most, albeit imperfectly, tested sport. And were other sports as serious there'd be similar culling. I heard the MLB commish say baseball is the most tested sport. That he could say it with a straight face is why they pay him the big bucks. One of the rumors from last years scandal that involved blood doping in Spain was that there were some soccer players involved as well. Did anybody get kicked out of the world cup? Was that head butt in the final a symptom of 'roid rage? Are all the pre-mature baldies steroid junkies?

Say it ain't so, Joe.