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Is the Passport a dead Duck?

Jun 12, 2010
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When the idea of the passport was first put forward my first gut reaction was that as much as specialists might be able to show anomalies were almost 100% the result of doping without actualy detecting a band substance no nations highest courts would uphold a ban on anomalies alone.

With the acquittel of Pellizotti and his threat of legal action for damages which I guess could amount to many, many $1000`s whats the forums view for the passports future?
Does it have one?
 
Aug 27, 2010
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When I first heard about the passport I thought it wouldentail weekly bloodreadings from all the riders, maybe every thrid day during grand tours. This would give some pretty accurate bloodprofiles, and then I wouldnt have issues banningpeople on anomilies.

But from all the bloodprifiles we have seen in here, it has been like 5-8 measurements a year, and basing any kind of statistical conclusion on that is pure bogus imho, and if ythey dont change it radically or kill it, it is all for show.
 
gobuck said:
It is a good idea, but it doesn't have teeth.

Which made it a good idea for show, with no go.

Total number of tests increased, actual useful tests (like urine EPO tests) decreased. And we are back to dirty Tour winners walking free.

There were some good people involved, but from the very beginning it has had the potential to be a smokescreen. Now the results speak for themselves.

A lot of PR bluster with nothing to show for it.

Instead of the hype about the toughest anti-doping policy in sport, the Aldirto escapade reinforces that we are back to the normative status of the worst sport for doping.

Dave.
 
Aug 27, 2010
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Barrus said:
So, it is exactly like a duck :p
:D
4648473544_43a59a839e.jpg
 
Feb 21, 2010
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I think it is a failure, and has been revealed as strictly a PR stunt, on e th details of he program have now been clarified.

It could still have usefulness as a targeting tool but riders who've been dopin steadily for years (70%+ of the peloton) will give a false baseline. So for that, it's not such a useful undertaking.

It is a financial scheme, with the teams being fleeced for the bogus program. More money, with mark-up, passing through the UCI coffers. The secrecy of so many things, ProTour points/rankings, equipment approvals, etc.

The legal risk they are exposed to in a case like pelizotti is big. if you ensnare low level (salary) pros you reduce the risk you'll have one of them bring a huge suit for damages. I don't think he UCI can withstand a massive finding against them, and still be able to support the lifestyle they are accustomed to.

I also believe it is truly a sham when we've seen really questionable blood profiles, as laymen, and the UCI does nothing. Wiggans and Lance in 09 are prime examples.

Maybe the eventual plasticizer test will be the key for a while, though skirting it won't be tough given container options like steel or glass.

The UCI will not ever reveal the accounting for the program, nor the seeming drop in testing volumes, because the would provoke "where'd the money go" questions from the teams (who paid for it) and he media, who were sold a false bill of goods. It will stumble along, tripping the lowly rider here and there.

Overall, it is one in a long line of sham programs or schemes by the UCI to make money and impress an image or "doing all they can".
 

Barrus

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Apr 28, 2010
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Ney the Viking said:

I meant this duck :p

Duck
;)

Anyway, just to be serious. I don't know yet, it depends on how CAS will deal with all the cases that are coming to them and how it is interpreted. However, I am not exactly filled with confidence, especially when you see that people on the passport committee have already raised their concerns about it
 
Jun 23, 2009
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If it dies, it will be a long and slow death.

It is basically a way for the UCI to turn a blind eye on doping and allow dirty people to manage their programs, albeit with a lower level of doping than in the past.

It targets people who are going above the acceptable amount of doping and frys the small fish who don't have money or specialists helping them manage their blood profile.

Dopers are always one step ahead of the program and always will be. The passport is an attempt to "level" the playing field, and to make sure there are no more scandals of epic proportions.

I basically feel it is just a guideline to keep people from getting carried away.
 
Turd Ferguson said:
If it dies, it will be a long and slow death.

It is basically a way for the UCI to turn a blind eye on doping and allow dirty people to manage their programs, albeit with a lower level of doping than in the past.

It targets people who are going above the acceptable amount of doping and frys the small fish who don't have money or specialists helping them manage their blood profile.

Dopers are always one step ahead of the program and always will be. The passport is an attempt to "level" the playing field, and to make sure there are no more scandals of epic proportions.

I basically feel it is just a guideline to keep people from getting carried away.
Just like the 50% hematocrit rule?
 
Not Going Anywhere

The Bio Passport project is going nowhere. It is required to maintain appearances.

It looks great from the perspective of anyone who doesn't follow the mechanics of its implementation. It also keeps riders from dying from whatever PED's WADA knows about.

The fact that WADA's positives are not enforced is exactly how it was planned. Mission accomplished!

Pat and Hein deserve some credit for creating an elaborate, expensive system that appears independent but only increases their control of the sport.
 
May 20, 2010
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I said from the beginning - It's like walking into someones home, finding 15 LED HD TV's and hauling them off to jail as they MUST be a thief.

Also, the standard defense when people question blood numbers that get released is "Oh, you are not a haematologist/scientist, so you have no comprehension of what is statistically significant."
 
Jun 23, 2009
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hrotha said:
Just like the 50% hematocrit rule?

Yeah, similar in the sense that manipulation occured and people would stay just shy of 50% or in the 40's with all the methods discussed in the Clinic.

This is just a more sophisticated 50% rule.
 
_Zipp0_ said:
I said from the beginning - It's like walking into someones home, finding 15 LED HD TV's and hauling them off to jail as they MUST be a thief.

Also, the standard defense when people question blood numbers that get released is "Oh, you are not a haematologist/scientist, so you have no comprehension of what is statistically significant."

And even scientists have differing opinions on what is needed to prove that a rider is doping (see Pellizottil)
 
Turd Ferguson said:
Yeah, similar in the sense that manipulation occured and people would stay just shy of 50% or in the 40's with all the methods discussed in the Clinic.

This is just a more sophisticated 50% rule.
Yes, but you're aware the 50% rule essentially put an end to the free for all, no holds barred doping culture of the mid 90s at a time where the available technology didn't allow for anything better, right?
 
Turd Ferguson said:
If it dies, it will be a long and slow death.

It is basically a way for the UCI to turn a blind eye on doping and allow dirty people to manage their programs, albeit with a lower level of doping than in the past.

It targets people who are going above the acceptable amount of doping and frys the small fish who don't have money or specialists helping them manage their blood profile.

Dopers are always one step ahead of the program and always will be. The passport is an attempt to "level" the playing field, and to make sure there are no more scandals of epic proportions.

I basically feel it is just a guideline to keep people from getting carried away.

The Bio Passport is a cash cow created by the UCI-they won't let it die no matter how useless is in reality- as you pointed out- is just a method to level doping-not to stop it.
 
Jun 28, 2009
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_Zipp0_ said:
I said from the beginning - It's like walking into someones home, finding 15 LED HD TV's and hauling them off to jail as they MUST be a thief.

Also, the standard defense when people question blood numbers that get released is "Oh, you are not a haematologist/scientist, so you have no comprehension of what is statistically significant."

Agreed :rolleyes:

My opinion is that is is a political invention. Most sports and/or teams in sport perform medical checks on participants and the bio passport is a bull**** thing made up to make things look good. "Hey, look at us, we have a bio passport program and we are doing something about doping other than test for dope". Give me a break.
 

Polish

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Jul 6, 2010
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Polish;

Here's an oddity, I agree with you as well. As far as Ahenden says,

"I can understand the intense frustration and anger the few who are caught must feel not just toward the antidoping authorities but also to the culture that lured them into that trap."

I'd like to see a little more anger towards the 'culture'...
 
Jul 11, 2013
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Re:

Turd Ferguson said:
If it dies, it will be a long and slow death.

It is basically a way for the UCI to turn a blind eye on doping and allow dirty people to manage their programs, albeit with a lower level of doping than in the past.

It targets people who are going above the acceptable amount of doping and frys the small fish who don't have money or specialists helping them manage their blood profile.

Dopers are always one step ahead of the program and always will be. The passport is an attempt to "level" the playing field, and to make sure there are no more scandals of epic proportions.

I basically feel it is just a guideline to keep people from getting carried away.

Good post....

Even 4 years later....

Allthough one could argue that some riders are getting carried away..

The passport is indeed a dead duck...
 
Oct 16, 2010
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it's a useful tool to gear up effectively.
landa will be a good testing case for the passport.
if landa isn't popped, either the UCi are covering for him or the passport is seriously flawed, or both.
 
Apr 3, 2011
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Re: Not Going Anywhere

DirtyWorks said:
The Bio Passport project is going nowhere. It is required to maintain appearances.

It looks great from the perspective of anyone who doesn't follow the mechanics of its implementation. It also keeps riders from dying from whatever PED's WADA knows about.

The fact that WADA's positives are not enforced is exactly how it was planned. Mission accomplished!

Pat and Hein deserve some credit for creating an elaborate, expensive system that appears independent but only increases their control of the sport.

Exactly - P&H were only upset about the bad publicity, not about doping, so they basically said: Look here's the deal, you can microdose all year round but no crazy excesses, OK? And btw, supercharged training is fine but go to the altitude so that we can scrap any odd values. Also, don't worry about HGH or any other yeat undetectable stuff, we'll let you know when the labs will get ready. And last but not least - we'll also support TUEs like during the good old BigMig era when everyone was asthmatic (that got miraculously cured in the peloton with the rise of EPO). So here you have full support from us but if you are so stupid and get caught despite all these possibilities, then we'll get angry. Enough bad publicity, that's our mission.
 
Re:

BYOP88 said:
Was it ever alive?

Technically, it is still alive. What FUBARs the process is sports federations who
1. Lie to anyone and everyone that WADA has authority to enforce the test results.
2. Will not sanction people for whatever reason.

It's quite nicely executed. You have to drill down so far you really do sound like a crackpot, or Seppelt publishes another article to get an idea of how the sports federations just abuse it.

Maybe Landa goes the Horner route?
 

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