Richard England

What’s with all the 2nd chances???

// June 28th, 2009 // Uncategorized

So i am left to ponder, as i scour through cycling news this week, why cycling continues to try and shoot itsself in the foot and graciously acceptback into its ranks riders and athletes who have gone out of their way to destroy such a great sport. Im talking about the Ricardo Ricco’s and Alexander Vinokourov’s of this word. It seems to me that if sponsors and teams dont make a stand and show a united front that riders like these will not be welcomed back into the sport at a level of any recognition, then we will continue to be our own worst enemy in trying to clean out the sport of what we hate so much about it. If there is a clear and strong message that serious doping, particularly in such arrogant termsas the 2 cases i preciously mentioned, will not be tolerated and that you will not be accepted back into the sport with open arms, as is currently the case, then surely that will be the biggest deterrent we could offer. As things stand currently, and you think that after stealing millions of dollars from the riders who do it clean and honestly you can justify to yourself a pleasant and comfortable 2 year holiday, knowing that upon your return you can walk straight back into a high paying position in a pro tour team again…where is the deterrent??? some people will inevitably avoid detection and will therefor be able to continue a career and continue to steal from those who do it on blood, sweat and tears…but if teams and sponsors would band together and let people know that once you have been convicted of a serious doping offence, there will be no way for you to return back to top level racing, then i believe these riders will start to sweat in their palms a little.

So regardless of the UCI and its rules and regulations…i cant understand why teams allow this practice to continue, when its riders like these that have single handedly seen sponsors and other outlets withdraw their support from the sport. I know its not going to happen…but i sure as hell would like to see it…