Originally Posted by alpha

It seems most people on this board have never seen any competitive action at an elite level.

To think that a single clean rider has stepped on an european podium in the past ten years is absurd.

Autologous blood doping has become the method of choice to enhance performance. Riders know that it is absolutely undetectable. Some have convinced themselves that it isn't illegal.

The likely scenario is that Tyler like everyone else, including lance, banked a healthy supply of their blood for the season. Unfortunately he probably depleted that supply during the tour and had to turn to alternative sources for the Olympics (It is entirely possible that he didn't know the blood he received wasn't his own; this could very well have been kept from him!).

The use of the test came out of the blue and completely blind sided these guys.

Tyler is my favorite rider. My heart goes out to him. But, this is where our sport is today. It's dirtier than ever and has no signs of recovery.

Unfortunately, the threat of an autologous test carries little weight.