Roykirk’s Enterprises

Thanks to a few pointed words from my brother, but especially with the example set by the steady exit of dopers from this year’s Tour de France—Ricardo (I actually cheered when I heard the news) Ricco only the latest in what is sure to be a nice little conga line—I am starting to come around to the ASO side of things.

McQuaid can sit in his ivory UCI tower and hurl insults at the Spaniards, but no one at this point can believe that doping isn’t anything but rampant and endemic throughout the sport no matter your nationality.  As certain folks have pointed out, the UCI let these shenanigans go on for years with a nod and a wink and the occasional sacrificial lamb to the pretense of doing something about the doping.

Bob Roll and Paul Sherwen keep mentioning, during the pre-race chat on Versus’ live Tour coverage, that these “random” tests are everything but random, and are in fact targeted at riders whose pre-Tour blood tests were a bit…quirky.  That may be, but still it seems to me as if even more could be done to weed out the cheats.  Still waiting to see the first French rider get caught too, as I still don’t trust the ASO/French Cycling Federation combo’s other motives.

But even wider, constant testing may not have the desired effect of actually putting the fear of god into the dopers.  For that some have put forth other suggestions.  I am especially fond of Patrick O’Grady’s latest screed on VeloNews.

Well, we could bring back the guillotine — a few beheadings after the podium ceremonies just might open a few eyes (those that it did not close permanently) while bringing Versus’ bull-riding audience over to our side of the cultural divide.

There is a certain attraction to this solution, for as O’Grady says at the end of his article, Madame Guillotine is “the podium girl to end all podium girls.”  It has a certain sense of ironic closure.

A more measured response I heard bandied about was no more two-year bans but instead permanent pariah status.  At this point, that seems to be the least that should be done.

But something must be done.  It’s come to the point where I cannot believe in the skill or will or any rider, nor can anyone else.  Mark Cavendish appears to be too good to be true.  I am waiting for the hammer to fall upon him too, while at the same time hoping that he’s the real thing.  The hope is small, however.

Thanks, dopers.

Tags: Cycling, Human Stupidity, Sports //