Quote Originally Posted by Eden
But why accept what the media says without question? I am sure that there are cheaters and dopers in cycling, but I am also sure that the media isn't completely clean either. Reporters are just as capable of fabrications as cyclists. I would just like to see more evidence of cheating than records from a doctors office that are "in code" that a paper has supposedly broken. The timing is appaling - just a few days before the race, with no time for any of the riders implicated to defend themselves!
I accept what the media says because the sport isn't clean. It was only a matter of time before something like this blew. The same thing happened in 1998 and I'm sure it will happen again in the next decade.

There is doping at all levels of the sport. Eden, you race in the Seattle area, right? I bet if you look around, you'll find athletes on the juice right in your local races. If a masters athlete dopes, how can you think that the pros don't?

I think we'll find that the riders won't even try to defend themselves. They'll just slink away quietly and retire from the sport.

ps -- the media isn't competing -- doesn't matter if they're "clean." They're doing their job (reporting news, not creating it). Without Lance, this creates a big news story and frenzy around the tour. You can't blame them for doing their job. The timing was very intentional.