I feel sorry for the riders. They are guilty... but I always think this...
Sponsors put the money
Sponsors want results to continue putting the money
Teams hire riders to get those results
Teams want results to make happy the sponsors and continue living
Riders have all the pressure and if they failed they will not win bonuses... and probably dont continue in the team.
If a rider is caught... what happens?
Sponsor may leave cyclism... but will continue making money.
Team probably will finish the year and try to get a new sponsor... probably the team director continue working.
Rider will not race for two years/ever again...
I guess the pyramid is not fair at all... the most important thing should be the rider... and all the pressure sponsors make to teams and teams to riders make the bad effect to the rider.
Official communication Alexander Kolobnev | 12-7-2011
"Yesterday, during the rest day I was reported the laboratories had found a substance, hydrochlorothiazide, which I do not know where its come from. Therefore, waiting for more information, I have nothing to say about it for respect to the race organizers and cycling in general. After police's investigation made after being tested positive, the French police found nothing suspicious so we are waiting for the results and what investigation may say.
Asked by my team about what I wanted to do after this news, I have decided to leave the Tour de France in a voluntary and personal decision waiting for the b-sample in the following days and, again showing my respect to UCI and WADA rules. I must say that I have received all the support from the team from the beginning and I have not been fired, as some media reported yesterday".
Credits to him. He might be a cheater and all, but at least he is acting in a respectable way for somebody who's just got a positive A sample.
Yet, he's already considered guilty by most of us (me included), and general media are cheering in joy because TDF has just had its first positive test of the year. That is sick.
Aquarius wrote:
Credits to him. He might be a cheater and all, but at least he is acting in a respectable way for somebody who's just got a positive A sample.
Yet, he's already considered guilty by most of us (me included), and general media are cheering in joy because TDF has just had its first positive test of the year. That is sick.
This is something that, despite the fact that it's been this way for a long time, doesn't cease to 'impact' me. When a positive test is announce during a cycling competition (usually during GT) it's always called, by the media, the first positive test, as if it was a natural thing to happen, so more of them are expected. Just like calling Gilbert the first leader after the first stage, if you get what I mean.
Yeah, a pointless reflexion, but it's still something that has always somehow shocked me.
