USADA tested me today!
05-29-14, 06:43 AM
#26
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i'm not mike868y, but it seems like he's referring to the level of seriousness cyclists (myself included!) take this sport, which pretty much amounts to beer league softball. we spend lots of mine, train for hours and hours, shape our lives around riding, count calories, etc. even for 'domestic pros', for the most part no one has any clue who they are (true for many international professionals as well).
why not add drug testing to the list?
personally i'm psyched about more frequent testing. i don't/wouldn't mind peeing in a cup at every race, wouldn't mind paying a bit higher entry fees, either. i accept there are dopers and don't get worked up even when they're in my race, but i'd still do what i can to increase the odds of them getting caught.
why not add drug testing to the list?
personally i'm psyched about more frequent testing. i don't/wouldn't mind peeing in a cup at every race, wouldn't mind paying a bit higher entry fees, either. i accept there are dopers and don't get worked up even when they're in my race, but i'd still do what i can to increase the odds of them getting caught.
05-29-14, 07:52 AM
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I believe the the sport and what it resents is very important (esp for what it teaches us beyond the bike).
That said, I still think the best analogy for most of our racing is beer league softball....we just take it far more seriously.
And i I totally agree that 99.9% of the world has no idea how much work it takes just to be incredibly mediocre in the sport....e.g. Twin a cat 3 race. I think winning that race can be very important and the work can absolutely be worth it, but other than to a handful of people the vast majority of our races do not matter. In at regard it is the same as beer league softball....very important to the participants at the time, but soon forgotten by most....except they don't train as hard.
As phil gaimpn says, the spectators for most racing in the US (-save just a very few races) is. Pair of trash cans.
again, I'm a part of all of this and it is important to me, and the beer league analogy is not perfect (none ever is)....but I say is to have a little perspective and a sense of humor about it.
Didnt mean to offend.
If state championships aren't worth drug testing, then I don't see how national championships are. Similarly, if state champs are worth testing, then I think the local rr is equally deserving. Everyone might draw the line in a different spot. I don't sweat a few $ to contribute to the effort given everything else that gets poured into the amateur sport.
05-29-14, 11:38 AM
#29
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As phil gaimpn says, the spectators for most racing in the US (-save just a very few races) is. Pair of trash cans.
again, I'm a part of all of this and it is important to me, and the beer league analogy is not perfect (none ever is)....but I say is to have a little perspective and a sense of humor about it.
Didnt mean to offend.
If state championships aren't worth drug testing, then I don't see how national championships are. Similarly, if state champs are worth testing, then I think the local rr is equally deserving. Everyone might draw the line in a different spot. I don't sweat a few $ to contribute to the effort given everything else that gets poured into the amateur sport.
again, I'm a part of all of this and it is important to me, and the beer league analogy is not perfect (none ever is)....but I say is to have a little perspective and a sense of humor about it.
Didnt mean to offend.
If state championships aren't worth drug testing, then I don't see how national championships are. Similarly, if state champs are worth testing, then I think the local rr is equally deserving. Everyone might draw the line in a different spot. I don't sweat a few $ to contribute to the effort given everything else that gets poured into the amateur sport.
... and whatever phil says, there are at least a couple of girlfriends and some dogs that watch our races too. in addition to the garbage cans.
05-29-14, 12:29 PM
#30
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The person who cares is the guy who spent months of his life training for that state championship only to get second place to a cheater.
05-29-14, 02:51 PM
#31
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Today was our district championship age graded crit. I was a non descript missed the break 7th place. After it was over, I heard someone official sounding shouting my number and pointing at me. I wondered what I could have done wrong when he told me I had to report to doping control as first, second, and seventh from our race were selected for testing. Since I didn't really know I was seventh, it confirmed my placing.
I was escorted to the control area where they asked for my id. Since I was in a skin suit and my car was a mile or so away, my id was a good distance off. My escort wasn't too keen on the distance so just took a photo of me with my name written on a piece of paper, mug shot style.
There was a bunch of paper work to establish my name, address, doctor, coach, prescription s and otc drugs ive taken, then I had to give a urine specimen with my usada escort watching. Trying to pee after a crit was a challenge.
It was honestly nerve wracking. I know I'm clean, but had to declare a number of allergy and asthma meds I'm prescribed to take. The process for getting results is 10 weeks.
It took about an hour to complete, some of it due to how long it took to provide a specimen but most of it due to paperwork. It's pretty neat to have insight on the process now.
I was escorted to the control area where they asked for my id. Since I was in a skin suit and my car was a mile or so away, my id was a good distance off. My escort wasn't too keen on the distance so just took a photo of me with my name written on a piece of paper, mug shot style.
There was a bunch of paper work to establish my name, address, doctor, coach, prescription s and otc drugs ive taken, then I had to give a urine specimen with my usada escort watching. Trying to pee after a crit was a challenge.
It was honestly nerve wracking. I know I'm clean, but had to declare a number of allergy and asthma meds I'm prescribed to take. The process for getting results is 10 weeks.
It took about an hour to complete, some of it due to how long it took to provide a specimen but most of it due to paperwork. It's pretty neat to have insight on the process now.
You're going to test positive for being a dope!
05-29-14, 02:53 PM
#32
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^no urine needed to find that out
05-29-14, 05:59 PM
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Your argument is disingenuous. Guys are taking the same drugs the euro pros are taking. It's also naive, as many guys who are doping will simply cycle off for nats, or avoid them. Without random testing showing up at some lesser and unexpected race you're not catching anyone.
It's also local associations driving the testing on local levels, often with funding by donation. So they're certainly entitled to raise and spend money as they see fit.
It's also local associations driving the testing on local levels, often with funding by donation. So they're certainly entitled to raise and spend money as they see fit.
05-29-14, 06:24 PM
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I guess the debate is whether or not its worth the time and money to test people, because people will get popped if they test people. All that stuff is just way too accessible these days.
05-29-14, 06:39 PM
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Stupid or arrogant people will get popped. Smart people won't.
05-29-14, 06:41 PM
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No doubt about that. We were talking about cheaters, though.
05-29-14, 07:32 PM
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05-29-14, 07:38 PM
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Your argument is disingenuous. Guys are taking the same drugs the euro pros are taking. It's also naive, as many guys who are doping will simply cycle off for nats, or avoid them. Without random testing showing up at some lesser and unexpected race you're not catching anyone.
It's also local associations driving the testing on local levels, often with funding by donation. So they're certainly entitled to raise and spend money as they see fit.
It's also local associations driving the testing on local levels, often with funding by donation. So they're certainly entitled to raise and spend money as they see fit.
Who are you replying to? And if me, what is disingenuous about it?
So what if guys are taking the same drugs? For what? That's my point. Testing for state championships is a joke. It's a monumental waste of money. And if they are taking the same drugs euro pros are, then A) those tests are going to be even more expensive (and won't be used) or B) they'll only get caught if they screw up.
Sure they are. But that's my contention. There are far better things and far more important things to deal with in growing the sport. Do you know every drug on the banned substance list? Because I sure don't. And I seriously doubt most do and if they're doing low-level testing how many people are going to get popped for random crap they've never even heard of? (All conjecture as I have no idea, but there is a helluva lot of stuff I've never heard of on those lists that you apparently can be bought in supplements and medications OTC).
05-29-14, 08:01 PM
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This is the internet. Hyperbole is part of it since there's no body language to fill in the gap. I will try to be more literal when replying to your posts in the future if it causes this much consternation.
05-29-14, 08:05 PM
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Who are you replying to? And if me, what is disingenuous about it?
So what if guys are taking the same drugs? For what? That's my point. Testing for state championships is a joke. It's a monumental waste of money. And if they are taking the same drugs euro pros are, then A) those tests are going to be even more expensive (and won't be used) or B) they'll only get caught if they screw up.
Sure they are. But that's my contention. There are far better things and far more important things to deal with in growing the sport. Do you know every drug on the banned substance list? Because I sure don't. And I seriously doubt most do and if they're doing low-level testing how many people are going to get popped for random crap they've never even heard of? (All conjecture as I have no idea, but there is a helluva lot of stuff I've never heard of on those lists that you apparently can be bought in supplements and medications OTC).
So what if guys are taking the same drugs? For what? That's my point. Testing for state championships is a joke. It's a monumental waste of money. And if they are taking the same drugs euro pros are, then A) those tests are going to be even more expensive (and won't be used) or B) they'll only get caught if they screw up.
Sure they are. But that's my contention. There are far better things and far more important things to deal with in growing the sport. Do you know every drug on the banned substance list? Because I sure don't. And I seriously doubt most do and if they're doing low-level testing how many people are going to get popped for random crap they've never even heard of? (All conjecture as I have no idea, but there is a helluva lot of stuff I've never heard of on those lists that you apparently can be bought in supplements and medications OTC).
The foundation of any sport is fundamental fairness. That's why we have officials and rules. Drugs alter the fairness. It's such a simple concept.
05-29-14, 08:07 PM
#44
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Who are you replying to? And if me, what is disingenuous about it?
So what if guys are taking the same drugs? For what? That's my point. Testing for state championships is a joke. It's a monumental waste of money. And if they are taking the same drugs euro pros are, then A) those tests are going to be even more expensive (and won't be used) or B) they'll only get caught if they screw up.
Sure they are. But that's my contention. There are far better things and far more important things to deal with in growing the sport. Do you know every drug on the banned substance list? Because I sure don't. And I seriously doubt most do and if they're doing low-level testing how many people are going to get popped for random crap they've never even heard of? (All conjecture as I have no idea, but there is a helluva lot of stuff I've never heard of on those lists that you apparently can be bought in supplements and medications OTC).
So what if guys are taking the same drugs? For what? That's my point. Testing for state championships is a joke. It's a monumental waste of money. And if they are taking the same drugs euro pros are, then A) those tests are going to be even more expensive (and won't be used) or B) they'll only get caught if they screw up.
Sure they are. But that's my contention. There are far better things and far more important things to deal with in growing the sport. Do you know every drug on the banned substance list? Because I sure don't. And I seriously doubt most do and if they're doing low-level testing how many people are going to get popped for random crap they've never even heard of? (All conjecture as I have no idea, but there is a helluva lot of stuff I've never heard of on those lists that you apparently can be bought in supplements and medications OTC).
Who said their agenda was growing the sport? They're raising and earmarking money for testing. The testing is catching people. The same people who are raising cash to do testing are sometimes also the very same people raising money to grow the sport. Champion-Systems, the NY based pro team, donated money for NYC based testing AND raised money to buy bikes for juniors, entry fees, etc.
Honestly I don't really care what you think though. This is already happening. This is the reality of the sport. Someone is putting up the cash to do this. I'm not of the mind to tell people how to spend their money. If you want to be the crotchety old man yelling at everyone that they're doing it wrong everyone is pretty much going to tune you out.
05-29-14, 08:20 PM
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Oddly enough testing is and has been going on, and seemingly people largely aren't getting popped for random stuff crap but things like epo, steroids, and other things with known performance enhancing substances. You sound like a guy who just woke up from a really long nap.
Who said their agenda was growing the sport? They're raising and earmarking money for testing. The testing is catching people. The same people who are raising cash to do testing are sometimes also the very same people raising money to grow the sport. Champion-Systems, the NY based pro team, donated money for NYC based testing AND raised money to buy bikes for juniors, entry fees, etc.
Honestly I don't really care what you think though. This is already happening. This is the reality of the sport. Someone is putting up the cash to do this. I'm not of the mind to tell people how to spend their money. If you want to be the crotchety old man yelling at everyone that they're doing it wrong everyone is pretty much going to tune you out.
Who said their agenda was growing the sport? They're raising and earmarking money for testing. The testing is catching people. The same people who are raising cash to do testing are sometimes also the very same people raising money to grow the sport. Champion-Systems, the NY based pro team, donated money for NYC based testing AND raised money to buy bikes for juniors, entry fees, etc.
Honestly I don't really care what you think though. This is already happening. This is the reality of the sport. Someone is putting up the cash to do this. I'm not of the mind to tell people how to spend their money. If you want to be the crotchety old man yelling at everyone that they're doing it wrong everyone is pretty much going to tune you out.
Nor am I sure why you think I'm telling anyone how to do anything. I'm replying to a post on an internet forum. Maybe you need to realize what exactly is going on here before getting too caught up in the charades.
05-29-14, 08:22 PM
#46
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You are responsible for everything you put into your body. Deal with it. Don't take supplements. Read the labels. Check GlobalDRO. It's not rocket science. It's not like guys are getting busted for taking aspirin.
The foundation of any sport is fundamental fairness. That's why we have officials and rules. Drugs alter the fairness. It's such a simple concept.
The foundation of any sport is fundamental fairness. That's why we have officials and rules. Drugs alter the fairness. It's such a simple concept.
Aspirin? Are you straining yourself to come up with these replies or is this just you being obtuse because it's second nature?
What are you going on about with fairness? What does that have to do with anything I've written? Try to keep up here, bud. It's tiresome having to go back and break things down so that you understand what's actually being typed up.
05-29-14, 08:53 PM
#47
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no, but that's exactly the point. because *we* take something to a certain level doesn't mean it is so, even when "pro" is in the field name.