No-show, no problem
No-show doping suspensions reversed
Velonews appears to not have done any in-depth investigative work here. I have so many questions jumping out at me I don't know where to begin. Anyone can simply dispense information spoon fed to them by unnamed news sources. Here's a short list of questions, but I could easily come up with more after getting some responses:
1 - What is the post-race process in the US to inform riders they're being tested?
2 - In the instance involving these riders, was that process followed? If not, why not?
3 - Who was in charge of the testing at the event?
4 - What is Steve Johnson, CEO of USA Cycling, and USADA doing to ensure this doesn't happen again?
5 - Is anyone accepting any blame for dropping the ball, or are you simply washing your hands of the mistake?
6 - What other countries were looked at to get ideas on how to address this incident in the US?
7 - What were the circumstances surrounding those other events outside the US?
8 - What were the rider's post-race responsibilities before this incident and what are they now?
9 - Describe why this was called an "honest mistake with no real consequences" and why it "should be treated differently than someone who purposely takes drugs."
10 - Strict interpretations of the doping code have always been followed, but why is that strictness being bent in the favor of the athletes now?
11 - Early into the article the riders are called "random" tested, but later the decision in their favor involved them being "reserve" tested. Which were they, reserves or randoms? Get it right Velonews, or am I interpreting this wrong?
Honestly, this strikes me as a fluff piece for USA Cycling to say we are against doping but for fairness. Ok, finally! However, it also strikes me as USA Cycling saying under their breathe, "We royally screwed this one up. We mismanaged the doping process and looked for a way out. Thankfully we found other countries making the same stupid mistakes we have been making. I appreciate you for not asking tough questions. I'm happy to put this behind us."
As a person involved in leadership development an obvious question comes to my mind, "If you made this mistake, what other mistakes have you made or are making that I don't know about? What else is going on that I should be aware of?" Asking this kind of question isn't about punishment, but rather about doing the right thing at all times.
What to make of the unnamed USADA rep? The quote at the end of the article sounds completely made up. One, why is this rep unnamed? Nobody is on trial for a criminal offense. Stand up and take your medicine. Two, if that rep really did say that quote then I can completely understand why they don't want their name attached to this report. The quote goes 100% against the grain of how USADA and WADA and every other doping agency has approached the fight against doping. The quote lacks professionalism and integrity in my opinion. How can this person make the claim these athletes weren't in fact cheating? Right or wrong, they were never tested!
I have noticed over the years that Velonews isn't the only cycling specific publication guilty of this type of reporting. At the end of the day they are like us; they just want to hear good news and write about the actual races and teams. Newspapers in the US investigate some, namely the LA Times, but mainly in Europe are they doing a lot more digging into malfeasance. Is it because the magazines are afraid of advertising dollars and access to riders and teams will go away? I don't know, but all of them have reached a point in their business where they must take the mantle of responsible journalism more seriously.
Yes, readers want to read about racing and personalities. We also want truth. Give us truth and be consistent. It's that simple, but Velonews, Cycle Sport, Bicycling, et al seem afraid to ruffle feathers. I don't mean just towards riders and teams, but the entire industry needs to have their trees shaken from time-to-time.
People think and act differently when they know a magnifying glass is over them. In a good way.
Velonews appears to not have done any in-depth investigative work here. I have so many questions jumping out at me I don't know where to begin. Anyone can simply dispense information spoon fed to them by unnamed news sources. Here's a short list of questions, but I could easily come up with more after getting some responses:
1 - What is the post-race process in the US to inform riders they're being tested?
2 - In the instance involving these riders, was that process followed? If not, why not?
3 - Who was in charge of the testing at the event?
4 - What is Steve Johnson, CEO of USA Cycling, and USADA doing to ensure this doesn't happen again?
5 - Is anyone accepting any blame for dropping the ball, or are you simply washing your hands of the mistake?
6 - What other countries were looked at to get ideas on how to address this incident in the US?
7 - What were the circumstances surrounding those other events outside the US?
8 - What were the rider's post-race responsibilities before this incident and what are they now?
9 - Describe why this was called an "honest mistake with no real consequences" and why it "should be treated differently than someone who purposely takes drugs."
10 - Strict interpretations of the doping code have always been followed, but why is that strictness being bent in the favor of the athletes now?
11 - Early into the article the riders are called "random" tested, but later the decision in their favor involved them being "reserve" tested. Which were they, reserves or randoms? Get it right Velonews, or am I interpreting this wrong?
Honestly, this strikes me as a fluff piece for USA Cycling to say we are against doping but for fairness. Ok, finally! However, it also strikes me as USA Cycling saying under their breathe, "We royally screwed this one up. We mismanaged the doping process and looked for a way out. Thankfully we found other countries making the same stupid mistakes we have been making. I appreciate you for not asking tough questions. I'm happy to put this behind us."
As a person involved in leadership development an obvious question comes to my mind, "If you made this mistake, what other mistakes have you made or are making that I don't know about? What else is going on that I should be aware of?" Asking this kind of question isn't about punishment, but rather about doing the right thing at all times.
What to make of the unnamed USADA rep? The quote at the end of the article sounds completely made up. One, why is this rep unnamed? Nobody is on trial for a criminal offense. Stand up and take your medicine. Two, if that rep really did say that quote then I can completely understand why they don't want their name attached to this report. The quote goes 100% against the grain of how USADA and WADA and every other doping agency has approached the fight against doping. The quote lacks professionalism and integrity in my opinion. How can this person make the claim these athletes weren't in fact cheating? Right or wrong, they were never tested!
I have noticed over the years that Velonews isn't the only cycling specific publication guilty of this type of reporting. At the end of the day they are like us; they just want to hear good news and write about the actual races and teams. Newspapers in the US investigate some, namely the LA Times, but mainly in Europe are they doing a lot more digging into malfeasance. Is it because the magazines are afraid of advertising dollars and access to riders and teams will go away? I don't know, but all of them have reached a point in their business where they must take the mantle of responsible journalism more seriously.
Yes, readers want to read about racing and personalities. We also want truth. Give us truth and be consistent. It's that simple, but Velonews, Cycle Sport, Bicycling, et al seem afraid to ruffle feathers. I don't mean just towards riders and teams, but the entire industry needs to have their trees shaken from time-to-time.
People think and act differently when they know a magnifying glass is over them. In a good way.
posted by NashvilleCyclist.com at 1/31/2007 08:07:00 AM
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