Far be it for me to try and excuse a doper like Millar clearly has been, but the parallels being drawn between him and Vino really are a bit unfair. About the only similarity between them is that they both doped. For most people, it's what occurred after the positive that is the issue:
1) Millar made an admission. Vino did not.
2) Millar received a full-length sentence. Vino got a cut-down suspension for no reason whatsoever.
3) Millar has at least expressed contrition for doping since and hasn't shied away from answering the questions when they're put to him about his past. Vino has only made statements along the lines of "that's in the past".
In short: Vino is the epitome of the worst kind of doper. Caught, never admitting guilt, reduced suspension from ridiculous same-country investigation and punishment, and refusal to be apologetic about it.
He may be an outstandingly entertaining rider to watch, but he will never ever represent anything to me other than the worst side of a sport and the worst kind of participant in it. I expect I'll remember Contador much the same way if his responses on his return are the same.
1) Millar made an admission. Vino did not.
2) Millar received a full-length sentence. Vino got a cut-down suspension for no reason whatsoever.
3) Millar has at least expressed contrition for doping since and hasn't shied away from answering the questions when they're put to him about his past. Vino has only made statements along the lines of "that's in the past".
In short: Vino is the epitome of the worst kind of doper. Caught, never admitting guilt, reduced suspension from ridiculous same-country investigation and punishment, and refusal to be apologetic about it.
He may be an outstandingly entertaining rider to watch, but he will never ever represent anything to me other than the worst side of a sport and the worst kind of participant in it. I expect I'll remember Contador much the same way if his responses on his return are the same.
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