Tyler

[Adrien]

And if it turns out Lance ever doped, which I really hope he didn't... he looses the entire bag of respect as well.

Oh, I think he has. I absolutely think he has. Maybe not in the past few years, but certainly in his past. Think about how he answers the question "Have you ever doped?" He doesn't say "No, never.", he says "I've never failed a drug test."

Honestly, I think most of them do, or have in the past. I also think Lance, though certainly an amazing cyclist, has had some sort of help along the way. I don't necessarily think he dopes in the conventional sense, but I think they have other methods to help him that can't be tested. Think about it: one of his major endorsements deals is with a pharmaceutical company. I think they have all kinds of stuff for the big money guys that's way ahead of conventional testing.

This is all speculation, of course.

As for Tyler, I don't know, man. I want so badly to believe he's innocent, but I really think it's an industry-wide problem, so there's no reason to completely rule out the possibility.

Sorry if my opinion is an unpopular one, I just don't think Lance is the superhero everyone makes him out to be. He's certainly an extremely talented cyclist and has done a lot for cancer research, but he's still just a guy who clearly wants very badly to win and to be on top. It means everything to him so I wouldn't be surprised if he had advanced methods to better his chances.

[slinkedog]

Adrien: I noticed that about Lance, too... that he always says that he's never failed a drug test. Makes me wonder. However, the pharmecutical company he endorses is the one that created the cancer meds that saved his life.

[aka_kim]

Velonews has a link to the full text of the decision: www.USAntidoping.org. It's long, but it's really very interesting reading.

[Adrien]

However, the pharmecutical company he endorses is the one that created the cancer meds that saved his life.

No, I know this, I'm just pointing out that he has contacts. I'm sounding all conspiracy theory right now and I don't mean to, I just really don't think Lance has always been the drug-free angel he's made out to be.

[MightyMitre]

I'm with you Adrien. Tyler is great and I also really wanted to believe him but the longer I'm a cycling fan the more and more cynical I become. I'm Tyler fan but I can believe that he would dope - despite (as V pointed out) the fact that he seems so level headed and grounded.

It's sad to think that I'm pretty much prepared to hear Boonen allegations ( when they come, because they will, in one form or another.) I think the problem is that sporting values and the ethics of the true athlete that all of us amatures hold, are forced to lie next to what is essentially an industry. How can the honour of winning a one day classic (for example) lie next to the pressure from sponsors to win AT ALL COSTS?

Cyclists are caught in the middle - the audience wants to see an old fashioned hero, who battles though thick and thin, who beats his rivals fairly and squarely on a level playing field. Sponsors on the other hand have no other interests other that how much money they can make from the guy who crosses the line first, while the cyclist is caught in the middle.

Tylers career is all but over now, but I still feel uncomfortable that someones whole career can be based on the accuracy of a blood test. After all, who tests the work of the testers?

[Veronica]

And that the results from different machines can be so different!

I have students who cheat - caught one yesterday. It's not something I understand.

V.

[robyn_jl]

Wow, thanks for the link to the actual report, aka-kim! I had pretty much assumed with great sadness that Tyler must be guilty, but I have to say the dissenting opinion at the back of the report really made some persuasive arguments about the tests he failed not being very scientific. It managed to put some doubt back in my mind.

Which isn't to say that Tyler didn't dope. But I think he has very good grounds for appeal. If no studies have been done to determine just how many false positives for mixed red blood cells might occur in an average population, the test is really not valid. Further studies should be done -- and it certainly should not be used to determine the future of an athlete's career and life.

Most likely Tyler was taking something experimental that caused the strange results . . . but if it turns out that it's just something weird with his blood that is natural . . . wow, that would really be a bummer to have the whole world turn against you with no reason . . .

I wish him strength either way!