June 05, 2006
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The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

Drug-raid stats astounding
Editor:
After reading the articles regarding the recent Liberty Seguros drug bust I was completely surprised by the magnitude of the findings. Found were more than 200 containers of blood and a few thousand capsules of EPO. Are that many riders risking their careers for the extra boost? Are the drug tests that inefficient at catching the cheaters that so many would continue to risk the results?

It kind of reminds me of the freeways in California. The stated speed is 65 mph but everyone drives between 75 mph and 90 mph. Each driver knowing that the highway patrol will only pull over 1 in 1000, it’s full speed ahead.

Another thing I don’t understand. If actual blood containers were confiscated, I assume that it was actual blood taken from the riders to be transfused back into their body. Is it possible to perform DNA analysis on the blood and exactly match it with the cheating donor? Wouldn’t this be proof positive?

Paul Meredith
Davis, California

Should Pound get a two-year suspension?
Editor:
A few specifics from the Vrijman report (pdf file):

1. It concludes that the results from the lab could not be evidence of anything. The lab ran no quality-assurance controls (designed to make sure the machine analyzing samples can recognize a positive from a negative); spiked certain samples with EPO and did not keep track of which ones; did not keep any chain-of-custody information; tested samples from people who were injected with EPO; and tested samples from lab workers with samples from cyclists.

2. The investigator found that the reason the lab added the extra information (riders’ doping control numbers) to the results is because WADA pressured them to do so.

3. The report contains several comments about how WADA, the lab and the French ministry violated testing procedures, the rules and regulations of international anti-doping control, and in certain cases even applicable law.

If a cyclist breaks anti-doping rules and regulations, the cyclist is suspended for up to two years. The only way to make sure that sports are drug-free is to hold the athletes and the doping police to the same standards. The evidence from the independent investigator is clear – Mr. Pound violated the rules and regulations of international anti-doping control. To hold Mr. Pound as responsible as we would hold a cyclist or any other athlete, Mr. Pound must serve a two-year suspension from his position at WADA and from communicating with the media, effective immediately. I know I won’t miss hearing that self-important blowhard for two years.

Mike Pearson
Sacramento, California

Letter writers wrong on speed limits, foul-weather racing
Editor:
In response to Robb Chastain (see Friday’s Mailbag: “Tough guys and tough conditions”), I agree that there should be standards by which races are adjusted due to poor weather and road conditions, but I disagree with the speed limit on descents. There are riders who are able to descend better than others, just as there are riders who climb better, sprint better and roll better. To limit the speed and penalize them would be to arbitrarily limit someone’s talent (Paolo Savoldelli comes to mind).

In response to Trish Albert – I admire the ability to ‘cross in crappy weather, but to compare that to a mountain descent of 70 kph is ludicrous. Hitting the asphalt and hitting the mud are two totally different things. I know that much from going down on both.

Tim McDonald
Richmond, Virginia

Yeah, what he said
Editor:
Robb Chastain wrote that he would like to see speed limits on the descents for the safety of the peloton. Being a guy who can’t climb for anything, but can descend like a rocket I have to take issue. Some guys are fast going up, some going down. Doesn’t seem fair to penalize only half.

No one forces the riders to take risks on descents, they are free to ride as slow as they like. Would Robb also impose a speed limit going up the mountain to even things out? If a rider climbs too fast would he be penalized? Doesn’t seem reasonable to me. Just let them ride.

Mark Bertram
Atlanta, Georgia

Regarding the rant: O’Grady for president
Editor:
Patrick O’Grady for president. No question about it, he tells it like it is, and is not afraid to ruffle some feathers. If it was not so accurate I might even take offense, but as it stands I laugh; such is the power of satire and wit.

Keep up the great and enlightening work.

Walter Lindsay
New York, New York

O’Grady for president? Talk about going straight from the frying pan to the fire. . . . — Editor

Rant addresses real issues
Editor:
Freaking awesome writing, and a tremendous perspective! What is really interesting is that recently there was a conference to discuss the ethics and limits of human modification, as in doping, genetic modification, plastic surgery and all the other modification possibilities. The issues you address are real and here today, and the tone you take is perfect; I think every sentient human is either there with you, on the way there or has their head stuck far up their (you know).

Thanks for expressing what many of us are feeling and for doing it with exactly the right attitude.

Joe Bryan
El Paso, Texas

Keep up the humor
Editor:
For a cycle-mad soldier over in Afghanistan I for one love the rant! Great points, all. And the humor is a plus. I have watched the Giro online and will be forced to do the same for the Tour. All the stories of drug abuse I have come to just shrug off and almost think, “It figures.” Keep it up!

SPC Brian L. Smith
Bagram, Afghanistan

Monday’s Mailbag: Dopers, coppers, speed limits and the rant

by VeloNews.com

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