Pretty much.

It's clear that not so very long ago, it was possible to beat the testers. You could dope with near-impunity, and the catches were (in relation to the numbers) few and far between.

But now, I think all the evidence is that the testers are ahead of the dopers. The tests are orders of magnitude more sensitive. Tests are more frequent (for some, to the point of near ridiculousness) and they can test for far more things than they once could.

Plus samples are being banked. It is now possible - even likely - that samples can and will be tested retroactively when new tests or more sensitive tests are developed.

You might maybe still get away with it for a little while, but one tiny slip and the Eye of Sauron will be on you full-force. They will go through your body fluids with the finest of fine tooth combs and whatever is there, they will find it.

And once that is done... you're finished. Over.

I get it for a domestique. They're disposable; their whole job description is to sacrifice themselves for the benefit of the team's GC contender. Plus, they are probably never going to be contenders in their own right, by which I mean they lack whatever physical or mental spark it is that identifies a contender. They have greater need for chemical assistance, they are more desperate to keep a slot on the team, and if they get busted, it can be denied as a "rogue element" rather than team policy. Plus they just aren't as important as individuals, so they aren't going to get the same level of scrutiny. I can understand why these guys dope.

But a modern GC contender? The risks are SO high, the rewards SO low, that I'm astounded that any of these guys would run the risk of being caught. Contador is now ruined forever and all his past successes are now suspect. His future earnings potential is GONE.

Look at the people willing to throw rocks at Armstrong - who never failed a doping test. What will Contador's legacy be now?

DG