Doping in the TDF

[VeloVT]

Why haven't we heard anything about it? There has been complete silence on Versus. I remember in previous years, in addition to hearing about it when people tested positive, there was general reporting on testing procedures, etc... Not this year. You would think no one was getting tested.

I know they are using biological passports and all that, but presumably they are still doing some testing each stage, no? Did they (UCI, ASO etc) make a decision not to release any results until the race was over, and thus no press spectacles of riders getting sent home, just results getting tossed after the fact?

Anyone know the lowdown? I find it impossible to believe that NO ONE has been doping this year.

[Tri Girl]

I've heard them mention testing this year. One day they were talking about how Lance was one of the random subjects selected to be tested. It seems to me that the race is clean this year (hard to believe, I know).
I'm glad there's not as many problems as in years past. I'm hoping that they've cleaned up the race (but you KNOW it's still going on because racers were busted before it even began). Maybe they're just not doing it as much, or have figured out ways around it that the tests aren't catching.

Either way- I'm glad to not be hearing about it every stinkin' day.

[alpinerabbit]

I've heard them mention testing this year. One day they were talking about how Lance was one of the random subjects selected to be tested. It seems to me that the race is clean this year (hard to believe, I know).

Yeah right. Bernard Kohl pointed to a drug that no one is talking about, and I swear they're all taking it: it's called Geref, there's no test for it and it is a growh hormone stimulator.

Clean indeed. all of them.

[Tri Girl]

that's why I said it's hard to believe. I also said they may have figured out ways around it that the tests aren't catching.
I find it hard to believe it's clean. I don't think the sport will ever be. There will always be cheaters. Always.
I was just saying what I *hope* was true: that it was indeed clean.

[Skierchickie]

The other day Lance said he'd been tested 11 times so far during this tour.

[BabyBlueNTulsa]

If a drug is not on the "banned" list, is taking it "cheating" ?

I'm not advocating drugs....Just sayin....

[MartianDestiny]

I don't think the sport will ever be. There will always be cheaters. Always.

I don't think ANY professional level sport will ever be 100% clean. Cycling is not a unique, or even a drastic example. Doesn't make it right, but no point in harping on cyclists over any other pro athlete.


I've also seen Lance's reports of being tested throughout the tour (on Twitter) and I don't particularly follow my Twitter feed very closely or often, so NO DOUBT they're testing. Well, no doubt their testing at least a few individuals...

[lunacycles]

I think part of the issue as to why no busts during the tour is that, sadly (cynically?), the drugs are evolving and the tests to detect them have to play catch up. I hear the new, "improved" version of EPO, called CERA, takes longer to detect in tests, hence why DiLuca was just busted for using it during the Giro. It will be interesting to see how clean this tour was considered to be in a few months, or a few years.

I agree, though, it is nice to not have the distraction while the race is going on. And, overall, the riders seemed more "human" on the big hill stages, no super repeated accelerations or superman efforts that raise eyebrows (or, not as many!).

[Tri Girl]

I don't think ANY professional level sport will ever be 100% clean. Cycling is not a unique, or even a drastic example. Doesn't make it right, but no point in harping on cyclists over any other pro athlete.

I wasn't harping on cyclists. I didn't mention other pro athletes because we weren't talking about other pro athletes, but you're right: there are plenty of other pros that cheat- not just cyclists.