Ninety5rpm said:
+1
Nothing else needs to be said about this.
Just catching up on this. Here are a few point I'd like to make about the letter:
1. The need to cite Valverde as a "natural racer" is silly and immaterial. Of course he is a fantastic, natural racer. he is just that much better when topped off on all his values.
2. The "never tested positive" is actually false. The blood bags, as now matched by DNA, contained EPO. So, while it could be argued as an indirect detection (outside his body, not in a doping control), it is a detection none the less.
3. Citing the other "natural talents", such as Olano, Beloki, Gonzalez de Galdeano, Jalabert, Pereiro and Menchov, does not invoke the image of cleanliness.
4. Taking the position that this is "how the majority of Spanish cycling feels", does nothing to impart trust or credibility, even if true.
5. Considering the Valverde case and decision as an injustice only illustrates a lack of understanding of how justice works.
6. Complaining that everyone must pay for the mistakes of the few will fall on deaf ears.
It is a revealing letter in that he takes the position of "practicing" the sport, as if it were an art. While I agree that it is more closely aligned with entertainment (due to the stature and dollars involved) than a purely sporting endeavor (like certain other Olympic events), and I feel that cycling should evolve to become more like other, larger global sports where the doping controls are less likely to impair the progress of the commercialized aspects of its potential, it is a poor decision for Mr. Gutierrez to act as un-official spokesperson on the topic.