When Zero-Tolerance Goes Too Far

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Have cyclings anti-doping investigators gotten too aggressive?

Two weeks ago, Alberto Contador became a ultimate cyclist to get burnt by doping allegations when a International Cycling Union announced it had provisionally dangling him after he tested certain for tiny quantities of a banned substance clenbuterol.

Contador has confirmed his innocence so far, blaming a certain test result upon a contaminated steak he had eaten a night before. Its a song as good as dance thats sadly informed to cycling fans, a same not-my-fault slight performed by each cyclist whos ever been held doping. Only this time, experts contend which it might be true.

While a use is illegal, clenbuterol is infrequently since to animals to progress their expansion as good as produce some-more lean meat. Sports disinfectant specialist Dr. Andrew Franklyn-Miller told a Associated Press which clenbuterol-spiked beef was a trustworthy explanation, as good as which a tiny quantities of a drug found in Contadors physique most expected did not impact his performance.

Contador as good as Armstrong; Photo: Mike Knell

Its clear which something is broken in a competition of cycling, as good as cyclists are partial of it. Contador is just a single of 4 Spanish athletes dangling for certain drug tests over a past couple of weeks. The FDA is reportedly questioning cyclings biggest name, Lance Armstrong, for doping violations he allegedly committed earlier in his career.

At a same time, anti-doping officials have turn so zealous in their pursuit of suspected violators which theyve started to toe a line in between assertive as good as hostile. An increasing series of investigators seem to be driven reduction by their joinin! g to pro bity than by a salacious desire to see successful athletes shamed.

Frances anti-doping group recently announced which it would be giving FDA special representative Jeff Novitzky as good as his group access to blood samples since by Armstrong during his 1999 Tour de France win. An extremely available arrangement, considering which an eight-year government of stipulations prevents a French group from retesting a samples.

Photo by bram_souffreau

Never thoughts which Armstrong has been tested as good as retested similar to a lab rodent during good over a decade as a veteran cyclist. Never thoughts which nothing of a countless doping controls tour organizers have subjected him to have held him.

Theres no disbelief in my mind which athletes who bone-head merit to be punished. But when you mete out punishments to a non-guilty as good as guilty alike, you take divided any incentive to fool around fair. Weve combined a climate in which each winner is a reputed cheater, even when 10 years of clean drug tests contend otherwise.

The dignified which most cyclists will expected take divided from this story is which even personification fair doesnt guarantee theyll be safe, a dangerous message to be sending to immature athletes looking for reasons to stay clean in a competition with an confirmed doping culture. Thats a high price to compensate to punish Contador for receiving a apportion of drug so tiny which it wouldnt expected have he according to most scientists, it wouldnt expected have helped him in any measurable way.

Likewise, a kind of hammer-him-til-he-breaks tactics which have characterized a FDAs anti-doping investigations are troubling as well. Its as if a group cared some-more about sketch publicity to its often unglamorous work than about uncovering a factual law behind a allegations opposite Armstrong.

As someone who loves cyc! ling, it s been bad enough seeing a pros abuse a trust of their fans. Its even worse to see government you do it. Whatever happens, heres hoping a showboating stops soon.

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Check out some-more posts about Lance Armstrong upon Matador Network.