Liars like Piepoli and Schumacher should be gone from the sport for goodLeonardo Piepoli has stubbornly refused to admit that he doped in this past year's Tour de France, and after a lengthy waiting period, the Italian's B sample has also tested positive for the next generation EPO, CERA. Piepoli, having failed to admit his transgression even in the face of overwhelming evidence, should be banned for life from the sport of cycling. Already vulnerable and searching for credibility, the sport of cycling doesn't need dishonest scoundrels like Piepoli involved. Kick him out for life, and send a message that dishonesty will not be tolerated any longer.
Other riders have tested positive in 2008, and many have found the inner strength to admit what they did. On the one hand it is wrong to cheat, but it is even worse not to admit what you have done, especially when you are caught red handed. Riccardo Ricco, currently on suspension for cheating along with Piepoli (his roommate at the Tour), at least was able to stand in front of the world media and admit what he did. At least there was a shred of contrition, a small glimpse of shame.
The same should be said for Bernard Kohl, the disgraced star of the now extinct Gerolsteiner team. Kohl too was found positive for CERA, and instead of denying all and insisting on a B sample test, Kohl instead professed his guilt and vowed to except whatever punishment that was to be meted out to him. Again, it is deplorable that he cheated in the first place, but at least he didn't compound the problem with even more lies.
Kohl's teammate, Stephan Schumacher, is in the same situation as Piepoli. He has yet to come forward and admit his guilt, instead hoping he'll be able to slip through the loopholes in the system. He even has had the nerve to insist that his contract with Quick Step is still valid. Such arrogant and disrespectful behavior as that exhibited by Schumaker should be met with the harshest consequences. Ban him for life, simple as that.
Until cycling deals harshly with the true liars and cheats of the peloton, fans will continue to have to endure false results and deflating dishonesty. Now more than ever, cycling is embracing a transparent and honest sport. The one missing piece is a take no prisoners, no holds barred attitude concerning those that can't even admit their wrongdoing even when it clearly exists. For my part, I hope the only time I see Piepoli is on retrospectives that examine the worst of cycling history.
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2 comments:
How can you hate Piepoli and love Hamilton? Both convicted, both liars. Yet you want one to get a lifetime ban and one to have every chance for a good comeback??
I actually think that if a rider is caught cheating in the Tour de France, he should be banned from ever riding in the TdF again, regardless of what sanctions were handed down.
That includes Vino, Rassmussen, Ricco, Piepoli, Kohl, Schumacher, and Landis. These riders wore the yellow jersey, or the KOM jersey, or won stages and robbed others of their rightful places on the podium and in the peloton.
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