blackcat said:
I would prefer to stick my head under the sand, and believe in clean sport, and everyone is clean.
I think it is "OK" because the peloton create their own norms, and play by the rules they set themselves, that the public are not privy to.
In theory you are correct. But theory isn't reality. Go study auditing and then get back to me. Or accounting theory. Many of the business theories discussed there can be applied to pro sports. Ever heard of Capture Theory? It refers to a group with similar interests gaining control of a system. Think the Nazi's, think Stalin and also the Bolsheviks, think the UCI with McQuaid and also LA. Bipartisanship is needed. Tie that in with moral relativism (the idea that the moral majority may not actually be moral) and then try and fathom cycling.
One thing is clear. There is ZERO accountability in such a system. Even though one can make a case for your point, reality is that it is wrong, it isn't transparent and ultimately it's just a post ad-hoc justification for being a cheat. People cannot be trusted to GOVERN themselves when self interest is involved. Just as a business being audited should never have the book keeper handling cash, cycling cannot afford to have the teams and riders making their own psuedo ruleset. The natural assumption of anyone studying the business subjects I have, was that people cannot be trusted. Self interest, ego and lying are simply too prevalent.
Though you description is note worthy as it reveals part of the psychology of the sport. Understanding how people think and act is crucial to gaining wisdom, or knowledge if you will, on an entire system.
People aren't raised to be evil or bad (mostly), but they do end up falling into bad, destructive and sometimes evil habits and behaviour. I understand what you're saying, but this last sentence is a more appropriate way to analze the sport. Choice ultimately lies with the individual. You control yourself, what you do and who you are. You don't necessarily have power over any external locus, albeit your sport, how you are perceived etc, but you do say what you will and will not do.
For what it is worth, no authorative body should ever have conflicting interests, lack of separation of powers and some the garbage that goes on. Accountability, transparency and honesty are vital. Put it this way, if I were a yank, I'd have screamed blue murder when Obama refused to reveal his birth certificate. You want to be the first member of a nation, the first person above all others, yet you don't want to be the first person to uphold the basic fundamentals that are accepted by most citizens? ******bag qualities there. Very telling. Same goes with cycling and Sky. If cycling lived up to ideals it should, heck if most business/sports did, the world would be a better place. The next generation does not deserve to recommit the sins of their fathers and mothers. They should be allowed to make their own mistakes. This is why I take issue with your perspective BlackCat.
A few pages back, ok many, many back, thehog had a link to Wiggins quote about Armstrong. What he didn't mention was Wiggins was asking for blood profile posting to become the norm. Seemed to me like he wanted more transparency and accountability. I wonder what his perspective is now? Or is he safely thinking the majority of other riders Bio Passports are manipulated, safe in the knowledge of the pelotons ruleset ideals BlackCat mentioned, and that even if they are shown, they have all been cleverly enough manipulated. In other words, the product of a system where the rules are not stringent enough. If I remember correctly, Ashenden said the Bio Passport standards were not tight enough. They were too loose. Especially the off-score limit of 115.
Anyway, just some more food for thought.
Just one more thing BlackCat. Anyone doping is France is a criminal. By French law. Not the law of the peloton. Thus they deserve to be in the back of police wagon and off to the cells.
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