Dumb TdF/Rasmussen Question

[Lifesgreat]

I have never owned a passport and am not very familiar with them, but if he truly was in Mexico, wouldn't you think he would be in a hurry to produce his passport which would show what country he was in, when? Thoughts? Passport enlightenment?

[uk elephant]

I have travelled all over the world, and my passport is devoid of any stamps to prove it......but there outght to be ticket stubs, reciepts etc.

[Grog]

Passports very seldom get stamped. This is very romantic, but unfortunately very rare.

Plus I don't think he has denied being in Italy after it came out...

[spazzdog]

If countries aren't gonna stamp the derned things, what's the point! Jeez! I thought it was to "prove" point of entry and exit.

spazz - whose passport is devoid of stamps because she's never been anywhere, but now sees she can say she's traveled from hither to yon (I'll need a t-shirt)

[salsabike]

I think if you're a European Union citizen, they probably don't stamp passports from one EU county to another--but I don't know this for sure.

[susiej]

I think if you're a European Union citizen, they probably don't stamp passports from one EU county to another--but I don't know this for sure.

Nope, they don't. Border crossings within the EU are like crossing the state line in the US. Driving from Stuttgart, Germany to Strasbourg, France last year we were not asked for any ID.

Even before the EU, you just needed to show valid, current ID at the border crossing (as my cousin did driving from Germany to Austria and back). As the American, I had to whip out the passport, but even then it wasn't stamped.

[bmccasland]

I think if you're a European Union citizen, they probably don't stamp passports from one EU county to another--but I don't know this for sure.

Last time I was across the Pond - I only got a Passport stamp when I entered and left the EU - the border is open to go from country to country.

Hijack - today I learned that I really really should not be on small crew boats in high seas. Went out to check a dredging project in rough weather. The good news - nothing was displaced, bad news, I did not feel like eating the fresh fried shrimp that was being served for lunch on the dredge.

[onimity]

Passport stamping varies widely; some countries are very strict and ceremonious about it. I think it's mostly so that countries can fine those that overstay their welcome.

I've little doubt that Rasmussen could arrange for a Mexican entrance/exit stamp for the specified dates as easily as any of the substances people think he might have taken...

[Grog]

If countries aren't gonna stamp the derned things, what's the point! Jeez! I thought it was to "prove" point of entry and exit.

Many countries scan the passports (especially if you enter through airports, in industrialized countries), so they know you're there, don't worry.

However usually when you have a visa to enter a country they affix it to your passport.

I have noticed more care about stamping passports when entering foreign countries (or groups of countries, as has been mentioned for the European Union) since 9/11. I'm also aware that Western countries will pay a lot of attention to stamps in the passports of people they perceive as "suspicious" (usually based on their skin color or how they dress). Once, entering Switzerland by train, everyone (including non-EU white people) was basically waved through. One guy was pulled aside and his passport examined thoroughly. You guessed it, a very dark African guy.

Also coming off a plane from Croatia entering Amsterdam, we had a full-on security check before even setting foot in the airport. There had been some threats at some other airport and they showed extra care with security. The woman in front of me was a (white) nun but in her passport she had some stamps Middle Eastern countries and the police officer questioned her lengthily about the reasons of her trips there.

I've even been stamped entering or leaving (but not necessarily both) France and the UK recently. I was quite surprised. But it's quite inconsistent, really...

[Eden]

you made me think and go look
In my passport I don't have any entries into the USA stamped (I'm a citizen) though I recall they always looked at it. I do have all my entries and exits from Spain, Italy and Japan - the were all very consistant about the stampings. The UK only stamped on the way in, but did so each time. The ones from Japan are the only ones on the same page right next to one another Italy are on the first and last pages, Spain on opposite sides of the same page.
When we were coming into Gatwick I recall some non-us, non-eu people getting some pretty severe questioning, but the only person I've seen busted for something was a very white, very obnoxious, punk fellow on a flight out of London (jerk sat behind me, was loud, demanding and kicked my seat for 12 freaking hours). He got taken away for some sort of drugs they sniffed out in his luggage.

(even some white people just seem to fit a profile too - my uncle, a computer science professor, seems to always get pulled out for extra searches! He's kind of - please let none of my relatives read this - nerdy.... looks a lot like Alfred E. Newman with a mustache....., but none the less fits a profile for something...)

[bcipam]

From my undestanding Rasmussen has denied everything - he denies being in Italy, and he denies all claims made against him. Right now all these accusations are based on comments made by a reporter who alleges he saw Rasmussen training in Italy. Nothing more.

Rasmussen's team withdrew him from competition in order to avoid the entire team being withdraw.

I am convnced it will all be sorten out but for now, if there is no truth to the allegations how sad for Rasmussen. Sadly these guys are all guilty until proven innocent. Seems backwards to me.

And yes my passport does not have stamps from places I've been. I had to forth the border authorities to stamp it because I wanted to have the stamps. And right now travel between the USA and Mexico does not require a passport.

[spazzdog]

I say cheat once and you're banned for life... in this day and age, there's not a athlete out there that isn't totally aware of what's going into their body.

The whole "I didn't know" and "I feel so ashamed" doesn't do it for me.

Cheat once and you're out, period. Go work at MacDonalds. Now if only the American professional and collegiate sports would take action within their regulations.

spazz (who also believes in hangin' for horse theivin' or kickin' the dog)