Why I believe ALL the Pro Peloton are doping...

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Haven't read everything (yet), but one thing I've always wondered about:

 

Dope Control takes place AFTER the stage.

As long as you are under the limit, then you're okay.

What would happen if they tested BEFORE the stage?

I wonder if many of these guys are OVER the limit before and during the stage and arrive just below the limit towards the end.

Teams spend millions on anti-doping measures - aka, measures to dope without getting caught.

 

Yeah, they do test before the stage, quite often, but its usually randomly done, testing after the stage is more focused, winner of the stage, leader overall etc.

 

Things are now very controlled by the team doctors, and all the teams have their own instruments to test Hematocrit etc so its relativly easy for the doctor to know exactly where the athletes parameters are at any one time..

 

I think many were (and I say WERE) as things are a lot more stringent now over the limit before the stage and even during, up to around 2000 they didnt even escort the athlete to doping control, they just told him / her to pitch up in 30 minutes, so riders would quickly go and have their blood tested and if it was over 50% they quickly had their blood diluted with saline or Haemecil which dropped their haematocrit immediately. No one was the wiser.

 

But, its all changed now of course, they are escorted to the controls, they dont only test for haematocrit and the tests are so advanced now there are other signs they look for as well as healthy blood parameters.

[T-Bob]

I don't know if you've looked at this list... http://en.wikipedia....ases_in_cycling , but please do. It's very sobering.

 

Fark, that list is awful.

 

So many of my heros as a kid that I believed were 'honest' and 'clean' before doping began in earnest with EPO and the rest...

 

 

Laurent Fignon, Stephen Roche, Pedro Delgado, Adri van der Poel.

 

Actually feel betrayed... I watched them year in, year out, trained with them in mind and sneered in disgust as anyone who slowly and surely started to get caught.

 

Glad I just ride for me now a days.

[Squier]

The other worrying thing is if you look at the comments from the pro peleton after a rider has been caught (like with Contador now). No one condemns the rider but everyone supports him. Even in such a highly competitive sport. Can everybody really be such great sporting gentlemen? Even when he was still competing whilst his case was ongoing I expected a bigger outcry by his competitors. But nothing... I think only Tony Martin made a comment at some point.

 

I've also read articles (like mentioned by SwissVan) that says a clean athlete can perform as well as a doped athlete if you can get your preparation perfect. However, the problem is recovery. A clean cyclist performing at the level of a doped up cyclist on a day is possible, but sticking with them through 3 weeks is unlikely.

 

This is also quite a good read to explain the effect of the different doping products. Got it from someone here on thehub. Can't remember who though... http://www.outsideonline.com/fitness/Drug-Test.html?page=all