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Originally Posted by Spartak
They can take away a medal because you were late for a drug test, but not when you have blatantly cheated but your second sample was mishandled. What the fuck. Is this the same ruthless zero tolerance IOC that trumpeted itself for so long before the Olympics ?
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Innocent until proven guilty. Think about if--if you had dedicated your life to climbing to the top of your sport and all of a sudden a drug test said you were positive despite your being clean, youd want a retest too. A lot of these tests are pretty subjective and as such require a second test to verify.
Now, in this case, given that he failed the first, and failed the first AND second tests at the Vuelta, and that the second wasnt negative but was instead destroyed by operator error, I think they probably should move to sanction him.
Mal, part of the problem is that cycling has long had a history of doping. For its whole 100 years of life, riders have been doping. Its gotten to the point that to compete at all, you almost have to be doped or you'll just be trounced by those who are. Its a vicious circle, and something that is very disheartening. Not to mention that when you take someone whose only marketable skill is the ability to endure extreme discomfort and pain for a long time and dangle huge contracts, endorsements, and whatever else in front of them, many are willing to do almost anything to win. Still doesnt explain Hamilton of all people, but...