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OPINION

Cycling and the war on doping...

by James Warrener
Fri, Jul 30, 2010 12:16
6

Reading this article elsewhere on road.cc has left me wishing I had never been quoted as saying "nothing in the sport of cycling can surprise me anymore".

I neither know or particularly want to know Dan Staite but if he ever wanted me to make the short journey across Cambridgeshire for a chat and an explanation I would be more than happy to try and understand what happened and how he came to receive a two year ban for taking performance enhancing drugs.

Doping at the top level of sport I can't accept but I can see why it happens. Commercial pressure, a responsibility to fans and a desire to keep your job can be explanations but never excuses.

But for an amateur rider to appear to have taken EPO and to produce an amazing performance taking on Rapha/Condor/Sharp I am at a loss to fathom. Where was the lie going to end? 

I am sat here feeling an element of sympathy for Mr Staite too though. Something somewhere inside his brain must have told him that this was a good idea. And it wasn't...

But it does open up some questions that he might be best placed to answer.

  • Is there drug use in UK Pro and senior amateur scene?
  • Was he doing this to chase a career and did he feel that doping was the only way to be competitive in cycling?
  • How did he manage the risk? I wouldn't have thought it was administered in the same structured way it has been rumoured some pro teams operate.

British Cycling needs to move on and continue to prove its cleanliness...

...Team Sky are looking to appoint Neil Stephens? 

Dan Staite

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6 comments

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millook | 14 years ago
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14 Doping in any sport should be rewarded with a lifetime ban for showing contempt for your sport and fellow competitors.
pdc

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Jon Burrage | 14 years ago
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yeah but it proves that people are willing to risk their health, their future careers, their reputation at all levels and it is really sad.

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alotronic | 14 years ago
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Great story Jon, Fear and Loathing in Javelin doping, love it!

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Jon Burrage | 14 years ago
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Not just amateur cycling, I was a british junior amateur javelin thrower, got some support from British Athletics and trained with the british development squad at Birchfield several nights a week. One guy that we all remember and those who still converse still talk about was ok, strong but had pooor technique. He vanished for about 7 months then came back, he was massive. Huge muscular arms and chest, he has a good deal of facial hair etc. He still had no technique but his sheer strength saw him beating everyone else.

We worked in the gym 3 nights a week, we were toned but not huge, he looked like something from flex magazine.

We were 14! We got tested at the AAA (amateur athletics assosciation) trials, never saw him compete after that. Really brought it home to me though just what lengths people will go to, none of us were going to be big stars which made it all the more worrying.

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James Warrener | 14 years ago
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This story still seems to have some legs. http://road.cc/content/news/21016-uk-anti-doping-says-dan-staite-was-tar...

I suppose it is hitting home harder for Cambridgeshire cyclists as Dan is from round this way.

I have seen some of his comments on other forums as well...

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kittyfondue | 14 years ago
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..Team Sky are looking to appoint Neil Stephens? I know!! I was wondering about that - I thought they refused to have anything to do with anyone who has been involved in any sort of doping scandal ever. Brailsford kept going on about that - he seemed pretty adament when Team Sky first started that not one tainted foot would climb onto the Team Sky bus. So what happened??

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