Kenny Williams

[Colm.Murphy]

It is fact. In fact it was this same issue that kept Landis from racing MTN bikes while suspend. It is the same reason why Tyler was asked to leave the local Boulder crit series.

?

Landis did several MTB races in 2008, and Leadville in 2007.

From what I was able to gather was that they were NUE events, not anything to do with USA cycling.

 

[Oldman]

Couple of points here:
1. Sounds like a witch hunt. It is not the racers, race promotors or officials who get to decide if one has been punished enough or not or if they have shown remorse. This appears to be part of the point this person is trying to make.
2. Why is it ok to say 1 rule should be followed and another can not?
3. Consider the source of this "editorial". It is an editorial from a local racer who has been racing against Kenny for 15+ years with an obvious long time jealously issue. I know this person and know he is not respected or liked in the peleton and was written purely for his own self interest, not done in the spirit of helping cycling.
4. His personal problem has the potential to hurt NW cycling. It is causing people to be forced to choose "sides"; potentially losing a race promotor; potential to lose the race he seems to be fighting for

Several notes: On item 3 Mr Hainsworth has consistently been capable of beating serious pros beyond the capability of KW. Nothing is obvious other than he wrote at the request of a much higher USAC authority than is ruling on this local crit series to encourage local mitigation. It was an attempt to lessen the potential damage. Fortunately KW listend and understood.

4. There is no other problem other than ignorance or circumvention of a USA sanction. Other licensed riders, officials, promoter, sponsors knowingly involved run the risk of suspension. Read also Appendices 3, 8 in USACycling rules. It's not personal, it's the f*cking rules. No rider should lose his right to participate because of cute, disingenuous interpretations of the rules.

Having said that I do think KW was ill advised by others and wouldn't have done this without some encouragement.

 

[pnwrider]

I've been looking in the USAC 2010 rulebook, and can't find anything related to suspending club members or promoters for riding with Mr. Williams. Appendices 3 and 8, which you reference are 3) About racing in foreign countries 8) Doesn't exist.

I will agree that he was probably in violation of the aforementioned USADA statute (at least the spirit of it anyway), but he is only hurting himself, not others.

 

[Oldman]

I've been looking in the USAC 2010 rulebook, and can't find anything related to suspending club members or promoters for riding with Mr. Williams. Appendices 3 and 8, which you reference are 3) About racing in foreign countries 8) Doesn't exist.

I will agree that he was probably in violation of the aforementioned USADA statute (at least the spirit of it anyway), but he is only hurting himself, not others.

Sorry. Starting with Appendix 1, Code of Conduct,Policy IV Chapter II-

Section 1. Scope. All members of USA Cycling and all persons who participate in any official function of USA Cycling are subject to disciplinary action as provided in this Policy. For purposes of this Policy, the meaning of the term member includes members of USA Cycling; persons participating in a bicycle race held under a USA Cycling or Association permit; affiliated organizations; and race promoters and their employees, independent contractors, and volunteers. For the purposes of this Policy, members are also subject to disciplinary actions for their conduct at bicycle races in other countries.
256
Section 2. Violations. Any breach by a member of a provision of USA Cycling regulations, rules, policies, Code of Conduct, or other actions which substantially prejudices either the ability of USA Cycling to carry out its tasks or the sport of bicycle racing shall be subject to discipline as provided in this Policy, including loss of eligibility or other appropriate penalties.

The point being that such behavior jeopardized more people than was intended by the any of the people arguing any point in what was an emergent popularity contest.

We don't have a choice in the matter as, due to this violation USA Cycling had to suspend a rider and the UCI had to negate a World Record. Do anyone honestly think in this anti-drug climate that this wouldn't have repurcussions?

 

[GreggGermer]

The problem is that KW did something that was in from a technical standpoint not illegal (as this was an unsanctioned event), but as USAC knows these things can (and have happened) they created the rule of sanctioning those around around the person who is banned in an effort to use peer pressure to keep those who can cheat the system (yet again) from racing ... in this case KW didn't yield to peer pressure and this is what has caused the rift. I personally think it was a bit d#$kish of him to race while on a ban, especially when he had admitted his guilt in the doping violation.

 

[Oldman]

The problem is that KW did something that was in from a technical standpoint not illegal (as this was an unsanctioned event), but as USAC knows these things can (and have happened) they created the rule of sanctioning those around around the person who is banned in an effort to use peer pressure to keep those who can cheat the system (yet again) from racing ... in this case KW didn't yield to peer pressure and this is what has caused the rift. I personally think it was a bit d#$kish of him to race while on a ban, especially when he had admitted his guilt in the doping violation.

You hit it on the head. UCI and USA Cycling are very skittish at the prospect of sanctioned pros having an opportunity to continue profitting while suspended and, while they may not add any penalties to the offending rider; they certainly will act on promoters, teams, sponsors and other riders that knowingly assist. USA Cycling is particularly vulnerable in that many statewide associations are now independent. If they were to start allowing this, even on an amateur level, they risk the ultimate wrath of the UCI and IOC. I'm sure the footage of DeLuca riding an unsanctioned event in Italy got the UCI's attention and this isn't different just because it's a local amateur/pro.
A suspension is supposed to hurt the rider, however "gray" he and his supporters may feel the offense to be. That's why it is a deterrent. In this case KW may be over-villanized and didn't just participate. He was encouraged to participate by others who just don't get it. It is much ado about a small scene and it appears to have worked out locally.

 

[Race Radio]

http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/04/explainer/should-kenny-rid_113635

Pelkey, as usual, does a good job explaining

 

[Oldman]

http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/04/explainer/should-kenny-rid_113635

Pelkey, as usual, does a good job explaining

They pretty much had to be spoon-fed the story. One note is that Mike H was speaking for many at the invitation of many. It seems to have worked out locally and no more damage was done.
Look at the Tim Peddie string for more NW riders that went away quietly rather than succumb to the pressure to cheat.

 

[Fred Thistle]

Personally, I find it odd that there's less outrage at an amateur getting busted on this forum. Not to get all 'self-defensive pro guy', but as a pro who's probably been accused of doping on this very forum, I think it's funny you guys aren't tearing into this more. Is it easier when it's some guy you see in magazines but don't have to line up with? Is it harder to condemn one of your own, or do people just not care? serious question.

Yeah!
The dopers I line up against are the ones that irk me most

As a club racer of masters age... doping amateurs yuk