Is this the answer to doping?

Just as this week winds down , the news breaks that the UCI Management Meeting has suspended the action against Paul Kimmage ! They also announced that an External Inquiry will be conducted into UCI’s involvement in the “ Armstrong saga “!

Of course those with vested interests will “ spin  “ the story to suit their individual purposes . Whilst the “ Official news Bulletin “ will say one thing , reality will dictate another . Those with long memories will recall the aftermath of the “ Festina Affair “?

WADA was a result of the IOC meeting in 1999 , when Samaranch was “ Head Honcho “ of IOC . Aside from this the UCI had Bjarne Riis head up a dope clean up commission ! Little did UCI know , that Riis would reveal , years later , that his Tour de France win in 1996 , was fuelled by PEDs ?

In 2006 there was another “ External Report “ conducted by Vrijmen !  Anyone want to bet this “ New  External Commission “ will be like the Vrijmen report  ? “ Cover you’re A$$ “ , time will be announced in the week of 5th November , Guy Fawkes day for the Brits !

Coming out of the meeting , Tom Lund of the Danish Cycling Union stated :

   "  I expect that it will become crystal clear what the role of the UCI has been in this. And I hope and believe that the duty to run the sport of cycling has been managed in an honest way. If the UCI has not it will be discovered by the commission and then the implicated persons must take the consequence afterwards ".

Further stated that :
  “  In the week of November 5th , the UCI will decide which independent body will choose the members of the investigation committee. Tom Lund hopes and believes that the international court of sport CAS will be chosen. “

Recent days have seen many comments and articles attributed to Greg LeMond , along the lines of “ The problem for sport is not drugs but corruption “ . Prominent was this Open letter to Pat Mc Quaid :

http://nyvelocity.com/content/features/2012/open-letter-pat-mcquaid-greg-lemond#comment-107230

Many of you will know that I reported Greg’s donation to the “ Paul Kimmage Defence Fund “in earlier Blog Posts . This week not only Cash Support was offered but Greg is providing a detailed dossier of information on UCI matters . Could this have swayed the UCI Delegates to cause the “ phats of aigle “ to temporarily stay their court action ?

Whilst the “ Paul fund “ is in excess of US$70k , there are other matters continuing . The Petition that calls for the resignation of heinous & phat , has close to 600 signatories and I have added another in recent days .

The “ Change.org Petition “ that I created is to be found here and needs YOUR SUPPORT !
                       
                                                    http://t.co/oFWgsHA7


Do any of you recall a Science fiction Movie , where a minature / microscopic submarine , was inserted into the bloodstream of a patient in a hospital procedure ?

Well the following idea was floated in the Cyclingnews forum recently !

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=19165

 “  Just flying a kite here....

Things we know.
(i) Almost every attempt to manipulate blood by EPO or transfusions have transitional changes in blood readings.
(ii) The "glow" times and infrequent testing mean it is possible to hide transitional values.
(iii) It is hard to increase the rate of testing because of the difficulties in taking and process samples.

Idea
(i) Chipping is in essence a safe process - so animals are traced by insertion of a chip under the skin. There do not appear to be side effects that I know of.
(ii) Biosensors ( I was involved in the technology 15 years ago, were even then good at sniffing specific chemicals (and no doubt other biophysical properties could be measured too)

So..
If you wants to be a pro rider.

(i) You have a bionsensor chip implanted.
(ii) It measures biophysical properties (like blood cell count densities, pressures, sniffs for specific chemicals)
(ii) It is scanned remotely at intervals along a race, much like timing chips are on marathons.
(iiii)All serious training venues have a scanner.
(iv) Riders are provided with a remotely interrogated scanning box in the places they live, which they can carry with them if they travel. Downloaded when they are near a WIFI
(v) So blood passports are no longer a few readings a year, they are twice a day - inded could be every hour, stored on the chip until downloaded, the information downloaded once a day.
(vi) Riders who say "no" are subjected to more frequent blood and urine tests they pay for...they would soon get the point - this is much cheaper.
(vii) Encode the readings so riders cannot see their own test data..

Drug testing 24/7 = I am sure the technology can be done.

Question is .
Assuming it WAS possible...
(i) Is it too much of an intrusion of privacy?
(ii) Are the lifestyle constraints (seemingly few) it would impose practical?
(iii) How could it be cheated?
(iv) What then would be the process for a "positive"

My suggestion
(i) Develop it - test it in animals. It may take a couple of years, but animal testing is not a great issue because it should not harm the animal.
(ii) Trial it, and after a year of riders evaluating it.
(iii) Make it compulsory on every grand tour.
You can say "no", it is up to you...you just don't get to ride a grand tour if you do!

Discuss.
It needs a year 2012 solution, not a throwback to 1995
If it was simply monitoring haematocrit, internally optically..that would be a good start.
****ing in bottles and taking blood samples should be a thing of the past! EXCEPT to confirm other results. Ie if haemocrit has jumped..

Stupid idea? Worth thinking about?
Pro riders - if all it was was a chip under the skin - would you object to the principle, so long as you did not have to "do anything" other than pass near a scanner occasionally to upload the information? "

UPCOMING WEEK's EVENTS !

Today , Sunday , i look at the " Steephill Website " and see that there is a huge amount of articles relating to the " USADA reasoned decision "! Well Monday we have the UCI answering that report and then on Wednesday there is the Presentation of the 100th edition of " Le Tour "!

 Media is going to go BERSERK , trying to outdo each other in trumpeting their take on whart comes out of these events ! Having been outside of the Media Centre in Brittany in 2011 as Contador arrived for a Press Conference with Bjarne Riis i can tell you that these people get hysterical and push and shove each other . As several tripped over each other , falling to the ground with their equipment , i was able to walk up to Alberto , shake hands , wish him luck , and walk away , before they had sorted themselves !

Will those attending on Monday show any more restraint ? Will heinous attend to answer any questions related to the windfall that he is reported to have received ? You know , that US$1/2Million , that the mechanic told Katy LeMond , which she reported whilst under Oath ? Will any of the "prats of Aigle " discuss their action on 12th Dec , in the Aigle Court , relating to Paul kimmage ?

Last week in My blog :  tourdafrance , i wrote Chris Prudhomme , asking him to consider some action relating to the results from 1990 through to present day . Seems he has been too busy to reply . hopefully we will see more than the Armstrong Era , adjusted !

My Blog Post containing the Letter to Chris follows :


  "  Paris 24th October is the setting of the Presentation of the 100th Edition of Le Tour and reports are rife as to the contents of Chris Prudhomme's speech .

Here isthe letter i am sending him on the basis of the speculation on setting aside "Le Tour" results !

"  Greetings

As you prepare to present the 100th Edition of “ Le Tour “on 24th October 2012 , it may be as well to reflect on the effects that Doping has had on the validity of the results over the years !

Media are speculating that you will announce that the results from 1999  through 2005 will be set aside as a result of the USADA report , recently released . This  comprehensive report would justify your actions . This will be just the latest of many occasions when the “ Le Tour “ results had to be set aside ,  my information is that this will be the fourth time , with an occasion in the 1930(?)’s , 2006 , 2010 , being the other occasions !

EPO is significantly different to other forms of Doping and reports are that it came to be used in the late 1980s and then in the early 1990s became rife . Who is to know that the result of the 1990 “ Le Tour “ was influenced by “ EPO use “?  Certainly there are questionable personalities included in the top 10 of each year from 1990 .

Miguel Indurain is a monument of Cycling , yet there are some who claim that he has blots on his Sporting record and others have pointed the finger at Greg Lemond . Both of these Sportsmen may be totally blameless , but the environment they were competing in was definitely suspect ! Doubtful that it would be a popular decision , to question their reputation in 2012 ?

With the support staff that surround you , it would be surprising if you were not aware of ALL the rumours in the Cycling World ? Can you afford to wait until the presentation of the 2014 “Edition of Le Tour “ to act on those doubtful years filled with Marco Pantani , Jan Ulrich and Bjarne Riis ?

Can “ ASO “ act in a forthright manner , and determine a “ DOPE FREE FUTURE “ , by asserting it’s right , to only invite those RACERS who have PUBLICLY stated they are “ untainted by Doping “ , with prosecution for Perjury and a LIFE TIME BAN as the penalty ?

There is no “ level playing field “ in Sport BUT “ ASO “ can set a benchmark for those that wish to compete in the “100th Edition of “Le Tour “!

Sincerely 

Skippy Mc Carthy


Some other peoples’ thoughts on who should replace Lance Armstrong in the years 1999 to 2005 :

http://scotslawthoughts.wordpress.com/2012/08/25/if-not-armstrong-who-won-the-tour-de-france-or-tour-dutopia-from-1999-to-2005/

http://150wattsofawesome.blogspot.co.at/2012/09/lance-armstrong-aftermath.html

The following source of current events is worth a visit :

http://www.steephill.tv/2012/usada-lance-armstrong-doping-case/


No doubt the " UCI " will wish to make their views known !

NB There were other letters in the past that you did not choose to answer , so i expect nothing this time ! Speaking to you face to face , is not an option at this time , but as an " advocate for Paralympic Sport " i was delighted with the result of the " 2012 Paralympic Games " , which demonstrated that the Public , want to see more from Para Athletes , even at " Able Bodied Events .

LETTERS to HEADS of GOVERNMENTS

YOUR EXCELLENCIES , LADIES and GENTLEMEN .


Those of you that are unaware of the IOC and WADA , would be few ! Doubtless that your minions have kept you informed of the ongoing saga of USADA investigation into Lance Armstrong , the cyclist .

Can we the Public , ask that you take time to study the " overview " of this report , and take time to visit with your Nation's observer/s , at the recent WADA Conference in Stockholm . That Conference had a theme that related to " Doping's influence in the Community "! Sporting Fraud is a criminal offence in many Nations and in recent times " Doping in Sport " has been added to the National Statutes of Criminal Activity in many Countries ?

In recent days the Australian Sports Minister , Senator Lundy has advertised an interest in receiving citizens' reports on the " Doping Quandary "! The email address , telephone nos and street  address has been made widely available to allow unlimited access for information . Example mailto:Senator.Lundy@aph.gov.au

Could ALL World Governments follow this example ? Each of you i an sure are aware of the " Famous Olympic Doping Controversies " such as Ben Johnson and Marion Jones in the past ! There have been notable names in other sports also across the WHOLE Spectrum of Olympic Sport !

WADA can only play " Catchup " in it's efforts to control " Doping in Sport "! Fact is the Drug Companies produce their products ith the intention of benefiting " Mankind " BUT the Criminal Element then take some of these products and utilise them to their advantage . GREED is the motivating factor for the criminal conspiracies that turn Athletes into CHEATS and in many cases Criminals !

Even in " shamateur sport " there are those who seek " bragging rights " and thus resort to the use of any and all those products on the " WADA Prohibited List " , updated yearly , so that ALL Athletes know the products they SHOULD NOT INGEST ! WADA sets out to stem the tide and the weak minded then seeing the product listed , set out to discover how they can utilise it for their benefit .

So many PAST and Present Athletes have used Doping to enhance their achievements that it has reached the point that ALL Athletic/Sports achievements since 1990 are suspect . Olympic Games since 1936 have been overshadowed with Political and Doping Controversies due to the fact that it has a World Wide Audience that seeks entertainment . That the Olympic Games is in the most part no longer peopled by Amateur Athletes comes as no surprise to anyone nor that it has become a GIGANTIC MONEY SPINNER for those that Sponsor the event . Little wonder that the IOC Committee try to downplay the " Doping " aspect if we are kind to them OR conceal where they can the scale of those bent on seeking unwarranted GLORY !

My letter is from a 67yo cycle rider with an interest in seeking a clear future for those entering sport , being allowed to find Coaches , that have been shown to have a " Doping Free History " ! So many of those that are Coaching these days came through the ranks of the " DOPING INFESTED ERA " ! Many of the Future Coaches will have been tainted by the Current Era !

USADA has published the testimony of people caught up in the 1990s and early 2000s Cycling Industry but it is symptomatic of ALL SPORT ! Resources to combat " Doping " are limited since NO ONE wants to understand the scale of the problem .

As Heads of Government , you have a clear responsibility to your citizens to ACT ,  NOW !

SET up the means for Citizens to report the knowledge they have on those " DOPING " , even if those reported are from other Countries ! Combine with your Neighbouring Countries and Allies in DEMANDING that IOC and WADA inaugurate a panel to control an "AMNESTY for ALL SPORTS "!

Only Athletes , past and present , will be allowed to seek the Amnesty , since those who acted in Supply and Distribution of PEDs are Criminally liable .

During the AMNESTY Period set aside the National Laws on Doping , so that the Athletes , both past and present , will not suffer " Double Jeopardy " , this is why , so many are making their past transgressions known , when the Statute of Limitations period has passed !

Make the " AMNESTY for ALL SPORT " a one time ONLY Affair by introducing International Legislation that demands Worldwide Draconian Penalties for Athletes and their associates that do not step forward . It would be good to see that " Household arrest with ankle chips " introduced for those that decide to practice " Sporting Fraud " in the future !

Personally i believe that those that represent their Country in Sport should be judged by an Independent panel of WADA rather than their National Federations and they should be subject to FOUR year sanctions on the First Offence and LIFE TIME BANS for further transgressions ! All Athletes know they are responsible for what they ingest so excuses are not acceptable . Any Athletes at risk of Sanction should be dealt with in a Timely manner , not allowed the disgraceful " Contador treatment "!

Time to ACT is NOW ! The public want truth and justice , they need to believe that they are worthy of respect . With Austerity governing their lives they deserve to be able to believe in their Sporting Stars !


Those reading this blog letter , feel free to copy it to your Governments ! It is my version SO use it to create your OWN Letter !

Many of my readers will be aware that i supported Lance in the past ! Regrettably i chose to think that his team members doped and as he had to undergo daily testing it was not an option for him . Further  i suggested that Emma O'Reilly could not differentiate between equipment needed for his Cancer treatment and that others were using for Doping purposes !

Emma O'Reilly deserves an apology from me for doubting her Fortitude and veracity .

Frank Andreu is aware of my doubting his and Betty's word on Lance , certainly in 2011 , at the Tour de France Grand Depart in Britanny , i expressed a tainted point of view ! Frank  has been generous towards  me , over the years at many " Le Tour " and other events , that he chose to be friendly considering my behaviour towards him and his wife shows great generosity of character ! No doubt there will be those who will continue to treat him with less than the respect he is due .

I am still waiting to see what Cycling Australia will do about those Cycle Racers who worked with Festina and Saiz amongst many questionable associations . Not ALL that worked with these people will have been corrupted /tainted so there will have to be extensive enquiries to sort the material facts .

BREAKING NEWS ?

David Walsh a respected long term Anti Doping Journalist tweeted the following this morn :

1h David Walsh ‏@DavidWalshST

USADA report on Armstrong and US Postal doping will be with UCI today (Wed). Verbruggen and McQuaid can hardly wait to read it.

This is the  10th October and thus 5 days less suspense , one hopes !

" Poopoo's ( clinic regular ) response to this news :

He suggested that people were already queuing for the court seats !

Later in the day , this tweet arrived :

3h David Walsh ‏@DavidWalshST

USADA has written a summary, circa 200 pages, that will be available to public. Perhaps some time today. Thousands of pages in full report.

Meanwhile in order to pass the time , those on CNF clinic posted this gem , relating to Lance's Business activities !

It has been rumoured that Lance is now worth between $US80 & 125 M , not all from cycling obviously . It would explain why so many are after him , plain jealousy if nothing else . George Hincapie another of their targets is reputed to be worth $US 40+M , not bad for being a loyal lieutenant ? Could explain why those of the " whistleblowing ilk " are so busy looking for any opportunity to enrich themselves 

With the disclosure of the USADA report , i am sure that the various Cycling Forums will move into Overdrive and staying abreast of their additional disclosures , will become nigh impossible ! During the past days we have seen Mike Ashenden release his take on some data that was in the public domain :

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ashenden-armstrong-may-have-been-blood-doping-at-2009-tour-de-france

One of the cartoons appearing from this discussion :

Another item that came to light :

The author website/blog of this cartoon , was one of those not threatened by UCI , when they chose to act against Paul Kimmage . No doubt they will bring forth another cartoon pampooning the " prats of aigle " !

Presently the US Public is not as aware of the debate on Lance's Legacy as it could become , but the following extract will enlighten those who are on the sidelines at present :
"

This tells me two things: (1) Team Dopestrong will say anything--no matter how goofy--to defend Lance; and (2) This is the best Team Dopestrong can come up with. This line of argument is disingenuous and stupid at the same time. Is Lance's target audience easily deceived morons?

Yes is the answer to all your questions. As much as it's stupid to you and me, it's the right thing to do for team Dopestrong. This is not about cycling any more than Livestrong is about cancer research. It's about deceiving customers to keep them loyal to the brand and keep opening their wallets.

Beyond this (short term) USADA case it's all about Livestrong, the Livestrong.com customer (sucked in via Livestrong.org) and the Lance endorsed brands. That's the guy/girl they need to keep loyal, and that's why Lance is still pony trotting around. And why he needs a sports event series to keep the brand alive beyond this "short term problem".

This Livestrong (and endorsed brand) customer is currently getting totally confused with what's in the news about Lance:

"Wow, did he really dope? Surely it's a witch hunt? Are any of these USADA allegations new? It's old stuff isn't it? Does it matter? But he's still doing the triathlons...? **** it's confusing! What, you are now telling me USADA is hiring big time tobacco lawyers?... That explains it... It's big dirty business Goliath trying to kill my little David cancer Jesus Messiah...."

All part of the game plan to keep the Livestrong (and endorsed brand) customer confused, ease him/her through this "noisy news time" by distracting the media signal. A new story angle every week, keeping interest up but reinforcing the same core message.

Expect more to come in the weeks ahead. All variations on a theme.

As much as this is all very interesting, what we need for cycling is a remaining focus on UCI complicity, and a cleaning up of UCI, so we can get back to enjoy watching our sport as we once did.

The day of reckoning is nigh and has been a long time in the waiting, but need to stay focused on what we want for the day after. A clean cycling administered by a competent sports administration..."

More of these comments can be found endorsing the " Unfair to Lance " and " Ban Him " attitudes .

UCI by releasing last week , their success against flandis in the Aigle court , has spawned a multitude of the following comments : 

__________________
"... ...it is forbidden for him to say that the UCI, McQuaid and Verbruggen “have concealed cases of doping,
... have accepted bribes, are corrupt, ... are clowns,... are liars,
... or to make any similar other allegations of that kind.”

202 PAGES have been released by USADA !   for more visit 

" Courageous Ladies on www.Tourdefarce.blogspot.com

---

PETITIONING CHANGE !

When will phat see the writing on the wall ? Will USADA ‘s report on the “ Armstrong Affair “ cause him to decide “ enough is enough “ ? DOUBTFUL !

A petition has been initiated and NEEDS support and I for one think that it will gain traction and could go VIRAL with YOUR SUPPORT !

 Do you want CLEAN SPORT ?

 I DO !

 SAY NO TO DOPING NOW !

 DO YOUR PART !

 What will it cost YOU ?

  http://www.change.org/suggested?petition_id=744816 

My comment , justifying my wish for change : “ Currently the “ UCI “ is being mismanaged by an Irishman who was “ Banned “ from competing at the Olympics through his ignoring IOC requirements in Sport ! The “ UCI “ are holding Elections in September 2013 , where he is seeking re-election . During recent times it has become apparent that there are question marks regarding his conduct and that of Top Management in the running of the “ UCI “ !

 Not only Fee paying Athletes are placing information in the Court of Public Opinion BUT ALSO former members of the “ UCI “! When even colleagues of the Management are calling for change , there must be justification for an inquiry conducted by a third party , such as CAS , WADA or IOC ! The “ UCI “ is supposed to be a Union for the Cyclists but it is trying to be ALL THINGS to All the stakeholders !

When you have Presidents stating in Public that “ THEY DECIDE who will be sanctioned “ , it becomes obvious that there is NOT JUSTICE for ALL ! Truly the only way forward for the “ UCI “ is to take part in an “ AMNESTY FOR ALL SPORTS “ which should be conducted by a commission created by WADA & IOC ! With their Joint efforts they will be able to persuade National Governments to stand back to allow ALL Past & Present Athletes to come forward and reveal their “ Doping Conduct “ without the risk of “ Double Jeopardy “ !

 In a two tier “ Amnesty “ they can reveal on the First tier , their misconduct and those associated with them and then the Second tier can be used by those of the Athlete’s team , who see that their principals has not sought “ Amnesty “ , will to preserve “ Their entitlement “ to “Amnesty “ , declare the circumstances that caused them to be at jeopardy . With the Athletes ( Past & Present ) knowing that they risk “ LIFE TIME BANS “ from ANY form of Sport Worldwide , there can be little doubt that they will act to use the first Tier entry to “ AMNESTY “!

 Those being found out in the Second Tier , will not be able to avoid the “ Double Jeopardy “ and thus risk Government action as well as “ Life TIME BANS “! Their familieswill risk Jeopardy ALSO ! “ At the outset of the “ Paul Kimmage Defence Fund , “ I commented to the following site and have added tonight the following :
  http://nyvelocity.com/content/features/2012/paul-kimmage-defense-fund#comment-106651

“ Journos being BULLIED BY the PRATS OF AIGLE does not sit well with me ! I am Skippy Mc Carthy and both PHAT & HEINOUS know me and in the past have been hospitable to me ! Should they treat me with less respect now then it will show their true colours !     YELLOW !    I URGE ALL to sign the petition , found here below :

 http://www.change.org/petitions/international-cycling-union-aka-the-uci-...

It will cost YOU nothing but will ADD to the justification for the " VOTING Delegates of " UCI " to VOTE for change in Sept 2013 .  IF we have to wait until then , for LEGAL change by the UCI itself ! PLEASE ALL those involved in Cycling , circulate this petition to ALL your circle of friends , relatives and Cycling Clubs ! ONLY large numbers expressing their disapproval , will convince the Voting Delegates , that they risk losing THEIR place in the UCI if they FAIL TO ACT !

 “ Currently there are 1760+ contributing to the fund in excess of $54000 , a good start , which Paul has acknowledges in his Twitter feed . Whilst reading his tweets last night , I noted the following article :

  http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/cycling-crusader-faces-costly-battle-3244337.html

I also noticed his reference to another person in the tweets , that I was aware of in the past years . Last year I had emailed Matt Hampson about “ Parrabuddy “ in connection with my desire to involve others in my attempts to get Para Athletes to the “ Giro & Le Tour “. Matt Hampson , now a member of the Paralympic Movement through a life style change and has perhaps been instrumental in helping many more people than he had in his former life style .

 Here is the link to the story that Paul Kimmage was tweeting about :

 http://www.matthampsonfoundation.org/benef.html#herve

 With people in Southern Africa and Samoa being assisted by this foundation he helped create , the world is a better place . BRAVO Matt , you have started something that will surpass many other foundations and inspire ALL , World Wide !