The inconsistency and inadequacy of anti-doping tests

[Alpe d'Huez]

I dont think theres much we can do sadly.

Sure there is.

• Remove Hein Verbruggen and Pat McQuaid from the UCI, and put someone in charge who will overhaul the system, and make it completely transparent. Someone like Sylvia Shenk, Patrice Clerc, or Greg LeMond.

• Validate the test for plasticizers, and begin full retroactive testing on all samples over the last 8 years. Riders that test positive will have all of their palmares stripped for races they are positive, and be forced to repay all winnings, plus interest, and face a two-year ban.

• Offer whistleblower incentives to riders and support staff who cooperate, and supply verifiable evidence of doping.

• Implement strict rules banning any and all support staff who aids in doping for life.

• Work with law enforcement, or even private investigators to set-up sting operations, and infiltrate organizations and teams to root out dopers.

• Work with justice and law makers to increase punishment for PEDs in sports.

• Increase the percentage of funding to fight anti-doping.

• Encourage pharmaceutical companies to cooperate in the fight against PEDs, such as what Roche did with CERA.

• Increase media pressure on both suspected dopers, and on clean riders to stand tall and out dopers. We need more journalists like Walsh and Kimmage, not less.

• Fans need to no longer tolerate doping, at all. They need to contact sponsors about the issue, inform mainstream media outlets on the problems of doping in cycling, and keep up the pressure on them to report about it accordingly. Fans can also pressure riders to do the right thing, and vocally support those that do, and chide, even ridicule dopers.

 

[mtb Dad]

Can't catch all criminals?

Abolish the law then.

+1
Better said than many longer posts.

 

[mtb Dad]

Sure there is.

• Remove Hein Verbruggen and Pat McQuaid from the UCI, and put someone in charge who will overhaul the system, and make it completely transparent. Someone like Sylvia Shenk, Patrice Clerc, or Greg LeMond.

• Validate the test for plasticizers, and begin full retroactive testing on all samples over the last 8 years. Riders that test positive will have all of their palmares stripped for races they are positive, and be forced to repay all winnings, plus interest, and face a two-year ban.

• Offer whistleblower incentives to riders and support staff who cooperate, and supply verifiable evidence of doping.

• Implement strict rules banning any and all support staff who aids in doping for life.

• Work with law enforcement, or even private investigators to set-up sting operations, and infiltrate organizations and teams to root out dopers.

• Work with justice and law makers to increase punishment for PEDs in sports.

• Increase the percentage of funding to fight anti-doping.

• Encourage pharmaceutical companies to cooperate in the fight against PEDs, such as what Roche did with CERA.

• Increase media pressure on both suspected dopers, and on clean riders to stand tall and out dopers. We need more journalists like Walsh and Kimmage, not less.

• Fans need to no longer tolerate doping, at all. They need to contact sponsors about the issue, inform mainstream media outlets on the problems of doping in cycling, and keep up the pressure on them to report about it accordingly. Fans can also pressure riders to do the right thing, and vocally support those that do, and chide, even ridicule dopers.

Good post. I'd only add:

Show up at your national federation AGM and vote to pressure the UCI to do these things.

Boycott sponsors of doping teams.

Support anti-doping companies and athletes.

 

[JMBeaushrimp]

The UCI's random application of penalties for positive results is a problem.

I'm not sure the imperfect ability of testing is really that much of a problem. Nothing like not knowing what you're getting tested for as you walk into doping control...

As I've said many times - everyone knows what's on the list.

You test pos for anything on the list (hopefully to include plastic in the near future), you're f*cked.

It's been proven that the UCI is lacking in the enforcement arm of the sport, so remove them. We've got WADA that covers many sports, how about an overreaching body that deals with infractions rather then send the results to federations or governing bodies?

It IS possible to clean up sport, it'll just take measures that work as hard as the guys trying to beat the tests.

 

[Altitude]

Sure there is.

• Remove Hein Verbruggen and Pat McQuaid from the UCI, and put someone in charge who will overhaul the system, and make it completely transparent. Someone like Sylvia Shenk, Patrice Clerc, or Greg LeMond.

• Validate the test for plasticizers, and begin full retroactive testing on all samples over the last 8 years. Riders that test positive will have all of their palmares stripped for races they are positive, and be forced to repay all winnings, plus interest, and face a two-year ban.

• Offer whistleblower incentives to riders and support staff who cooperate, and supply verifiable evidence of doping.

• Implement strict rules banning any and all support staff who aids in doping for life.

• Work with law enforcement, or even private investigators to set-up sting operations, and infiltrate organizations and teams to root out dopers.

• Work with justice and law makers to increase punishment for PEDs in sports.

• Increase the percentage of funding to fight anti-doping.

• Encourage pharmaceutical companies to cooperate in the fight against PEDs, such as what Roche did with CERA.

• Increase media pressure on both suspected dopers, and on clean riders to stand tall and out dopers. We need more journalists like Walsh and Kimmage, not less.

• Fans need to no longer tolerate doping, at all. They need to contact sponsors about the issue, inform mainstream media outlets on the problems of doping in cycling, and keep up the pressure on them to report about it accordingly. Fans can also pressure riders to do the right thing, and vocally support those that do, and chide, even ridicule dopers.

Now you're just being ridiculous.

 

[Altitude]

As for the masking situation, perhaps Mosquera just masked his EPO more carefully than Garcia. How exactly does the Hydroxyethyl starch work? If you use it correctly then no test can detect the EPO in your system, right?

 

[PotentialPro]

I like the controlled substance angle. It is obvious that the method to buy these drugs involve being outside the law in most of the countries involved. Add into it assistance from advanced authorities on the drugs and masking agents. Perhaps prosecution for sporting fraud, possession of a controlled substance and other applicable laws so that an athlete and other involved persons face prison time. If you consider few countries pursue the athlete. Yes, there have been some raids by Italy, Spain and a few others, but is that enough? Most of that has been tipped off information. Granted the police in those areas have other crimes to pursue as well. And it often involves the horse dieing prior to reaching the finish line prior to the authorities investigating. Maybe the consequences of a 2 year ban is just not enough.