This 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?
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
4 Responses to Chiming In On Cheating
Leave a Reply
Gas Money
“Shitstorm” is right and I was a little surprised by the response.
The original letter was simply a query as to how the rules are – or should be – applied in a non-sanctioned event. For me, it was an interesting exercise in interpreting the rules of both USA Cycling and, more importantly, the World Anti-Doping Code. Hey, I’m a lawyer. I like doing that kind of stuff.
What surprised me was that there was a core of FOKs (Friends of Kenny) who felt it necessary to disparage Mike Hainsworth and others for even raising the question.
From what I can gather, Kenny hasn’t tried to race since and the issue appears to be settled.
Charles, thanks for the comment. I think the local racing scene in any part of the country can obviously stoop to very provincial grounds, as in with the FOK (friends of Kenny) trying to stick up for him, etc. Still blows my mind that people would say things like, “hey, cut him some slack. He’s not the sharpest tool in the shed and he made a mistake.” To me, all the riders who get busted for performance enhancing drugs, then blame it on being human, it just doesn’t work for me. Here in Utah, we have our own “Tuesday Night World Championships”, and I believe there would be some objections to suspended riders coming out and racing. As many people know, David Clinger was recently suspended, and he was a regular at our local training series last season. I would have a problem if he all of the sudden started showing up and racing again while serving a suspension. I think Mr. Hainsworth has done an honorable thing, and hats off to you for reporting on it.
I’m glad Kenny Williams hasn’t tried to race. I understand the frustration he probably experienced after his injury, but to take a “short-cut” to recovery disparages his competitors and all bike racers. Most of his competitors are likely less gifted than Kenny Williams, yet they soldier on, training hard, making sacrifices, pushing against their inherent limitations. Injury, life, and lack of talent are the provenance of amateur racers who compete for the love of the sport. It appears that perhaps Kenny has recognized the disdain he showed his fellow racers, and will serve his suspension in anonymity, as he should. His friends should show similar respect for the sport.
yup… you beat me to it with the clinger reference.
it would be the exact same situation. banner rider. non-sanctioned race.
I don’t think he has been around this year (yet)…
It really is about the intent of the rules. You are not supposed to be racing and/or getting the gains to be had by competition.
g