UCI Need Stick To Their Drug Testing Rules
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I’m starting to wonder by the end of this drug retesting saga if there will be any professional cyclists that will come out clean! Austrian rider Bernhard Kohl has become the latest cyclist to fail a drugs test and once again the chosen substance used was CERA. To make matters worse Kohl was a title winner at the Tour de France winning the King of the Mountains as well as the bronze medal in the overall standings.
Kohl is the fourth cyclist found guilty for substance abuse this month and he joins Stefan Schumacher, Leonardo Piepoli and Riccardo Ricco in the hall of shame. All four had raced in the Tour de France and all four tested positive for CERA leading to fears that this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Kohl’s positive sample comes just days after the International Cycling Union made the surprising announcement that Lance Armstrong would be allowed to make his cycling comeback in January's Tour Down Under. The ruling for riders coming out of retirement states that they must be in the UCI’s anti-doping regime for six months before being allowed to race again. Technically this would mean that Armstrong would not be able resume tour racing until the 1st February 2009.
However the Tour Down Under actually commences on the 20th January 2009 and so the UCI ruled that due to improved drug-testing methods they would allow him to return early. That is quite simply an outrageous decision and this blatant disregard of their own policy couldn’t have come at a worse time. The UCI must either stick to the rules they have set for every cyclist or if they feel these no longer apply conceive new ones.
Under no circumstances can a governing body of any sport inconsistently implement their own rules, especially ones surrounding a topic as sensitive as drug testing. The UCI’s decision to allow Armstrong to return early sends out mixed messages regarding their stance on drugs and they have clearly allowed him to return early because of the media coverage he will bring as a result of his return.
To justify their actions the UCI claimed that as a result of his early return Armstrong will be watched extremely closely. However with the Tour Down Under being the first major tour to take place since this Cera drug storm began I can’t imagine there will be any cyclist who will not be closely watched for signs of substance abuse. With the reputation of road cycling currently under immense scrutiny, now should be the time to strictly enforce any drug related rules.
 | Author: | matt.renton (matt.renton's profile, matt.renton's blog) |
 | Posted On: | Tuesday, 14th October '08, 4:29pm |
 | Tags: | Cycling, Drugs, Exercise, Fitness and Testing |
 | Comments: | 2 comments, go to comments |
Comments
I've always had an uneasy
AdaWakeman
I've always had an uneasy feeling about Lance Armstrong and steroid use. I know this is heresy, and I have nothing concrete to go on, but I remember watching Jose Canseco on 60 Minutes, and how he sat and sniffed involuntarily the entire time he discussed his use of steroids. Later I watched Lance Armstrong on Oprah. Anyway, he sat there and sniffed involuntarily just the way Jose Canseco had. Maybe it was entirely coincidental and meant nothing, but it gave me an uneasy feeling. We're supposed to love Lance Armstrong. He's supposed to be a good guy, and not a cheater. I hope he is. I really hope he is. But I won't be shocked if he's not and he will end up in a drug rehab center.
Sniffing is a reaction to
timada
Sniffing is a reaction to steroid use. Somehow I have to admit O always had a weird feeling about Lance because of the same sniffing habit he has. Of course he might need a drug detox to get over the steroid use.