Tyler

[Biking Chick]

I would like to think our U.S. cyclists are innocent... but in looking at sports in general, it's ludicrous to think our guys are above the behavior. Look at Olympic Track & Field... Swimming... name a sport. We have U.S. athletes across the spectrum using any edge they can get. It's disappointing yes, but surprising... not at all.

I agree spazzdog that it is disappointing to learn of yet another athlete who has tried to 'beat the system' so to speak. The announcement of Tyler's suspension was very sad ... watching Tyler take the TdF stage win with a broken collar bone was so very inspiring. Whether or not you believe the test results and if Tyler did or didn't artificially enhance his peformance, his reputation is certainly tarnished.

I don't buy the 'I didn't know I was taking it' (so-called) defense ... As disappointing as the whole athlete doping subject is what really gets me up on my soapbox are the athletes like Barry Bonds who sit in front of reporters and point the finger at the media and claim - you wanted to bring me and my family down and you finally did it.

After an announcement of a positive result from a drug test I would expect a period of denial - it would be a normal reaction to not wanting the public to *know*. But after the denial - if you have in fact used performance enhancing drugs - then I expect owning up to it, admitting it and moving on.

Does anyone know if any of the sports offers 'offenders' any type of counceling ... in WI if you are charged with OWI/DWI you are required to take manadatory alcholol counceling. From what I understand, performance enhancing drugs are not addictive (in the way alcohol or other drugs are) but wouldn't it make sense to help address the issue?

Spazz you're correct ... disappointing, yes - surprising, no.

Cindy in WI
Getting Off Her Soap Box

[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!