I don't understand all the allegations of doping in cycling. I don't know at what points the athletes are tested or the reliablility of the tests. It just seems to me that if the riders were doping, we'd all find out pretty quickly. So what am I missing? Are the athletes not tested on a regular basis? Are the tests unreliable? Are they claiming there are new drugs that aren't being tested?

I don't understand all the allegations of doping in cycling. I don't know at what points the athletes are tested or the reliablility of the tests. It just seems to me that if the riders were doping, we'd all find out pretty quickly. So what am I missing? Are the athletes not tested on a regular basis? Are the tests unreliable? Are they claiming there are new drugs that aren't being tested?
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I don't understand all the allegations of doping in cycling. I don't know at what points the athletes are tested or the reliablility of the tests. It just seems to me that if the riders were doping, we'd all find out pretty quickly. So what am I missing? Are the athletes not tested on a regular basis? Are the tests unreliable? Are they claiming there are new drugs that aren't being tested?

Let's face it: the tests are reactive. Meaning, that they develop tests for drugs that are already rampant within the peleton. Meanwhile, teams (riders, doc's, etc..) are coming up with new drugs or new ways to use old drugs. Are the tests reliable?? Yes. Do they test for everything? doubtful. Are they tested regularly?? yes. I remember an article from Tyler Hamilton on drug testing. If I remember correctly, he has to effectively file his daily schedule with the UCI so they can find him if they want to test. Within his article, he recounted a story on how he and his wife were about to go out for the day but the testers showed up unexpectedly at his door in the US. They were with him for over two hours and ruined their day. If memory serves, the testors showed up at around 6am. Ouch!

I don't understand all the allegations of doping in cycling. I don't know at what points the athletes are tested or the reliablility of the tests. It just seems to me that if the riders were doping, we'd all find out pretty quickly. So what am I missing? Are the athletes not tested on a regular basis? Are the tests unreliable? Are they claiming there are new drugs that aren't being tested?


The tests for doping (EPO) are very unreliable. It cannot be detected reliably at this time. There's a lot of reasons for this and here's my feeble attempt at explaining why:

- it measures a hemacrotin level (amount of oxygen the blood can carry) and every athlete has a different base level.

- there's many, many countermeasures for the tests. (chemicals as well). Even when the authorities do a surprise test in the athletes' quarters, the athletes with high levels test last and go in the back room and take all the countermeasures.

- new drugs are being developed all the time. Can't test for what you don't know about.

- even when they catch someone, there's all kinds of appeals and argument about false-positive readings. Like oh yeah, I took allergy medicine that day, etc, etc.

Thus passing a drug test or never having tested positive for drugs doesn't mean you're clean. It just means you haven't tested positive.

You pretty much have to be 'CAUGHT IN THE ACT' to be found using drugs. It's kind of a joke but I think it's more true than not.
- David Millar denied it til the end and never tested positive. Yet they raided his house and found the drugs. Still they needed a confession
- Raymundas Rumsas TDF 3 years ago challenged Lance in all the mountains. Never tested positive until they found his wife with a massive carload of drugs.
- Genevieve Jeanson would blow away the field in 2003 never tested positive until a drug doctor was caught and singled her out as a customer. She hasn't been found positive. But her career has taken a downturn since with all the scrutiny.

francois
p.s. I'm rattling these things off the top of my head so please correct me where needed