Newsgroup: it.sport.ciclismo
Titolo: I Support Drug Free Sport

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/News_I_Support_Drug_Free_Sport_article_93293.html
The I Support Drug Free Sport campaign is a chance for race fans and 
athletes alike to show their support for a professional sport in which 
drug taking is not tolerated.
Here are the reasons for our campaign:
Professional cycling has been in turmoil for years now and 2006 has been 
the worst year so far.
The 2005 Vuelta a Espana was won by Roberto Heras, who later tested 
positive for EPO.
The 2006 Giro d'Italia was won by Ivan Basso, who was then named in the 
Operacion Puerto doping investigation.
The 2006 Tour of Switzerland was won by Jan Ullrich, who was also named 
in the Operacion Puerto doping investigation.
The 2006 Tour de France was won by Floyd Landis, who tested positive for 
testosterone.
Pro cycle racing is losing credibility and with it will go support from 
the sponsors and fans, which will lead to dozens of people losing their 
jobs. Liberty Seguros, Phonak and iShares have all declined to continue 
their sponsorship deals. How many more will follow if there is another 
scandal?
What is the only way to avoid another scandal? To ensure the riders do 
not take banned substances or use illegal blood doping techniques.
All that cycling fans ask is for believable heroes – riders who do not 
take substances that are on the banned list.
We do not want a witch-hunt. We do not want to point the finger of 
accusation at individuals. We do not insist on super-human efforts 
fuelled by banned substances. We want authentic races, true results and 
believable heroes.
Several professional riders have already come forward to support the 
campaign, including Nicole Cooke (world number one), Thor Hushovd 
(Credit Agricole), Bradley Wiggins (Cofidis pro and Olympic medallist), 
Philippe Gilbert (FDJeux pro), Roger Hammond (Discovery Channel pro), 
Magnus Backstedt (Liquigas pro) and Pierrick Fedrigo (Bouygues Telecom).
What we really want is your support. It is the fans that make the 
difference.
-- 
http://modesta.biciticino.ch
Il sito dedicato alla giovane ciclista lituana Modesta Vzesniauskaite

 campaign, including Nicole Cooke (world number one
.. e Modesta?
ciao Rex
-- 
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ab...@newsland.it

 .. e Modesta?
Non parla inglese


 Non parla inglese
E già, solo gli anglofoni come Lancillotto Braccioforte si battono
attivamente contro il doping... ;-)


 drug taking is not tolerated.
Snip...
It takes time out of my day to give a thoughtful response, but I have given
many because I care. But insolence is not what we need concerning doping by
the drug crusaders. We need open minded people who want to take the long
term careful approach to an extremely complicated problem. I am afraid
trying to mop up dopers like insurgents in Iraq will not work, never will.
If you notice, UCI want to shortens races to curtail doping...
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2006/sep06/sep26news
THE REALITY IS, DRUGS WILL ALWAYS BE PART OF CYCLING!
Because of the (hidden code) of the riders being deeply embedded into
cycling every since the days of the greats, it's impossible and totally
unrealistic to think that cycling will ever be completely clean. Not only
that but such hypocritical stances should consider that for cycling to be
fair and honest, several others regulations would have to be implemented
like forcing all teams to only use the same bikes created by one company
like Trek. Then, all riders must eat the same food everyday by a big caterer
like Halliburton. Next, no sports drinks or energy bars are allowed. Riders
must get all their sodium and potassium from things like bananas and such.
Only natural foods are allowed in the races from one central caterer. No
coffee or salt tabs are allowed. In other words riders can only race and win
on natural foods from one central caterer for all teams, and all the bikes
are exactly the same from one central company like Trek. Add to that, teams
are only allowed the exact same amount of money they can spend on any one
race. Then they must have equal management across the board. They must all
stay in the same big hotels like Marriott. Every single step of the way must
be equal to create a fair playing field.
But wait, there is a problem. How can they ensure that riders don't take
drugs? They can't. Riders will always take drugs to get an edge, so all of
the above goes out the window.
But personally I don't think doping will kill the sport. At least it
shouldn't. Baseball, Basketball, Football, Hockey, Tennis, and especially
track and Olympics events have all made bigs gains and tremendous amounts of
money in spite of doping. Cycling shouldn't and won't be any different in
the long run, to think its going to become drug free is a pipe dream. The
people who truly love cycling will continue to love it as fans, and doping
won't be a factor for them. They won't quit because of it, and will continue
to enjoy races and their favorite riders, and those who are hung up on and
constantly bothered by drug use will drop out as fans, sooner or later
because they are more interested in drug and doping issues then the races
and riders themselves.
 These people can't seem to get their minds off of doping issues. Those who
were quick to condemn Basso, now are embarrassed that he was cleared. So
many are so quick to jump on the bandwagon of the drug crusaders and trash
riders before they even know what the truth is. But I have always thought
riders should be given the benefit of the doubt until they are clearly
proved to be guilty. The amount of time and money allocated to police drug
offenses will in some regard affect how many fans the sport will have, but
also considering how small the sport is compared to football or baseball,
and the amount of big money and fan base those sports have, cycling will
have to accept the reality of where is stands in the world compared to other
sports. It is after all, a minority sport in the overall scheme of things,
and as a specialty, road racing has it rare breed of fans.
Those fans mostly just love the sport and accept it as not perfect, and
willing to accept it as it is, especially anyone who have any knowledge of
its history and past. In the end, the fans will determine if and how the
sport will thrive, doping or not. All things considered, I think the fans
will come to a consensus on this, and get over their differences. But the
all consuming ratio of doping scandals that outweigh what cycling really is
about is mystery to me. I don't know why anyone would want to be obsessed
with doping issues from riders they have never met and know little about,
but rather we should looking for the Vittos and the Bartali's who character
and sufferings endured us to the sport, and speak more about the human
spirit, then it does about any substances they might have consumed.
 Instead of keeping up with business of what makes cycling great, we are
letting doping agencies run the sport down. Sounds like there are many
idiots who have their priorities out of whack to me. We shouldn't focus on
the negative, but always on the positive, and support the sport the best we
can, or otherwise then we are going to be participants in destroying a sport
we love so much. Only an idiot would do such a thing, and ask, (what have we
done?) when its all over, finished. I think we should become advocates for
the sport in general and support the riders, and don't buy into the drug
crusaders. I say leave the riders alone, press for a reasonable and fair
performance enhancement program that would remove the stigma of doping from
the sport, and allow us to return to the former glory the sport enjoyed
before the doping agencies were given the power to engage in frontier
justice and destroy the sport. Hindsight is 20/20, Foresight should be 20/20
as well.
B-

 were quick to condemn Basso, now are embarrassed that he was cleared.
Was he really?
Sergio
Pisa

 wrote in message
news:1159380180.4...@i3g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
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Well, I suppose in the real court of opinion, no, but I think he will get
his life back if the public can forgive him. The last time I looked, the
evidence against him is too weak, so it looks as if he will get another shot
at his career. Then the fans can decide if they still love him.
B-

"GoneBeforeMyTime" <Fa...@Euroforums.com> wrote in message
news:gpGdndRKW4AYSIfY...@sti.net...

As I have said before, I am not pro-doping, but I am pro cycling. I love a
good tour, and I really did miss Basso, Ulrich and Vino this year!