VeloNews is reporting today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency is about to release the names of "15 to 25 masters, elite and pro cyclists" who have been notified of violations because they allegedly conspired with a former pro cyclist, Joe Papp. The article explains that Papp pleaded guilty earlier this year to distributing HGH and EPO to 187 customers, including cyclists, and implies that Papp entered a plea arrangement and may be providing information on his customer list in order to obtain leniency.
Relatedly, last week, we learned in several news reports that a 41 year old amateur racer, Duane Dickey, was given a lifetime ban for refusing to submit to a doping test. Dickey was found to fail a test years earlier and his refusal this year constituted his second violation. Apparently, Dickey was one of Papp's clients and Papp is now leading the authorities to other clients. Interestingly, Dickey was not a very successful amateur but still was found doping. This suggests doping in cycling may be among the amateur ranks.
The article also says that Papp indicated on Twitter that a pro cyclist in the top 5 at one of the stages in the Tour of Utah this year was doping. The top five at that stage included: Levi Leipheimer, Francisco Mancebo, Ian Boswell, Darren Lill and Phil Zajicek. Levi Leipheimer was also named in the Lance Armstrong investigation when Floyd Landis made his claims earlier this year.
I hope they hurry up with that investigation. I'm almost out of popcorn.
ReplyDeleteNo surprise here. I had teamates in 89 and 90 doping in the junior ranks. They should go back and look at the 91 Junior World Road Championships and interview that team. Look at who was at the top of the sport at a young age but have never been heard of since. Ask them their story of how they won, and then disappeared fromt the sport.
ReplyDeleteFrankly, I can't blame them though. Some would say my 2:00 PM Diet Coke is doping, but how else can I compete in a very competitive job market when everyone else is on coffee and tea and I'm trying to remain competitve with ideas and value while balancing church and family on top of the job. Some would throw darts at me for having a couple of cans of coke during the day, but is it really that different given the high percentage of athletes that were dopping?
Anyway, keep up the blog. Look forward to following it more in the future.
Mark, I enjoyed your comments. It would be interesting to hear from those former juniors who are no longer racing. As for your Diet Coke, one big difference is that there are no rules against it. Doping in cycling is clearly defined and those who do it are cheating by breaking the rules of the game. If they jumped in a car and got a ride for 50 miles, they would be cheating as well. I know you know these things but, for some reason, some people forget that there is a big difference between finding the best fuel for their body within the rules and doing something that the rules prohibit.
ReplyDeleteYes, but some would argue there are religious rules against it...
ReplyDeleteWhen you take out a racing license you agree to PLAY BY THE RULES. Everyone gets a rule book so they can know the rules. When you don't play by the rules you're called a CHEATER, whether you cheat by using banned substances or hiding an electric motor in your seat tube. Cycling will NEVER be cleaned up until the ones that profit most from cheating are caught and punished. This doesn't mean only the racers but the team owners, managers, doctors and sponsors as well.
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