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Why do we track blood and not money?

Jun 21, 2016
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If everything that has been written about the macrodosing and the corruption of testing officials selling date, etc. (and the recent Russian conspiracy - sorry I do not know what else to call it) - focusing on blood testing seems almost a fools errand given the number of way to go spoof it, or even have a positive test 'disappear'.

The one constant in all of this is greed. People are offering up services and shortcuts, and they are not doing it out of the kindness of their hearts. They are doing it for profit.

In this day an age, money money around is ... difficult to do without leaving a trail. I think there are a couple of very easy measure that can be taken to reduce the instances of drug abuse in sports in general, and cycling specifically.

#1 - Mandatory financial screening of all WADA lab technicians and managers - any unexplained monetary compensation is ground for immediate dismissal. Any unauthorized or oft books accounts are ground for immediate dismissal. No questions asked.

#2 - Instead of blood parameter screening, which has, IMHO, allowed professional dopers an analytical means of gaming the system. They still have to pay for the drugs and medical expertise to provide the analysis and invest the right cocktail of drugs to beat the system. Once again, unexplained or suspicious financial transactions are ground for a ban - length TBD.

#3 - The UCI already has some severe financial constraints for teams, but requiring audits and the tracking of money would preclude or severely reduce team sponsored drug offenses.

The ne constant to all the doping is the spending of money to win races to make money. Money, in the digital age, leaves unmistakable foot prints, and even if not conclusive - suspicious spending could certainly trigger targeting blood testing and possibly catching the guys in the act.

The focus on climbs, while promising, is subjective. Following money? It's just math.

I am wondering why this kind of scrutiny is not happening, or, if it is, why its not getting more attention?
 
And who's going to do all that? You, HMRC, UKAD? Doping isn't illegal in the UK so criminal law cannot be easily invoked. In some countries it is. law enforcement already involves itself. Italy is an example. It has a system of investigating magistrates supported by the Carabinieri who provide the sleuths and manpower. They certainly look for money trails as is well known from cases past and present.
 
gree0232x said:
If everything that has been written about the macrodosing and the corruption of testing officials selling date, etc. (and the recent Russian conspiracy - sorry I do not know what else to call it) - focusing on blood testing seems almost a fools errand given the number of way to go spoof it, or even have a positive test 'disappear'.

The one constant in all of this is greed. People are offering up services and shortcuts, and they are not doing it out of the kindness of their hearts. They are doing it for profit.

In this day an age, money money around is ... difficult to do without leaving a trail. I think there are a couple of very easy measure that can be taken to reduce the instances of drug abuse in sports in general, and cycling specifically.

#1 - Mandatory financial screening of all WADA lab technicians and managers - any unexplained monetary compensation is ground for immediate dismissal. Any unauthorized or oft books accounts are ground for immediate dismissal. No questions asked.

#2 - Instead of blood parameter screening, which has, IMHO, allowed professional dopers an analytical means of gaming the system. They still have to pay for the drugs and medical expertise to provide the analysis and invest the right cocktail of drugs to beat the system. Once again, unexplained or suspicious financial transactions are ground for a ban - length TBD.

#3 - The UCI already has some severe financial constraints for teams, but requiring audits and the tracking of money would preclude or severely reduce team sponsored drug offenses.

The ne constant to all the doping is the spending of money to win races to make money. Money, in the digital age, leaves unmistakable foot prints, and even if not conclusive - suspicious spending could certainly trigger targeting blood testing and possibly catching the guys in the act.

The focus on climbs, while promising, is subjective. Following money? It's just math.

I am wondering why this kind of scrutiny is not happening, or, if it is, why its not getting more attention?

Because, the people at the top do not want to catch dopers. And they definately do not want to catch the money men.
 
gree0232x said:
If everything that has been written about the macrodosing and the corruption of testing officials selling date, etc. (and the recent Russian conspiracy - sorry I do not know what else to call it) - focusing on blood testing seems almost a fools errand given the number of way to go spoof it, or even have a positive test 'disappear'.

The one constant in all of this is greed. People are offering up services and shortcuts, and they are not doing it out of the kindness of their hearts. They are doing it for profit.

In this day an age, money money around is ... difficult to do without leaving a trail. I think there are a couple of very easy measure that can be taken to reduce the instances of drug abuse in sports in general, and cycling specifically.

#1 - Mandatory financial screening of all WADA lab technicians and managers - any unexplained monetary compensation is ground for immediate dismissal. Any unauthorized or oft books accounts are ground for immediate dismissal. No questions asked.

#2 - Instead of blood parameter screening, which has, IMHO, allowed professional dopers an analytical means of gaming the system. They still have to pay for the drugs and medical expertise to provide the analysis and invest the right cocktail of drugs to beat the system. Once again, unexplained or suspicious financial transactions are ground for a ban - length TBD.

#3 - The UCI already has some severe financial constraints for teams, but requiring audits and the tracking of money would preclude or severely reduce team sponsored drug offenses.

The ne constant to all the doping is the spending of money to win races to make money. Money, in the digital age, leaves unmistakable foot prints, and even if not conclusive - suspicious spending could certainly trigger targeting blood testing and possibly catching the guys in the act.

The focus on climbs, while promising, is subjective. Following money? It's just math.

I am wondering why this kind of scrutiny is not happening, or, if it is, why its not getting more attention?

Obviously, this is never going to be workable, because of legality issues and also how intrusive it would be in a person's private life.

However, I often wonder whether and how teams and these sporting institutions are audited - not only financially but in terms of their governance. It could be a stipulation of licences and investors that very rigorous investigations are done - not the sort that only checks the maths adds up but that they spent on what they said they spent on - and how they were doing against internal policies - e.g. the ZTP.
 
Oct 16, 2010
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Interesting idea, but not necessary as long as Plan A (properly funded and genuinely independent antidoping) hasnt even been tried yet.
 
Mar 13, 2009
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Re:

saganftw said:
legal issues aside,if you tracked the money it would inevitably lead to a powerfull wealthy person with connections - we cant have that
legality aside, get some of the academics in a room with

Manzano and Jaksche, and Bassons

Hoberman, Yesalis, Catlin, Savulescu

Ashenden

+ Conte


pretty easy to make a certain judgement on doping v not doping
 
Mar 13, 2009
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IndianCyclist said:
1 & 2 - Violation of fundamental rights without probable cause
3 - Nowadays team wide doping is less due to the problem that there is a greater probability of someone snitching

how was Remi de Gregorio snatched, how was Millar snatched, were they legally arrested?
 

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