Thu 24 May 2012 | 
Spanish inquisition clears Contador
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Enlarge textRight or wrong - good or bad, I have no choice but to accept the Spanish referee's decision clearing Alberto Contador of intentionally doping, writes Michael Tomalaris.
Saxo Bank-Sungard's Alberto Contador (AAP)
- 58 Comments | Join the discussion
Thank God it's over! For now, at least.
The decision has been
made and we can go on with following and loving professional cycling for
what it is - a grand sporting spectacle.
Right or wrong - good
or bad, I have no choice but to accept the Spanish referee's decision
clearing Alberto Contador of intentionally doping.
Let me be
clear, I'm not saying that I necessarily agree with the decision.
But
I must confess there are big question marks still hanging over the
judicial system currently operating in that country.
And I'm not
prepared to say that we've heard the last of this subject as the
International Cycling Union (UCI), World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and
ultimately the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) may have a final say
at whether Contador makes it all the way to the Tour de France in July.
Whatever
happens Contador has learned a hard and valuable lesson as a result and
there's no way he'll compete with any banned substances in his system -
is there?
In this modern world of professional cycling where
testing is performed around the clock, you would hope Contador fully
understands the consequences and the humiliation he will face if he sins
again.
He will banished for life in everything he does and
everywhere he travels. I'm sure he understand it's just not worth it.
Of
course some also thought the same of Riccardo Ricco and were proved
very wrong.
There's no doubt cycling will lose many followers as a
result of the Spanish Federation clearing their top rider, and some
cynics insist the decision will setback the sport some 15 years.
On
that, we'll have to wait and see, but I'd be surprised if that was the
case. One man and one decision cannot be bigger than a sport which dates
back more than 120 years.
Professional cycling has weathered
many doping blows in the past and yet here it still stands. Bloodied but
still fighting on.
And remember, the professional peloton is not
entirely filled with cheats. Spare a thought for those who correctly
abide by the doping systems put in place and ride to race and race to
win - cleanly.
Those are the men who really define the sport, choosing
to do it the hard way, without short-cuts to fame and fortune.
If
Contador wasn't clean in the past, I'd like to think he will be totally
cleansed in the future, therefore I am prepared to welcome him back to
the peloton - with reservations.
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Comments (58)
Previous 10 |
20 Jul 2011 13:22 AEST
From: Cheltenham
How can anyone accuse Contador of actually cheating? Please be fair; aaparently the Chemical was found in extremely minute amounts that were contained in something he ate. He is nothing but fair on the road either. I seriously hope "Cadel" wins Yellow this year - he seems to have "come of age". Have really enjoyed the efforts of Thomas Voekler and Big Thor though; they both have hearts as beg as themselves.
19 Jul 2011 8:03 AEST
From: Brisbane
rassmusen must be dirty he is the only rider i have seen take two and a half minutes of AC [on the Aubisque] clean or dirty,and then be religated to the wilderness with out a positive test .vino was back why not The Chicken?
17 Jul 2011 17:37 AEST
From: perth
Re AC and doping allegations, sorry I cant remember one single year in the history of TDF where nobody has been caught out and how many other riders have we seen banned for a period of time only to be welcomed back into the world of cycling! Does anybody really believe that armstrong could have won 7 times without cheating ?? He wasnt even as good as climber as AC, so who cares I still admire any rider cheating or not to do what they do and I still believe its a g8 sport/achievement to follow!
12 Jul 2011 20:12 AEST
From: Singapore
"He will banished for life in everything he does and everywhere he travels" What planet are you on Mike? Vinokurov is (was) back. Ricco will be back too....
08 Jul 2011 23:07 AEST
From: Melbourne
Armstrong is as big a cheat as Contador and I view them both with equal and absolute contempt. Here's to many more crashes for Alberto, and if we're lucky he'll retire altogether.
08 Jul 2011 9:41 AEST
From: MELBOURNE
Yes that's right. He's good at "winnig". NON DOPERS ARE GOOD AT WINNING!
08 Jul 2011 9:37 AEST
From: Melbourne
Dopers of the world rejoice, for it is the new patsy that is to blame! Yes that's right folks "The cow"!!! It's well known that these doped up bovine party animals will stop at nothing to enhance the quality of the future bistro meal that they are destined to become. It's well known that cows luv a drink & I'm now thinking that some drink driving charges will be overturned for those cases where the person had eaten steak at the pub. Damn those cows! Damn them to hell! Show that Cont' a' door!
07 Jul 2011 15:23 AEST
From: Perth
"But I must confess there are big question marks still hanging over the judicial system currently operating in that country." So because you don't agree with a decision, the whole country system is in doubt? Give me a break!
06 Jul 2011 20:00 AEST
From: Sydney
I have always thought that Contador was a drug cheat....In 2007 AC won the TDF on drugs to beat Evans. Now he has been caught with drugs in his system for the 2010 TDF win...and it appears he may get away with it...hopefully he wont win the TDF 2011 version so the problem wont be so bad.....The better attitude and performance of Cadel Evans this year is a pleasant surprise. Will he win?....Time will tell ..but congratulations on his stage 4 win over Contador the drug cheat...more of it please!!
05 Jul 2011 1:03 AEST
From: Bunbury
What else can you expect when a cyclist is 'investigated' by his own countrymen? It's no different from the police investigating complaints against themselves... Contador was caught with the substance in his system, and he's guilty, simple as that. He'll never be a great champion in my book, no matter how many TDF's he wins. He's a cheat, END OF!
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