Chiming In On Cheating
13 Jun 2010, written by moto 4 CommentsThis shitstorm was opened back in April, regarding the currently suspended masters phenom, Kenny Williams, who was suspended for a positive dope test. I wrote some of my thoughts down in this post when the story first broke about Kenny. Read this article by Charles Pelkey of Velo News. Williams has apparently showed up at a few local training races, to the objection of a few local, non-cheating, ethical type bike racers. It has thrown the Northwest scene into a tizzy over the definition of “suspended” and the definition of “cheating” and the definition of “race.” After Pelkey’s article, there is a sounding board of comments. Here’s my take. Other racers on the scene are criticizing the rider who wrote the letter of objection. Kudos for Mike Hainsworth for speaking up. Suspended means suspended. There should be no place for dopers to keep racing, to keep their fitness sharp for when they make the big comeback. You know Kenny can’t wait to get back to racing when his suspension is up. What do you think?
It’s a Juicy Friday In The World Of Professional Doping
23 Apr 2010, written by moto 0 CommentsWow. VeloNews. Lots to report today. BMC draws first blood (no pun intended) and suspends Swiss rider Thomas Frei after he tested positive for EPO. Read the story here. This is after they suspended 2 riders for being implicated in an ongoing doping investigation in Italy. Unfortunately, Alessandro Ballan, last year’s World Champ, is one of the riders who has been suspended. Things are not looking good for Lance Armstrong’s Radioshack team mate Fuyu Li. Fuyu is the first rider from China to ride for a ProTour team, and now he becomes the first one to receive a doping suspension, pending the analysis of his B-sample. Read his story here.
U23 Kacper Szczepaniak Attempts Suicide
15 Mar 2010, written by moto 0 CommentsKacper Szczepaniak Attempts Suicide
March 15th, 2010 Filed Under cyclocross news
The U23 podium in Tabor © Bart Hazen
Kacper Szczepaniak, the young Polish rider who placed second in the U23 World Championships in Tabor and subsequently tested positive for EPO, tried to kill himself. His brother Pawel, who won the event and also tested positive for EPO, confirmed the news and reported to Belgian publication Het Laatste Nieuws that it was their father who intervened.
Hans Van Kasteren, the manager of the Telenet-Fidea squad for which Kasper rides, claims to have two sources that point at the brothers’ Polish coach for encouraging them to dope. “We never approve of doping, but can understand how the boys were tempted,” Van Kasteren told Het Laatste Nieuws. “Their father earns just 250 euros per month, while Kacper with a world-caliber team could easily clear 2500 euros.”
The Szczepaniak brothers dominated the U23 World Championship race, in Tabor, Czech Republic, with Pawel (20) claiming the title in front of Kacper (19). Frenchman Arnaud Jouffroy finished third, with Belgian Tom Meeusen in fourth. Last week, the UCI released positive doping results for EPO for both brothers. Pending the results of their B samples, the brothers will be stripped of their results and face suspensions and disciplinary action.
See also:
Reactions to Szczepaniak Brothers’ Positive Doping TestsSzczepaniak Brothers Positive for EPO at World Championships – Updated
Related stories:
- Reactions to Szczepaniak Brothers’ Positive Doping Tests
- Szczepaniak Brothers Positive for EPO at World Championships – Updated
- Van Der Poel, Szczepaniak win Juniors, U23 in Hoogerheide – UPDATED – Full Results and Photos
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What a horrible state of affairs that doping has stretched its reach down to the ranks of the U23. U23 used to be called the “Espoirs” category, which means “Hope.” Now it should be called the Despair category. I wonder if this will be the first doping case where two brothers were popped for EPO, let alone from the same race. We’ve heard before of team mates being implicated in doping scandals, usually pointing higher up to systemic doping programs implemented by coaches and trainers. These are dark times. We’re talking about kids here, 19 and 20 years old. I am hoping that young Kacper realizes there is more to life than cycling, and that his life is not over. I’m sure this all sounds awfully judgmental, but when I read the part about how his father makes 250 euro a month and he had the chance to earn 2500 racing his bike, I take on a different perspective. We’re not talking about the level of fraud of a Grand Tour champion who makes millions a year. We’re talking about a blue collar kid trying to eek out a blue collar living, and he rolled the dice. Not saying it’s right. Just saying we all might have a different perspective if we grew up in Poland and ate horse. What do you think?