Tyler Hamilton opens up with Velonews about the last four years of his life and career as a pro cyclist. In what is a revealing interview, Hamilton explains that he doesn't feel like the same person, and that all his troubles have led to the eventual ending of his marriage to Haven Hamilton. Feelings from fans are mixed, with some feeling that Hamilton deserves no sympathy because he has yet to admit he doped.
Hamilton's situation is a tough one to take a side on. One one hand he was clearly caught employing a banned method to gain an advantage over his competition. On the other, he was suspended, served his complete time, and was then cleared to ride again. He had a difficult time after signing with the Italian Tinkoff team, before eventually being coaxed by Michael Ball to ride for the upstart Rock Racing team.
The most troubling part of Hamilton's unwillingness to admit that he did anything wrong (despite strong circumstantial evidence against him), is that fact that he has never waivered in his denials. He exhausted many of his personal financial resources in trying to clear his name, and even now that his suspension is behind him, he refuses to admit that he cheated.
Put yourself in Hamilton's situation. You have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to clear your name, but to no avail. You have served your suspension and are now comfortably situated with a supportive team. Wouldn't you admit what you did, especially considering that you can't be sanctioned further? Conversely, if you were innocent, wouldn't you stick to your guns? The above perspective is what makes Hamilton's situation so hard. Emotionally, it is hard not to believe that he was wronged and is innocent, but logically there is so much circumstantial evidence to the contrary that one is left hopelessly confused. Perhaps it is time to just let problems from the past stay in the past.
Aside from Hamilton's inability to admit his wrongdoing, he still deserves to be looked at in the same light as any other reformed doper. He has reached the highest level of sport again, after his impressive win at the US Pro Championships, and the Colorado native seems poised for at least one more solid year on the bike. Now is the time for cycling fans to embrace the aging veteran as a survivor, and as an example of persistance in the face of overwhelming odds. Like it or not, Hamilton is back racing, and he deserves a second chance, just like any one else.
Posts
2 comments:
I would suggest Hamilton remains in denial because as time has passed he has dug himself in deeper and deeper. If he admits to having doped now his popularity would drop even lower. I think the time has passed for him to admit his guilt.
At least he's not in jail, like OJ Simpson.
Post a Comment