BDoughtie wrote:
So when should the UCI be held accountable for it's actions in allowing itself to be bought off? Or are they the innocent ones in this just like the other riders that were "forced" to dope? Are you really trying to tell me that only Lance and his close connected friends are the only bad apples in all of this? That if Lance goes away, every thing else will be good to go?
That's kinda the issue I have here. It's as if only Lance is the big bad tough guy here, all others simply bowed down to him or else. BS. This is a governing body that allowed itself to be bought off. If that doesnt raise red flags, I dont know what will.
But here's the overwhelming issue I see in all of this. The dirty little secret that I see in all of this is that no one wants to deal with doping. They all want to bury their heads and not deal with the bad publicity that failed tests bring.
I think you're not thinking big picture enough. Of course the UCI doesnt want to deal with doping, that's been proven time and again. They benefit from the appearance of testing as opposed to actual testiung. But USADA and WADA want to deal with doping. They're trying to both deal with doping, and show that those who orchestrate it won't get off scott free (if you dont believe me look into their efforts to expand the scope of operation Puerto beyond cycling t get the names of the spanish soccer teams that worked with Fuentes). They're trying to balance that with the potential of having to explain to the public that cycling was so dirty, the people who run it took bribes from a national hero to keep him racing (and bringing in cash), and later in his career looked the other way even while they had in their possession proof of his doping with tests that actually worked in 2009 and 2010.
The UCI should be held accountable, but what should USADA do? "If you tell us everything you know, we'll commute your sentence" before they even hear what he has to say? Tygart tried to get him to even mention UCI in Denver, and he wouldn't do it. I guarantee you if Lance had said "I have emails from the UCI about the bribe", Tygart would have personally called WADA for him. How can USADA turn over the keys to the kingdom if Lance isn't going to spill the beans?
Lance is counting on the hope of the TRC, but right now there's no real traction because UCI is so afraid Lance will spill the beans, they're trying to do it their own way. USADA has laid out a nice proposal that I believe WADA will get behind.
I hope the TRC happens and that lance comes forward and tells the whole truth (which we can both agree he clearly hasnt done so far) and if all that happens, I hope they reduce his sentence and he can race again and find the redemption he is looking for. But if he's not going to give up all that he knows, I hope USADA holds fast.