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Millar changes his mind....
So David Millar has made himself available for the road race and I assume, the Time Trial:
"I spent a lot of time thinking about it, but I've concluded that if I can be of benefit to the team, I would be happy to help."
I would link to the Times article this quote came from but is a subscription site.
Sounds like a change of heart from previous statements, when he said he didn't want to be some sort of 'cause celebre'
I expect Mr Cavendish is secretly very pleased.
If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.
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24 comments
Didn't impress on the TT like I thought yesterday. With 3 brits in the top 10, selection for the oylmpics will be hard!
forgot ( really)
It was used, but some months previously. ISTR him feeling quite relieved that the whole team-backed house of cards was coming down; he had tried it, ended up loathing himself, stopped, and was subsequently seen as a bit of an oddity by the rest of the team. So when everyone got raided, he sat there smiling. Then a grinning bobby comes out of the bedroom with these items that DM had forgotten he had.
ref earlier posts, notcastenough read his book says it was used needle and old vial, he kept to remind him of dark times, who in rite mind keeps old needles and vials in house when no need too!!!
I agree it's an endless debate - DMs point though is that the racing culture was so 'above-the-law', and the riders were that blase about the threat of enforcement, that he never really saw that as an issue.
I'm about to read Pantani's story, and have been warned to feel very disillusioned afterwards re doping.
if he stopped taking drugs a few months b4 he was caught( his words in his book) ur choice to believe it or not. is itweird or coincidence a syringe and vial was found in his apartment,.
if he was off drugs the last thing u would keep is an old needle and vial just gives authorities more ammunition. sorry not reading his book and putting more money in his pocket ( my choice) got better things to buy with my money. we can go on debating this matter for ever ( we all have our own opinions and mine is same as b wiggins
That's where libraries come in useful
Having never read the book myself could someone say if it was a used needle or an old needle ?. The vial could have been water (which they usually are) so a vial of water and an old needle does not add upto still taking drugs.
fair comment, but it is still there choice to take banned substance,if like you say an 18 year old takes a supplement,which has banned substance in it,if he,s any good should,nt he be asking his coach or manager what is banned and what is not, or is it monkey see monkey do,not in my book.
1) Not every team manager or doctor is trustworthy and young pro's will be more likely to go along with what older, more experienced people in positions of authority suggest. They may not be even aware of what they're taking trusting their doctor to check these things (do you think Wiggins or Cavendish check all their supplements themselves? Sky will employ people to sort this kind of thing).
2) It is not always choice and there is a lot of pressure on pro's, especially younger ones who have pressure to improve, to win things and be better. If there is a culture of doping it's very easy for them to get sucked into it.
Yes, pro's should take responsibility for their bodies and what's in them but it is a very simplistic view to take to say that if it's in there they chose to take it and chose to cheat.
The main problem with life bans is the current level of.doubt that lies in the testing process. The riders are responsible for whatever is in their bodies and there will always be instances of innocent contamination. Are you happy that in cases of contamination or false positive results an innocent rider is banned for life? What if that rider is 18, just starting out in their career and accidentally takes a supplement which contains a banned substance, or misses three tests? Should they lose their livelihoods, their futures, for one mistake? Like stumps said, punishments have to be proportional, we moved on from chopping off thieves hands, life bans are in the same vein
Also, for young riders under pressure from all sides to succeed and to do what their colleagues are doing can you really hand down the same sentence as you would to someone like Riccardo Ricco?
Until tests are 100% accurate and it is impossible for a rider to accidentally take a banned substance life bans are just too harsh and, for me, absolutely should not be imposed except in exceptional circumstances (Landis/Ricco levels of abuse).
one one question to ask!!! if he had not been caught, would he have stopped taking drugs, sorry but should have been banned for life like them all who get caught.
So taking that comment into context should criminals who are sentenced serve all their life in prison or just serve the sentence they are given, cos you cant have it both ways.
He served his ban / sentence and has come back into the world and is trying his best to make things right.
He had already stopped a number of months before he was caught. He felt that guilty about winning on them that he stopped, but weirdly, kept an old syringe and feeder vial as a reminder of dark times. Months later, the entire Cofidis doping culture blew up and the Police raided his apartment, finding the old paraphernalia.
This is my recollection of his book, anyhow. It's not only a very good read, but is an eye-opener regarding drugs in sport. Give it a go.
I doubt the final Olympic TT spots will have been fully confirmed yet, if Millar's fit he should get it because as good as Froome is Millar is better and on his day has a real shot at a medal.
Isn't Froome doing the other spot in the TT?
Read it on the UCI website the other day.
Podium will be:
Wiggo
)
Spartacus
Panzerwagen (he'll do a spartacus
Then Dowsett will ride the course the next day and do it quicker than anyone
Wasn't fully aware of the situation when the BOA decision was overturned rcently, so read his book. Highlights very well the issues, and given what he has done since (Slipstream etc) i'm pleased he has made himself available. Will be an asset to the road team if chosen.
If Wiggo is on form after the tour then not sure many will get near him in the TT.
It's easier to troll him, than consider is he the best person to win the medals or help cav.
TT wise, would he be Tony M or Fabian C, probably not IMO.
Read his book. If he shouldn't compete, the teams that encouraged/turned a blind eye to doping should also be banned from cycling.
Don't forget, after doping, he helped form slipstream, which was founded on the promise of no doping and who brought in an early version of the blood passport, subsequently adopted by the authorities.
He's probably done more to stop doping than any other athlete.
-----------
@boxhillcycling
I agree with people in so much that he has served his ban and should be allowed to compete regardless.
In my own opinion winning an Olympic gold would be the highest award i could earn as its only every 4 years so getting the chance to take part would massive.
Yes, the Daily Fail will no doubt miss the mark with their story and complain of drugs cheats representing our country despite the fact that they already are in so many other non-olympic sports.
I think it's fair that convicted cheats should be able to compete, especially where they've done as Chambers and Miller have and reformed their acts.
The thing is, to many professional sportsmen and women the Olympics is not the pinnacle of their career. So it was right that the BOA fell in line with the rest of the world when convicted dopers are returning to competition in things like the Grand Tours, football World Cup and Athletics without a second thought.
I truly hope this is his redemption. What many sceptics don't think about is whether his anti-doping work has actually led to other convictions. I guess we'll never know for sure. Looking forward to the Daily M**l headline tomorrow.
It's Millar time. Go Dave.
I think alot of people will be very pleased (although possibly not ol'Bradley). I am, I'm glad he's riding and has a chance to show to other athletes that there is redemption. Hopefully he rides both (GB has two TT slots right?) and does well. It'd be nice to see him get a medal in the TT.