The witch hunt aspect bothers me to no end. When everything happened before the Tour, I just found myself wondering why would the top riders in the world think they won't be the ones caught, let alone accused, of cheating, having seen what it can do to one's career. In other words, knowing they currently live in a witch hunt environment why would they risk it all? I can even grant that some may risk it, but not *All* the best riders, *all* the time.

But that's really not stating my concern about the process, and it's the lack of trasparency which is what worries me - the riders should at least have the chance to defend themselves, armed with the same information the cycling bodies think they have.

You can add Tyler Hamilton too to your list above, suspended after his gold medal & time trial win at the Vuelta. He has maintained he is innocent all the while serving his suspension, and after getting re-implicated in Puerto. He posts comments on his web site and I would urge anyone to go and read them, as he's continued to train with the intent to return. Here's an excerpt from his latest entry post Puerto:

It's remarkable to everyone involved with this situation, that the media has been given access to the investigation, while the accused have not been afforded the same. It doesn't make any sense to keep the conversation so one-sided.
I also have to wonder how a system that is so well coded that reportedly half of the other cyclists potentially involved can't be named and no other sports can be implicated is being portrayed as so lax and obvious when it comes to allegedly identifying some of the biggest names in cycling.

Given all that has been reported, many of you have been asking for answers and updates, but the truth is that I don't have much to share because little has been shared with me.

What I do know is that these allegations are hurtful and false. It is not clear to me who is translating and alleging these things. I have never even heard of some of the substances listed within these supposed "schedules".

It is also not clear why some riders have been cleared while others are being forced to wait things out. All that does seem clear is that this is not an ordinary investigation.

All of this makes me wonder what it will take to make someone stand up for the riders who represent the heart and soul of cycling. Is there not a lesson in what happened to the Liberty Seguros team? Most of the riders initially implicated from this team have been cleared and Manolo Saiz has not been charged with any crime. Yet, sponsors are lost, names have been tarnished, careers have ended and victories have been taken away. Who will be brave enough to say the riders, the organizers, the sponsors and the fans deserve better? Count me among the first.

I know how it feels to work so hard but feel like you are getting nowhere. I have experienced the incredible happiness of achieving lifetime goals and the sadness of having my accomplishments questioned and opportunities taken away. But at the end of the day that sadness is a motivator, because it can't help but become anger. People used to always tell me I was too "nice" to really succeed at racing and some would even ask me: "are you angry enough to win?" Well, if I wasn't before, I certainly am now.
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