I have a hard time believing that the Spanish authorities have released the blood bags confiscated in Operation Puerto 10 years ago. If I were a betting guy, which I can be, I would have put a lot down that those blood bags were going to be destroyed.
It is weird thinking that it has been 10 years and it is the same old. I bet Valverde is happy that the Italians set him on the pious path and that he’s already served his suspension. Supposedly there are 35 different athletes associated with the 211 bags of blood. The chart below is a good guestimate of who’s blood is there. I still can’t believe Mancebo had 20 bags. I’m not sure how you get that many bags of non-stale blood stored. They must of drained him dry after putting some of the older stuff back in?
Seems like most everyone is getting a sample of the blood. Maybe not USADA. Seems like they like to be part of the party. They are again, supposedly, sending the samples off to Spanish cycling federation, the UCI, WADA and the Italian Olympic Committee. Seems like enough to start with.
The rumor was there were a bunch of Spanish football players that did the World Cup, plus a very famous Spanish tennis star involved, so that is why this all took so long. I guess we’lll see if those rumors come true.
The weird thing is that the same judge that ruled on releasing the blood acquitted the doctor at the heart of the investigation, Eufemiano Fuentes, and three others involved for crimes against public health. He ruled that blood isn’t a medicinal product. Wow. I think that blood is pretty medicinal. Like the most “medicinal product” our bodies contain. But, law is law.
Anyway, this should be interesting I guess we’ll find out who was hiding under some of those rocks.
Tucker and Hawkeye acting all good.
Truth and Reconciliation Comission is in session. Let the games begin. Did you see “el niño” won the TT in Columbia couple days ago? If I were mancebo I’d be more embarrassed that the tv cameras caught me fighting like a girl than for blood-doping.
” I guess we’ll find out who was hiding under some of those rocks.”
I really hope you’re right but I strongly doubt it. It seems like a bit of smoke and mirrors.
It’s been an interesting week (no doubt)!.
First, we have the Puerto decision. Fuentes is off the hook because (and this actually makes sense) because Spain HAD no laws on the books back then regarding PEDs, blood doping and sporting fraud. Why do you think all those cyclists just happened to be loving in Girona, Spain?
Next, we have the British whistleblower situation:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/dr-bonar-whistleblower-says-doping-is-endemic-in-cycling/
Third, we have the “mechanical doping” corruption and cover-up at the UCI that was exposed two days ago… Of course, the UCI is throwing its full support behind its corrupt self:
http://fittish.deadspin.com/report-cycling-official-covered-up-motorized-doping-at-1781907054
And Lance Armstrong did a “pretty cool” thing by joining the ride to honor the cyclists killed in Kalamazoo last week:
http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2016/06/lance_armstrong_helps_finish_t.html
Tucker and Hawkeyelook like they’re expecting to get fed.
Every single “authority” and “government/governing body” is rife with cronyism and back scratching. Like Bill and Hillary earned hundreds of millions of dollars selling political favors while in office, “the game” is rigged, if the outcome matters at all, since the overarching characteristic of human nature is not collaboration for the betterment of all, but competition. There are those that continue with the fairy tale of how things “should be” while living in denial of how they really are, and how human beings really function. Self interest carries all the way from the very bottom, to the very top of our social structure; as in, “how will this (next) decision benefit or be to the detriment of my/our interests and survival?”
Bike racing has simply evolved into another form of gambling. Just like Las Vegas, the promise of opportunity lures in the masses, but behind the scenes the game is rigged so the people in power can benefit the most. In whatever way serves them in the moment. It’s called situational ethics, it’s the oldest story in the world. My gripe is it’s gotten down to turning road racing into a contact sport, rife with hazards causing serious injury and sacrificing the safety of the riders to gain more spectator appeal and make more money off the event, even though removing those hazards would be a no-brainer. Not exactly uplifting I know, but that’s been pro racing for some years now.
Nice political pitch there Barb … why not throw in “like Dick Cheney making hundreds of millions by sending all government contracts (oh and creating a war) to his buddies at Halliburton” … the reality is that the majority of politicians get in the game for noble reasons and the ones that keep their nobility leave quickly. If they have been there a while, they have figured out how to make it pay.
My actual favorite is the current circle jerk over Hamilton. Haven’t seen the musical but the true story of Hamilton, his buddies and how they bled millions from both the poor and the fledgling US government is stomach turning (brilliant but disgusting) … yet he is a hero?
Cynicism is certainly warranted.
I’d be all for a little editing of useless political banter. . . .
Tyler Hamilton?
put every fuckin pro these past 50 years on a lie detector test and i bet they all come up as dopers..those that never got caught are super lucky…..the test is only $450.00….. way cheaper than the EZ to pass testing they currently do now..
My post wasn’t about politics as you’re using the word, was not intended as a political pitch, it was about the reality of human nature and how what is going on in bike racing is nothing new and merely a reflection of how human beings are wired. Human beings are wired to do what it takes win, to beat the competition, to advance their own power/wealth/position etc etc, and anyone who operates in life without those overarching goals pretty much just gets run over and left behind. A good example would be how the Native Americans were decimated. They never knew what hit them. This kind of thing exists on ALL levels of sophisticated human activity. Although Cheney and Halliburton were a great example. I like to think of Cheney as the antichrist. If such a thing exists, he’s it, in human form.
I’ve just been jaded on road racing ever since the Lance debacle. He ruined it for me. I still like endurance mountain bike racing though, pretty sure Dave Weins never won Leadville 6 or 7 times using PEDs. Now THAT is inspiring bike racing. :o)
Hawkeye has an awesome coat – very handsome
Barb, I was just about to compliment you on what a great grasp you have on how human nature plays out in society. Now it seems you’ve discarded that rationale in the lance epic. He personifies the explanation you gave. The reason he won 7 tdf’s is quite simply because he did it better than anyone else. In doing so, he is the best of us and the worst of us.(just blew my own mind) Plus, lance wasn’t/isn’t a road racer. He’s a triathlete turned tdf racer. More of an ultra-endurance type competitor than roadie.
I don’t think racing has gotten particularly more dangerous it’s just gotten bigger and more widely publicized creating that perception. Rider well being has never been a priority with the UCI or sponsors, coaches, fans, press, or anyone for the clear and simple reasons you stated earlier. It does little or nothing to further they’re self interests. Riders have always been maltreated. As long as cyclists allow the uci and race organizers to dictate the conditions of racing, nothing will change. This sport is lost in the stone ages. Any other professional sport treats they’re commodity(players) with much more care because the players demand it.
Lie detectors are proven many times to be very unreliable.
Come on man, even Eddy Merx admitted to blood transfusions. Doesn’t matter. He would have killed them all anyway. Id like to put Tucker on a lie detector. Question #1 Mr.Tucker are u being held against your will? Question #2. Mr Tucker are you forcd to endure long road trips?
Mr Tucker have you ever been forced to perform sex acts for Gu’s?
Tucker and Hawkeye are beautiful dogs – I enjoy seeing their pictures!