I Still Have Faith...Call Me Crazy

[Zeek]

Here hoping this leads to nothing....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...n_page_id=1781

[Eden]

At the time of the investigation even Fuentes, who did not do this for many, pubically said that he had no dealings with and gave no treatment to Contador. That is why he has been said to be cleared of charges realated to Puerto. Heck - some of those who are truely being investicated still raced this year. Oscar Periro, I believe, was implicated as well as Valverde, yet both of them raced this year.

While I think that it is good that the sport is trying to clean itself up, I also think they really need to use proof over rumor and innuendo.... Maybe make the penalties tougher if you test positive, or get caught red handed with doping products, but stop throwing people out on hearsay?

[margo49]

I think we can rely on him being clean because Discovery would not allow him to be doping and I bet they checked all that Operacion Puerto from every possible angle.

[Zeek]

... I also think they really need to use proof over rumor and innuendo.... Maybe make the penalties tougher if you test positive, or get caught red handed with doping products, but stop throwing people out on hearsay?

Couldn't have said it better myself. So tired of the rumor mill swirling about...

[RoadRaven]

As soon as we saw his yellow confirmed, we (my family and me) were saying to each other "now watch the accusations and rumours fly".

But I agree, the combination of Lance and Discovery behind that team - and the nonsense still dragging on about Floyd (whom Lance appears to still respect) will have made the choice of riders in that team be a vigilant and pedantic selection.

I believe Contador is clean... hopefully he is one of the first of the new generation who really considers the implications of his training choices - will he dope? Very possibly... will he dope to illegal limits? Very doubtful.

I am just so wrapped for him, He has a good face and from early in the Tour when he donned the white jersey and began climbing in the GC, I have been hoping and hoping he would get to be on the podium - but I never expected he would be in yellow!

[alpinerabbit]

Ya know, I believe he took stuff.
Iban Mayo placed 16th (!!) and is down.

And right before Contador stepped onto the podium in Paris, he looked scared sh*tless.

Mark my words.

[maillotpois]

I think we can rely on him being clean because Discovery would not allow him to be doping and I bet they checked all that Operacion Puerto from every possible angle.

Um... before or after they signed Basso?

[7rider]

And right before Contador stepped onto the podium in Paris, he looked scared sh*tless.

Mark my words.

Well, heck...I think anybody - especially a 24 year old - would be freaked at the thought of stepping onto that podium.
But, yeah...I hear you.

From the linked article:
"..the judge in charge, Antonio Serrano, dropped the case against all suspects, claiming that he could not be sure that Spanish health laws had been breached.
However, Pound said: "This investigation may have gone away in Spain but we are currently working with the UCI on going through 6,000 pages.."

If only Pound would go through the same bull-dog tenacity against Barry Bonds. Or against that wrestler before he snapped and killed his family (and self). Sigh. I can't help but think of the larger injustice here. A guy races clean. Tests clean. Has his NAME on a list somewhere, and his career is destroyed. How very Orwellian.
Where's the outrage?

[RoadRaven]

And right before Contador stepped onto the podium in Paris, he looked scared sh*tless.

He's only 24 - he would never have been expecting to be on the top of the podium - of course he's going to look nervous

And even if you were clean, wouldn't you feel nervous if you had taken even just vitimin C? And he would also know that just because of his jersey his life would not be his own while the media trails him - his future and his past

Hell, I'd look nervous...

[RoadRaven]

Um... before or after they signed Basso?

Before I think... anyone else know?

[Zen]

He's only 24 - he would never have been expecting to be on the top of the podium - of course he's going to look nervous

Hell, I'd look nervous...

I also think there was a language barrier thing happening. He was likely listening to instructions and somewhat confused.

[Tri Girl]

I also think there was a language barrier thing happening. He was likely listening to instructions and somewhat confused.

I know- I thought of that. When the Paris and London mayors were talking to them- I wonder if they were speaking Spanish because Alberto looked like he was doing the "ok-I can't understand you" smile at them.
I wonder if he could pick up some of the French because it's so similar to Spanish.

Poor kid- I can't imagine being only 24 and being in that position. I'd be scared/nervous/intimidated- everything. What a pup- I LOVE that guy!