Hamilton Popped Again
17 Apr 2009, written by 0 CommentsAs I reflect on the revelations today that Tyler Hamilton has tested positive for the banned steroid DHEA, all I can say is, the sport will not miss him. For whatever the reason, there are too many of these stories out there. Read the newsflash on cyclingnews.com. He is quoted as saying he knowingly took a homeopathic supplement containing the banned substance, knowing full-well that he would be tested out-of-competition, but took it because he was he was fighting depressions and was desperate: “…I was going through a very rough moment and I was desperate. I heard about it and thought I would try it out as an act of desperation…did I take for a banned substance? Absolutely not.”
At first, I had some very negative thoughts on this topic. You can read all the reasons why Tyler resorted to this homo-pathetic supplement rather than go back to a doctor to treat his illness. You can read all the expert’s opinions that conclude although DHEA is banned, it really can’t be considered a performance enhancer. You can read all about the reasons why Tyler has been fighting depression lately, like his ruined 1st career, a career which endeared him to the hearts of cycling fans who admired his gritty ride through the pain attitude (thinking back to riding the entire tour and winning a stage with a broken collarbone). Or his maligned 2nd career riding for the dubious Rock Racing outfit. Read the story and decide for yourself.
Apparently, it seems, the 2nd career has not lived up to the expectations of a fresh start everyone was hoping for, and this young man is troubled beyond the repair that could be given by racing a bike. I raced against Tyler back in the amateur days in New England, in the late 80’s and early 90’s. I have some fond memories of riding in breakaways at a little Tuesday night training race in Plaistow, New Hampshire, just putting the stick to everyone else. I admired him back then for his talent to spare, but later I hated him after getting popped for blood transfusions after his Athens Olympic gold medal. I hated him for his heroic exploits that taught us there was more to pro cycling than Lance Armstrong’s domination of the tour, only to find out the whole thing was a sham. I hated him a little bit for coming back last year and robbing Blake Caldwell of the U.S. Pro Road Racing title, even though deep down there was a tiny part of me that was happy he could still do it. It would have been nice to see the young Caldwell turn the page on the old guys, but Tyler nipped him at the line. I can’t hate the guy anymore. I can only wish him well in his battle against depression, but I am glad he is retiring and getting on with life. Hopefully he can have a life without cycling, and it brings a new beginning that could not be fulfilled by racing again. I think he is doing the right thing by admitting his guilt, retiring from cycling, and trying to get his life together. Good luck.
There’s More Than Red Bull In That Syringe
25 Mar 2009, written by 2 CommentsWhat’s up with the Austrians? They make great motorcycles, fuel an entire actions sports industry with their wonderful invention of Red Bull, and up until 2008, allowed blood doping in their sporting culture. Walter Mayer, a former Austrian national biathalon coach was recently arrested for supplying EPO to cyclists. It’s about time. Folks who can remember back to the Salt Lake Winter Olympics probably remember reports that after the Austrian nordic boys left their condo near the Soldier Hollow venue, a housekeeper found a stash of used blood bags. Never heard much more about it after that. Walter Mayer gets our Juicer of the Month award.
More Dopers & Dealers
13 Oct 2008, written by moto 0 CommentsPeople have been asking me what I think about Armstrong making a comeback. Honestly, I haven’t given it much thought. The sport is so fucked right now. Maybe Lance can come back and save it after all. I don’t think so. I think it’s too far gone. I am thinking, if Lance were a smart man, he’d stay the hell away. Put it all in the rearview. As much as I hate to admit it, though, if there is anyone who can save cycling from a downward spiral into the realm of who gives a crap, Lance is probably the only guy. Here are three reasons why I don’t think Armstrong can save cycling:
1. The idea that cycling is cleaning up is straight up trash. Bernard Kohl, 3rd place finisher in this year’s Tour de France was just confirmed positive for CERA. Of course he was. The guy looks like a cross between Frankenstein and the Pillsbury Doughboy, and he won the CLIMBERS jersey in the Tour? Not without some junk getting pumped in his trunk. Get ready folks. You heard it here first. The news that Kohl, a talentless nobody, got popped for the same crap that Schumacher, Ricco, and Piepoli went down for is nothing compared to what’s coming next. My prediction is that in the next few days, a small, neutral country will lose a national hero.
2. Wherever there are dealers, there will be dopers. So Francico Mancebo, the Spanish Tour de France star who was caught up in Operation Puerto a few years back retired in shame because he was implicated in the same doping scandal that nailed the Kaiser, Basso, Sevilla. He decides to race again, and takes the win in some crap race in Mexico. Guess who is there to offer him a contract to make money at bike racing? That’s right, your friendly neighborhood crack-and-overpriced denim dealer Mike Ball. I guess Mike feels like Tyler, Botero & Babyface need some company on his team of “rockers.” Maybe Mike’s only real crime is a victimless crime, selling over-priced crap clothing to white-trash wannabe rockstars, and smoking cigarettes at bike races, while his stylishly-clad pariahs ride around in circles like gerbils on Habitrails, but I think his crimes to the sport of cycling are irreparable. He pays salaries to dopers so they can keep racing. How’s Lance going to fix that? It’s just not right.
3. You heard it here first, folks. Blood samples from the Beijing Olympics cycling events will be tested for CERA, and a no doubt, a few cheaters will be exposed.
So what does this all mean? How does Paolo Bettini feel right now? He basically retired because his team wouldn’t renew his contract because they were hiring Schumacher instead. People after the Tour were disappointed with Cadel Evans saying he was a boring rider and a wheelsucker and he didn’t deserve to win. Well, you’d be sucking wheel too, if you were trying to ride with guys who jacked up their hematocrit with the latest designer cheat-sauce. Good luck Lance. You’ll need it.