What could be more pathetic?

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/t ... ork-34711/

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TED ESSENFELD
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40 year old men who never did what they wanted to do in their life have been doing this for years often in the form of speedboats, Corvettes, and apparel with flames on it.

Gotta win the $8000 bike!

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Didn't realize doping was illegal amongst amateurs. Why waste the money testing amateurs. Rather test a pro instead.

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"Sacred to the god Aesculapius"

Is it illegal in all countries? What about in the UK? I know over here it's not illegal to use things like EPO, clenbuterol etc. so what happens if you test positive as an amateur?

If you believe some sports scientists, doping in amateur sports is very common. Testing, on the other hand, is not common. Kudos to Gran Fondo NY for keeping it real.

denzity, it's probably illegal to purchase prescription drugs though, and have them administered without indication? As regards sanctions against amateurs, it probably depends if you're licensed or not. Presumably if you'd been tested positive, you could be banned from the competitions which run under the umbrella of the respective national cycling organisation.

tranzformer, presumably Gran Fondo NY is paying for the tests, from the very entry fees the riders payed. Totally unrelated to "pro" racing and testing.

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Legalities don't come into this. Off the top of my head, I only know of France where it's 'illegal'.

Prohibited in sports is something else entirely.


The fact this needs to be spelled out is concerning...

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Baum Ristretto, Baum Mondrian Corretto & the '89 Merckx! | "If you could eat it in one sitting, hold your line." | twitter.com/Tinea_Pedis

Perhaps the biggest problem of doping in cycling is the fact that it's also often used in it's amateur ranks.

There are two ways into professional cycling:
- Via the junior/u23 etc. ranks. Talented, younger aged riders that go through the whole process from their early years and end up being pro.
- Via the amateur ranks. Talented, hard working, older aged riders that get discovered and picked up by a team later in their life.

Riders who come from the one root of cycling and go through the whole proces of being a junior/u23 to a professional obviously get checked numerous times in their career and now in modern times are discouraged to use doping products.
Riders who come from the other root of cycling dont, and even worse, some people dont even care about it...

Here in Belgium amateur cycling/races are pretty big and riders get checked regularly. Some use, get busted and serve two or one year suspensions. Like it should be and just like in professional cycling.

All ranks, amateur or professional, are connected with each other in this sport!

Edit: In most country's the use of doping products itself is not illegal (Only in France) but entering races or competitive events with doping is.

Yes, but "illegal" in terms of a state law and "illegal" in terms of UCI rules (or national cycling org.) are two completely different things.

As @Tinea Pedis said.... only in France the use of doping is prohibited by law and you can actually go to jail if you get caught. In other countries, you just get banned from (some - like those organized under UCI) competitions for few years .

i didn't even realize that gran fondos were races.... i thought they were just nice long rides with your mates...wait. what's a gran fondo?

Spend 10,000$ on doping products to win an 8000$ bike...got it!

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Using a prescription drug for anything other than the intended ailment is technically illegal especially if the doctor knowingly prescribes them without proper evidence. Think of painkillers and 'pain specialists' that feed the addiction- they're all doctors but they still get busted for handing our prescriptions to those who do not need it.

Cyclist: Doc, I'm just too dang slow on the bike, especially up those long steep climbs.
Doctor: I've closely examined videotapes of your riding. You have a case of SCS*.
Cyclist: No doc, I'm too young to die. Say it ain't so.
Doctor: Oh, but I'm afraid it is. Fortunately, it's not fatal, and it is treatable. I can write you a prescription* right now.
Cyclist: Great, sign me up.
Doctor: Your Shanpoetin will be waiting for you at the Walgreens down the street.
Doctor: And good luck in the Rotary Club hill climb next week. I know you'll be "prepared", ha, ha.

* Slow Climber's Syndrome

Not in the UK. Here it's legal to buy any prescription medicine (except those explicitly classed as 'drugs' - stuff like cocaine, heroin, etc.) for personal use without a prescription. Though it is illegal to supply. I know people that order things like modafinil (study drug) and viagra etc online and get it delivered to their door.

More importantly, why is an amateur spending serious $$$ on EPO?

"More importantly, why is an amateur spending serious $$$ on EPO?"

Same reason he spends $5k on a bike and $2k on race wheels?

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