British Doctor claims he doped 150 sports stars including Br

[LeindersGains]

Re:

Not sure if already posted, but here is the English version
http://www.sportschau.de/doping/video-british-doctor-claims-he-doped-numerous-athletes-englische-version-100.html

"Cyclists who have already participated in the Tour the France. How one of them mastered the climbs of the Tour, that was unbelievable.."

If true, it can't be Cavendish, Millar, etc. It comes down to three subjects. Froome, Wiggins and Thomas. But he didn't say Tour the France winners so my guess would be G.

 

[Catwhoorg]

Re: Re:

How would that be shown? Historically speaking, do doping Doctors reveal their client lists?

(trimmed the quote tree)

Historically, how many have potentially been facing jail time ?

This more than anything is why doping as a criminal offense should be on the books. To 'encourage' people who have assisted dopers to reveal their client lists (and plea-bargin to lesser offenses) or face significant jail time.

 

[wrinklyvet]

Re: Re:

How would that be shown? Historically speaking, do doping Doctors reveal their client lists?

(trimmed the quote tree)

Historically, how many have potentially been facing jail time ?

This more than anything is why doping as a criminal offense should be on the books. To 'encourage' people who have assisted dopers to reveal their client lists (and plea-bargin to lesser offenses) or face significant jail time.

Would it surprise you to know that we don't have plea bargaining - at least not in the same formally accepted manner as in USA? Informal negotiations do happen though.

 

[blackcat]

Re: Re:

Not sure if already posted, but here is the English version
http://www.sportschau.de/doping/video-british-doctor-claims-he-doped-numerous-athletes-englische-version-100.html

"Cyclists who have already participated in the Tour the France. How one of the mastered the climbs of the Tour, that was unbelievable.."

If true, it can't be Cavendish, Millar, etc. It comes down to three subjects. Froome, Wiggins and Thomas. But he didn't say Tour the France winners so my guess would be G.

jamie burrow and plateau de beille

 

[thehog]

Re: Re:

How would that be shown? Historically speaking, do doping Doctors reveal their client lists?

(trimmed the quote tree)

Historically, how many have potentially been facing jail time ?

This more than anything is why doping as a criminal offense should be on the books. To 'encourage' people who have assisted dopers to reveal their client lists (and plea-bargin to lesser offenses) or face significant jail time.

Conte, Fuentes & Ferrari have all been in that position. Never released a client list, only what was confiscated by the police.

 

[thehog]

Re:

Extraordinary allegations require extraordinary evidence.

"Never tested positive."

"A Doctor on Harley St? C'mon, why would I do that after everything my body has been through?"

 

[thehog]

Re: Re:

Not sure if already posted, but here is the English version
http://www.sportschau.de/doping/video-british-doctor-claims-he-doped-numerous-athletes-englische-version-100.html

"Cyclists who have already participated in the Tour the France. How one of the mastered the climbs of the Tour, that was unbelievable.."

If true, it can't be Cavendish, Millar, etc. It comes down to three subjects. Froome, Wiggins and Thomas. But he didn't say Tour the France winners so my guess would be G.

I going with Thomas Geraint as well. He’s been off the boil since Bonar was stuck off the register.

 

[blackcat]

Re: Re:

Not sure if already posted, but here is the English version
http://www.sportschau.de/doping/video-british-doctor-claims-he-doped-numerous-athletes-englische-version-100.html

"Cyclists who have already participated in the Tour the France. How one of the mastered the climbs of the Tour, that was unbelievable.."

If true, it can't be Cavendish, Millar, etc. It comes down to three subjects. Froome, Wiggins and Thomas. But he didn't say Tour the France winners so my guess would be G.

I going with Thomas Geraint as well. He’s been off the boil since Bonar was stuck off the register.

lets just call him "T" hog

"T" Geraint

 

[Cannibal72]

Re: Re:

Cant go into detail but a little birdy tells me there is more to come re this story and this is the first salvo... we shall see.

Re Team Sky...should **** hit there don`t discount Murdock,s media empire " throwing under the bus" anyone it see,s fit. Plausible deniability of any knowledge of any wrongdoing go,s a long way
No matter what materializes they are far to big to be concerned...heck the empire is so powerful they pretty much decide who gets into power in UK general elections.
The pro team is about 2% of Sky UK’s marketing budget...small change .

Like all empires, Murdoch's is riven by power struggles and convoluted conspiracies. Team Sky is the pet project of James 'I don't remember anything, ever' Murdoch, who Rupe shunted off to the side after his performance at the Leveson Inquiry. If you believe Private Eye - and you should - the Sunday Times is in a hell of a lot of trouble, financially and internally, and Rupe now cares much much more about his TV properties. It wouldn't be unexpected if the Sunday Times tried to exert the strength of its investigative journalism, which has recently been decimated by cuts, especially since a new (Rupe minion) editor is reportedly coming in.

Also, as you point out, Murdoch carries a huge amount of influence in the UK. This is bound to become a defining issue as we approach this bitterly fought and divisive referendum; Murdoch is well-known for his Euroscepticism. Murdoch has been allowed a lot of leeway, legally and politically, because of his claims (which have been bought wholesale by a lot of people) that he has no influence on the editorial decisions of his newspapers. What better way to show your independence from proprietorial influence than by blowing apart Team Sky - a prominent public face of the organisation, but an insignificant sacrificial lamb in the power structures of the world?

 

[arcus]

I'm more convinced by the content of the print version and the Seppalt documentary than I was based on the FB clip posted yesterday.

Still not sure if all Bonars claims are true, but the fact that he claimed that the tennis players he worked with were amateurs, rather than professionals, argues against the idea that he was just trying to impress a potential client.

I have no idea if UK drug distribution and pharmacy records are either sophisticated or accessible enough to illuminate his prescribing habits and volumes, but that is potentially key to any formal investigation that might now be instigated by the GMC or other body with appropriate powers.

 

[blackcat]

Re: Re:

Cant go into detail but a little birdy tells me there is more to come re this story and this is the first salvo... we shall see.

Re Team Sky...should **** hit there don`t discount Murdock,s media empire " throwing under the bus" anyone it see,s fit. Plausible deniability of any knowledge of any wrongdoing go,s a long way
No matter what materializes they are far to big to be concerned...heck the empire is so powerful they pretty much decide who gets into power in UK general elections.
The pro team is about 2% of Sky UK’s marketing budget...small change .

Like all empires, Murdoch's is riven by power struggles and convoluted conspiracies. Team Sky is the pet project of James 'I don't remember anything, ever' Murdoch, who Rupe shunted off to the side after his performance at the Leveson Inquiry. If you believe Private Eye - and you should - the Sunday Times is in a hell of a lot of trouble, financially and internally, and Rupe now cares much much more about his TV properties. It wouldn't be unexpected if the Sunday Times tried to exert the strength of its investigative journalism, which has recently been decimated by cuts, especially since a new (Rupe minion) editor is reportedly coming in.

Also, as you point out, Murdoch carries a huge amount of influence in the UK. This is bound to become a defining issue as we approach this bitterly fought and divisive referendum; Murdoch is well-known for his Euroscepticism. Murdoch has been allowed a lot of leeway, legally and politically, because of his claims (which have been bought wholesale by a lot of people) that he has no influence on the editorial decisions of his newspapers. What better way to show your independence from proprietorial influence than by blowing apart Team Sky - a prominent public face of the organisation, but an insignificant sacrificial lamb in the power structures of the world?

but rebekkah brroks' hair!

in salem two centuries back, they would drown her and baptise her as rewikkah

but the hair. flame auburn bewitched rupes cuckolded https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSOHPUkPylQ

 

[thehog]

Re: Re:

Cant go into detail but a little birdy tells me there is more to come re this story and this is the first salvo... we shall see.

Re Team Sky...should **** hit there don`t discount Murdock,s media empire " throwing under the bus" anyone it see,s fit. Plausible deniability of any knowledge of any wrongdoing go,s a long way
No matter what materializes they are far to big to be concerned...heck the empire is so powerful they pretty much decide who gets into power in UK general elections.
The pro team is about 2% of Sky UK’s marketing budget...small change .

Like all empires, Murdoch's is riven by power struggles and convoluted conspiracies. Team Sky is the pet project of James 'I don't remember anything, ever' Murdoch, who Rupe shunted off to the side after his performance at the Leveson Inquiry. If you believe Private Eye - and you should - the Sunday Times is in a hell of a lot of trouble, financially and internally, and Rupe now cares much much more about his TV properties. It wouldn't be unexpected if the Sunday Times tried to exert the strength of its investigative journalism, which has recently been decimated by cuts, especially since a new (Rupe minion) editor is reportedly coming in.

Also, as you point out, Murdoch carries a huge amount of influence in the UK. This is bound to become a defining issue as we approach this bitterly fought and divisive referendum; Murdoch is well-known for his Euroscepticism. Murdoch has been allowed a lot of leeway, legally and politically, because of his claims (which have been bought wholesale by a lot of people) that he has no influence on the editorial decisions of his newspapers. What better way to show your independence from proprietorial influence than by blowing apart Team Sky - a prominent public face of the organisation, but an insignificant sacrificial lamb in the power structures of the world?

And to think it took an Australian to control Britains media and decide who to support in elections

 

[Cannibal72]

Re: Re:

Cant go into detail but a little birdy tells me there is more to come re this story and this is the first salvo... we shall see.

Re Team Sky...should **** hit there don`t discount Murdock,s media empire " throwing under the bus" anyone it see,s fit. Plausible deniability of any knowledge of any wrongdoing go,s a long way
No matter what materializes they are far to big to be concerned...heck the empire is so powerful they pretty much decide who gets into power in UK general elections.
The pro team is about 2% of Sky UK’s marketing budget...small change .

Like all empires, Murdoch's is riven by power struggles and convoluted conspiracies. Team Sky is the pet project of James 'I don't remember anything, ever' Murdoch, who Rupe shunted off to the side after his performance at the Leveson Inquiry. If you believe Private Eye - and you should - the Sunday Times is in a hell of a lot of trouble, financially and internally, and Rupe now cares much much more about his TV properties. It wouldn't be unexpected if the Sunday Times tried to exert the strength of its investigative journalism, which has recently been decimated by cuts, especially since a new (Rupe minion) editor is reportedly coming in.

Also, as you point out, Murdoch carries a huge amount of influence in the UK. This is bound to become a defining issue as we approach this bitterly fought and divisive referendum; Murdoch is well-known for his Euroscepticism. Murdoch has been allowed a lot of leeway, legally and politically, because of his claims (which have been bought wholesale by a lot of people) that he has no influence on the editorial decisions of his newspapers. What better way to show your independence from proprietorial influence than by blowing apart Team Sky - a prominent public face of the organisation, but an insignificant sacrificial lamb in the power structures of the world?

but rebekkah brroks' hair!

in salem two centuries back, they would drown her and baptise her as rewikkah

but the hair. flame auburn bewitched rupes cuckolded https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSOHPUkPylQ

Rupe's not worried about being cuckolded, he's got the lovely not remotely a gold digger Jerry Hall by his side (although being cheated on with Tony *** Blair must really hurt).

 

[Cannibal72]

Re: Re:

Cant go into detail but a little birdy tells me there is more to come re this story and this is the first salvo... we shall see.

Re Team Sky...should **** hit there don`t discount Murdock,s media empire " throwing under the bus" anyone it see,s fit. Plausible deniability of any knowledge of any wrongdoing go,s a long way
No matter what materializes they are far to big to be concerned...heck the empire is so powerful they pretty much decide who gets into power in UK general elections.
The pro team is about 2% of Sky UK’s marketing budget...small change .

Like all empires, Murdoch's is riven by power struggles and convoluted conspiracies. Team Sky is the pet project of James 'I don't remember anything, ever' Murdoch, who Rupe shunted off to the side after his performance at the Leveson Inquiry. If you believe Private Eye - and you should - the Sunday Times is in a hell of a lot of trouble, financially and internally, and Rupe now cares much much more about his TV properties. It wouldn't be unexpected if the Sunday Times tried to exert the strength of its investigative journalism, which has recently been decimated by cuts, especially since a new (Rupe minion) editor is reportedly coming in.

Also, as you point out, Murdoch carries a huge amount of influence in the UK. This is bound to become a defining issue as we approach this bitterly fought and divisive referendum; Murdoch is well-known for his Euroscepticism. Murdoch has been allowed a lot of leeway, legally and politically, because of his claims (which have been bought wholesale by a lot of people) that he has no influence on the editorial decisions of his newspapers. What better way to show your independence from proprietorial influence than by blowing apart Team Sky - a prominent public face of the organisation, but an insignificant sacrificial lamb in the power structures of the world?

And to think it took an Australian to control Britains media and decide who to support in elections

Ha, but media barons have had this kind of power since the 1900s at least. Birkenhead made it into the Cabinet on the back of his media control alone, after all, and Baldwin's great line - 'the newspapers demand power without responsibility, the prerogative of the harlot throughout the ages' - comes from the 1920s. Murdoch's just the latest and most powerful in our series of tycoons controlling mass media, from Alfred Harmsworth on, and most countries have had the same kind of thing.

 

[Electress]

Re: Re:

Not sure if already posted, but here is the English version
http://www.sportschau.de/doping/video-british-doctor-claims-he-doped-numerous-athletes-englische-version-100.html

"Cyclists who have already participated in the Tour the France. How one of the mastered the climbs of the Tour, that was unbelievable.."

If true, it can't be Cavendish, Millar, etc. It comes down to three subjects. Froome, Wiggins and Thomas. But he didn't say Tour the France winners so my guess would be G.

No. I think the ST would make sure that the identity couldn't be guessed so easily. Saying TdF winner(s) is virtually naming names. Having made the decision they weren't doing that until further investigation, the Sunday Times would have covered their backsides by keeping everything suitably vague. I think the only thing one can infer is that at least one of the 'cyclists' referred to cared a bit about their climbing times and ability, which would make a sprint specialist more unlikely. (I would note that the way the plural was used by Bonar doesn't necessitate it being more than one though)

Given the profile the article had in the paper (front page, and several pages internally) it is a given there were some big fish named by said doctor. I also suspect that the ST would not publish the doctor's claims without some evidence that there was something behind his claims (maybe not 'something' that could hold up in court, but perhaps something which was substantiated by 'off the record' / circumstantial stuff and rumour).

This has been a partial release...there is clearly more to come out - whether that's about the football connection, or other sports, or the failure of UKAD remains to be seen, but I really don't think the disclosures are anything like over. Wait for closer to Rio, the Tour...the story will have most impact then.

Why now is actually something which intrigues me...it's hardly an obvious time to cause maximum impact...unless there is potential for a build up of increasingly devastating news before Rio...that would be the obvious goal.

 

[thehog]

Re: Re:

Not sure if already posted, but here is the English version
http://www.sportschau.de/doping/video-british-doctor-claims-he-doped-numerous-athletes-englische-version-100.html

"Cyclists who have already participated in the Tour the France. How one of the mastered the climbs of the Tour, that was unbelievable.."

If true, it can't be Cavendish, Millar, etc. It comes down to three subjects. Froome, Wiggins and Thomas. But he didn't say Tour the France winners so my guess would be G.

No. I think the ST would make sure that the identity couldn't be guessed so easily. Saying TdF winner(s) is virtually naming names. Having made the decision they weren't doing that until further investigation, the Sunday Times would have covered their backsides by keeping everything suitably vague. I think the only thing one can infer is that at least one of the 'cyclists' referred to cared a bit about their climbing times and ability, which would make a sprint specialist more unlikely. (I would note that the way the plural was used by Bonar doesn't necessitate it being more than one though)

Given the profile the article had in the paper (front page, and several pages internally) it is a given there were some big fish named by said doctor. I also suspect that the ST would not publish the doctor's claims without some evidence that there was something behind his claims (maybe not 'something' that could hold up in court, but perhaps something which was substantiated by 'off the record' / circumstantial stuff and rumour).

This has been a partial release...there is clearly more to come out - whether that's about the football connection, or other sports, or the failure of UKAD remains to be seen, but I really don't think the disclosures are anything like over. Wait for closer to Rio, the Tour...the story will have most impact then.

Why now is actually something which intrigues me...it's hardly an obvious time to cause maximum impact...unless there is potential for a build up of increasingly devastating news before Rio...that would be the obvious goal.

This I agree with your summation.

The choice to run the story as front page and with a meaty internal article means they are confident on the story and its substance along with its associated evidence. If there wasn’t much to the story or just a few claims by Bonar they wouldn’t have run it as front page. Additionally stories sell papers. They want to let this one drag on for a while with a few articles over a number of weeks. Editors generally wouldn’t run with a sporting doping story on the front page of the paper if there wasn’t any meat on the bone.

 

[blackcat]

Re: Re:

Cant go into detail but a little birdy tells me there is more to come re this story and this is the first salvo... we shall see.

Re Team Sky...should **** hit there don`t discount Murdock,s media empire " throwing under the bus" anyone it see,s fit. Plausible deniability of any knowledge of any wrongdoing go,s a long way
No matter what materializes they are far to big to be concerned...heck the empire is so powerful they pretty much decide who gets into power in UK general elections.
The pro team is about 2% of Sky UK’s marketing budget...small change .

Like all empires, Murdoch's is riven by power struggles and convoluted conspiracies. Team Sky is the pet project of James 'I don't remember anything, ever' Murdoch, who Rupe shunted off to the side after his performance at the Leveson Inquiry. If you believe Private Eye - and you should - the Sunday Times is in a hell of a lot of trouble, financially and internally, and Rupe now cares much much more about his TV properties. It wouldn't be unexpected if the Sunday Times tried to exert the strength of its investigative journalism, which has recently been decimated by cuts, especially since a new (Rupe minion) editor is reportedly coming in.

Also, as you point out, Murdoch carries a huge amount of influence in the UK. This is bound to become a defining issue as we approach this bitterly fought and divisive referendum; Murdoch is well-known for his Euroscepticism. Murdoch has been allowed a lot of leeway, legally and politically, because of his claims (which have been bought wholesale by a lot of people) that he has no influence on the editorial decisions of his newspapers. What better way to show your independence from proprietorial influence than by blowing apart Team Sky - a prominent public face of the organisation, but an insignificant sacrificial lamb in the power structures of the world?

but rebekkah brroks' hair!

in salem two centuries back, they would drown her and baptise her as rewikkah

but the hair. flame auburn bewitched rupes cuckolded https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSOHPUkPylQ

Rupe's not worried about being cuckolded, he's got the lovely not remotely a gold digger Jerry Hall by his side (although being cheated on with Tony **** Blair must really hurt).

is buttocks swear filtered here?

who'da thunk the sinos had peccadilloes regarding the buttocks of state's ministers, i thought it was merely golden lotuses plural and really ferked up feet arches alliterationz

 

[arcus]

The days of clean sport being primarily about urine and blood testing are over. I'm not saying testing is irrelevant as a limiter of doping activities, but it is just too easy for the savvy athlete to circumvent this. Most recent scandals were broken by a whistle-blowers, investigative journalists, and even international customs officials...

These are the areas where the fight can be intensified. If the public cared enough about clean sport then the politicians, police, customs, pharmaceutical industry, and the judiciary, would step-up their game.

 

[Elagabalus]

Re: Re:

Like all empires, Murdoch's is riven by power struggles and convoluted conspiracies. Team Sky is the pet project of James 'I don't remember anything, ever' Murdoch, who Rupe shunted off to the side after his performance at the Leveson Inquiry. If you believe Private Eye - and you should - the Sunday Times is in a hell of a lot of trouble, financially and internally, and Rupe now cares much much more about his TV properties. It wouldn't be unexpected if the Sunday Times tried to exert the strength of its investigative journalism, which has recently been decimated by cuts, especially since a new (Rupe minion) editor is reportedly coming in.

Also, as you point out, Murdoch carries a huge amount of influence in the UK. This is bound to become a defining issue as we approach this bitterly fought and divisive referendum; Murdoch is well-known for his Euroscepticism. Murdoch has been allowed a lot of leeway, legally and politically, because of his claims (which have been bought wholesale by a lot of people) that he has no influence on the editorial decisions of his newspapers. What better way to show your independence from proprietorial influence than by blowing apart Team Sky - a prominent public face of the organisation, but an insignificant sacrificial lamb in the power structures of the world?

I'm surprised that the Bilderbergs haven't been mentioned ...

 

[Cannibal72]

Re: Re:

Cant go into detail but a little birdy tells me there is more to come re this story and this is the first salvo... we shall see.

Re Team Sky...should **** hit there don`t discount Murdock,s media empire " throwing under the bus" anyone it see,s fit. Plausible deniability of any knowledge of any wrongdoing go,s a long way
No matter what materializes they are far to big to be concerned...heck the empire is so powerful they pretty much decide who gets into power in UK general elections.
The pro team is about 2% of Sky UK’s marketing budget...small change .

Like all empires, Murdoch's is riven by power struggles and convoluted conspiracies. Team Sky is the pet project of James 'I don't remember anything, ever' Murdoch, who Rupe shunted off to the side after his performance at the Leveson Inquiry. If you believe Private Eye - and you should - the Sunday Times is in a hell of a lot of trouble, financially and internally, and Rupe now cares much much more about his TV properties. It wouldn't be unexpected if the Sunday Times tried to exert the strength of its investigative journalism, which has recently been decimated by cuts, especially since a new (Rupe minion) editor is reportedly coming in.

Also, as you point out, Murdoch carries a huge amount of influence in the UK. This is bound to become a defining issue as we approach this bitterly fought and divisive referendum; Murdoch is well-known for his Euroscepticism. Murdoch has been allowed a lot of leeway, legally and politically, because of his claims (which have been bought wholesale by a lot of people) that he has no influence on the editorial decisions of his newspapers. What better way to show your independence from proprietorial influence than by blowing apart Team Sky - a prominent public face of the organisation, but an insignificant sacrificial lamb in the power structures of the world?

but rebekkah brroks' hair!

in salem two centuries back, they would drown her and baptise her as rewikkah

but the hair. flame auburn bewitched rupes cuckolded https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSOHPUkPylQ

Rupe's not worried about being cuckolded, he's got the lovely not remotely a gold digger Jerry Hall by his side (although being cheated on with Tony **** Blair must really hurt).

is buttocks swear filtered here?

who'da thunk the sinos had peccadilloes regarding the buttocks of state's ministers, i thought it was merely golden lotuses plural and really ferked up feet arches alliterationz

To be fair, I don't believe anyone who says they don't have their own little Tony Blair peccadillo.

 

[Digger]

funny to see the usual sky defenders on here and elsewhere doing all they can to discredit the doctor - wonder why...

 

[thehog]

Re:

funny to see the usual sky defenders on here and elsewhere doing all they can to discredit the doctor - wonder why...

Since 2012 the catch cry was “there's no evidence”; since that time athletics, cycling, UKAD, WADA have all been found to be seriously lacking in anti-doping measures - all overseen by British administrators. When a Doping Doctor working in London caught on tape its; “can’t be trusted, dubious claims, cannot be believed, bitter ex-doper”.

Its Lance all over again.

The good news, there is more to come from the Sunday Times.

 

[Maxiton]

Re: Re:

funny to see the usual sky defenders on here and elsewhere doing all they can to discredit the doctor - wonder why...

Since 2012 the catch cry was “there's no evidence”; since that time athletics, cycling, UKAD, WADA have all been found to be seriously lacking in anti-doping measures - all overseen by British administrators. When a Doping Doctor working in London caught on tape its; “can’t be trusted, dubious claims, cannot be believed, bitter ex-doper”.

Its Lance all over again.

True. Lance with tea and crumpets, turns out, looks just like Lance with Texas barbecue. I will say this, though: the UK is better organized. In first placing British nationals in sporting oversight roles, they made sure they had their ducks in a row before their athletes were thrust into domination of world sport.

 

[wansteadimp]

Re: Re:

Not sure if already posted, but here is the English version
http://www.sportschau.de/doping/video-british-doctor-claims-he-doped-numerous-athletes-englische-version-100.html

"Cyclists who have already participated in the Tour the France. How one of the mastered the climbs of the Tour, that was unbelievable.."

If true, it can't be Cavendish, Millar, etc. It comes down to three subjects. Froome, Wiggins and Thomas. But he didn't say Tour the France winners so my guess would be G.

No. I think the ST would make sure that the identity couldn't be guessed so easily. Saying TdF winner(s) is virtually naming names. Having made the decision they weren't doing that until further investigation, the Sunday Times would have covered their backsides by keeping everything suitably vague. I think the only thing one can infer is that at least one of the 'cyclists' referred to cared a bit about their climbing times and ability, which would make a sprint specialist more unlikely. (I would note that the way the plural was used by Bonar doesn't necessitate it being more than one though)

Given the profile the article had in the paper (front page, and several pages internally) it is a given there were some big fish named by said doctor. I also suspect that the ST would not publish the doctor's claims without some evidence that there was something behind his claims (maybe not 'something' that could hold up in court, but perhaps something which was substantiated by 'off the record' / circumstantial stuff and rumour).

This has been a partial release...there is clearly more to come out - whether that's about the football connection, or other sports, or the failure of UKAD remains to be seen, but I really don't think the disclosures are anything like over. Wait for closer to Rio, the Tour...the story will have most impact then.

Why now is actually something which intrigues me...it's hardly an obvious time to cause maximum impact...unless there is potential for a build up of increasingly devastating news before Rio...that would be the obvious goal.

As far as now is concerned, potentially the biggest English footballing fairy story in decades is about to play out over the next month and there is doping dirt already on several of Leicester's players.

Football trumps everything, the start of the tour or the end of the football season, a no brainier to me.

 

[Cannibal72]

Re: Re:

Like all empires, Murdoch's is riven by power struggles and convoluted conspiracies. Team Sky is the pet project of James 'I don't remember anything, ever' Murdoch, who Rupe shunted off to the side after his performance at the Leveson Inquiry. If you believe Private Eye - and you should - the Sunday Times is in a hell of a lot of trouble, financially and internally, and Rupe now cares much much more about his TV properties. It wouldn't be unexpected if the Sunday Times tried to exert the strength of its investigative journalism, which has recently been decimated by cuts, especially since a new (Rupe minion) editor is reportedly coming in.

Also, as you point out, Murdoch carries a huge amount of influence in the UK. This is bound to become a defining issue as we approach this bitterly fought and divisive referendum; Murdoch is well-known for his Euroscepticism. Murdoch has been allowed a lot of leeway, legally and politically, because of his claims (which have been bought wholesale by a lot of people) that he has no influence on the editorial decisions of his newspapers. What better way to show your independence from proprietorial influence than by blowing apart Team Sky - a prominent public face of the organisation, but an insignificant sacrificial lamb in the power structures of the world?

I'm surprised that the Bilderbergs haven't been mentioned ...

To be clear, I don't agree with the earlier poster who stated Murdoch controls British elections. Political scientists have carried out multiple studies on this hypothesis at every election, and they've found no significant influence from the Murdoch newspapers on the vote. Equally, however, it's clear that Murdoch wields more influence than is appropriate; I believe it's a well established fact that the Labour Party's position on the Euro was shifted by Murdoch's views, and if Leveson proved anything it's that the current government is no better. My post carefully avoided suggesting that Murdoch would actually influence the referendum, because I don't think he will, but the campaign is already incredibly bad-tempered, and I can easily see the impartiality or not of the media - a constsnt theme of Farage, as is - becoming a major issue. As such, it's not at all implausible that the Sunday Times would try and distance itself from allegations of proprietorial influence (allegations that have dogged Murdoch for 30 years) by attacking another part of the media empire, even if it's just in an effort to prove to themselves that they're free of Murdoch's power.

The Bilderberg conspiracy theorists really irritate me, because they blur the issue and create a falsely polarised narrative. The relationship of money and power is not exotic and does not involve Illuminati in velvet robes sacrificing babies on an altar in Davos while pledging allegiance to the New World Order in Latin; it is banal, and is one of the fundamentals of our modern 'late' capitalism. Globalisation is not a mysterious process controlled by conspiratorial forces, it's a natural development of the victory of free-market ideology, and all the conspiracy nuts are profoundly implicated in it as members of a consumerist society. Either become an actual Marxist or accept your personal responsibility in the global capitalist system as opposed to shoving all the blame onto shadowy plotters, dammit!