Big Pat, Big Roawrr!

[Der_Gestreifte]

Except for the 2007 reference it does sound like the Matschiner case - he had paid lab employees €150-€500 to do tests to see check out what doses were detectable and he did some jail time when arrested in early 2009, all of this was done prior to Kohl getting caught in 2008.

It is the Matschiner case. The timeline is correct too, but it is another documentary: not "Blut und Spiele" but "Geheimsache Doping" by Hajo Seppelt which, IIRC was aired right before the 2009 athletics world championships.
(it´s hilarious - a jamaican sports minister talking about the natural lifestyle in the great jamaican outdoors, a guy showing how to make DIY testosterone and so on. And no, I don´t know whether there is an english version)

 

[Benotti69]

I agree 100%. McQuaid didn't protect Contador because he's his buddy, he protected him because he wanted to avoid a scandal which would damage his business. Once the case went public and his first attempts to keep it under control failed, McQuaid was ready to call it a day and give up on Contador. The damage to his business has already been done, and he probably thinks that trying to save Contador, with the opposition of WADA, would only increase that damage.

McQuaid has absolutely no qualms about sacrificing anyone for his own good. He'll throw Armstrong under the bus eventually.

not too sure about that as it might mean he ends up under the same bus

 

[M Sport]

The UCI are trying to keep both sides from going to CAS but it looks inevitable unless AC falls on his sword and takes (IMO) a 1 year sanction, but does anyone believe the RFEC will do that.
This will drag out longer than the Tourmalet.

There is no way RFEC are going to hand out a one year suspension, IMO he will be unlucky to get three months, I'm convinced he will escape with a warning of some sort and a slap with a wet bus ticket.

The posters that think Pat wants to hang him out to dry are probably right, it's blown up on him and got out of control. Problem is I don't think they have a strong case at CAS, the didn't follow correct protocol in testing notifications etc, along with somewhat dubious levels that only one lab is currently able to detect. Add to that I think there would have been some pretty dodgy conversations gone on about how to cover it up and food contamination etc before all this hit the headlines. Look out if Contador has one of those recorded.

I tend to agree with you, this is going to go on longer than the Tourmalet.

Does someone have a quick update on the table tennis player, I thought WADA missed the deadline to appeal?

 

[rhubroma]

Sorry to be an "American" here, but to have the UCI running all of cycling makes about as much sense as the NFL (professional football) running the NCAA (collegiate football...amateur). The NCAA feeds professional football, but the two organizations have no real tie to one another.

We need pro cycling to be divested of it's other interests in the sport. And you know what? If the pros want McQuaid & company, let them have him. I'd rather focus on saving what's left of the sport on the amateur side.

Your analysis is rather ironic given that the two organizations you mention, while not formally connected, have to be among the worst in doing anything about confronting the serious drug issues within their ambients. It's all about money and business.

Not to be "un-American," but I would not use them as a model to resolve anything in regards to the conflict of interests in cycling. What is needed is entirely something else.

 

[sniper]

It is the Matschiner case. The timeline is correct too, but it is another documentary: not "Blut und Spiele" but "Geheimsache Doping" by Hajo Seppelt which, IIRC was aired right before the 2009 athletics world championships.

You're right!! I mixed up the two docu's. My bad.

 

[Muriel]

I agree that McQuaid is puffing out his chest, trying to show everyone who the boss is. Problem for me is that this kind of bs is pub talk, not for the head of a world sporting body where some degree of diplomacy is expected. I find his comments unhelpful at least and could be turned against him by a clever attorney; indicating prejudice. Ironic really, given he may well have been trying to protect Contador initially and hoping it'd all just go away. He's just a fat cat business man protecting himself, imho. How the hell he got into that position just beats me.

Aside: I find the possibility of a Mexican standoff between he and Armstrong quite amusing. Both gazing in their respective directions across the Atlantic thinking 'I'll not tell if you don't'. When the excrement eventually ventilates, I wonder who will be dirt dishing fastest to save themselves?

 

[BotanyBay]

not too sure about that as it might mean he ends up under the same bus

Oh, Pat will already be under a bus at that point. He'll just be trying to make sure that Armstrong gets a spot closer to the perimeter than he gets.

 

[BotanyBay]

Your analysis is rather ironic given that the two organizations you mention, while not formally connected, have to be among the worst in doing anything about confronting the serious drug issues within their ambients. It's all about money and business.

Not to be "un-American," but I would not use them as a model to resolve anything in regards to the conflict of interests in cycling. What is needed is entirely something else.

I never asked that we be modeled after them. I was merely pointing-out their distinct separation from one another. NCAA is actually worse than the NFL. They actually pretend to care about their welfare as students, while the NFL has no problem admitting its all about money.