By Robert on Monday, 27 October 2008
Category: Uncategorised

Why dope cheats do it

Bernhard Kohl has apparently been interviewed about his slide into doping (cyclingnews.com).  The essential points make for interesting reading:

His decision to dope followed an extended period without results despite a good showing in the Dauphine Libere, a crash, and an awareness that contract negotiations for next season go on during and after the Tour d France.  He claims it was his decision to take CERA.  He complains about the press blaming riders alone for doping.  The media blame game may well be directed at the riders, and I think this raises interesting points.

Pressure for results does of course come from the team.  In the modern era where all riders have UCI points, these become important to all riders, even domestiques, for gaining the next contract.  Perhaps we need stricter rules to be applied to team management, particularly regarding the coaches and sports doctors that riders are permitted access to?  Unless sponsors react firmly, no penalties seem to stick to the team management.  

Kohl calls for pharmaceutical manufacturers to put markers in their products, to enable easier testing.  Ironically, the reason he and the other riders busted for CERA wre busted because the maker of CERA aided in the development of tests for this "undetectable EPO".

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