Basso to Become Anti-Doping Ambassador for UCI

Basso volunteered just enough to get the heat off of him, and now looks poised to come full circle, even though he never really admitted to anything

What the hell is happening to cycling? As reported by Eurosport and other outlets, deposed Italian cyclist Ivan Basso has been brought on board by the UCI to become an anti-doing ambassador after his suspension ends. Shouldn't his official title instead be "Attempted Anti-Doping Ambassador?" Basso never admitted to doping, only "attempted" doping. If Basso only "attempted" to dope, then Bill Clinton never inhaled and didn't f*!# Monika Lewinsky.

Don't get me wrong here either, I'm all for second chances. I rode with Basso in 2005, and found him to be a pretty cool dude. But I have a huge problem with someone who is unable to out and out admit that they did something wrong. Basso doped. Period. He may not have ever tested positive, but Simoni was right to call him an "extra-terrestrial" as he was dominating the 2006 Giro, riding away from the world's best climbers with ease.

When he was finally nailed to the wall by CONI and the UCI, he still didn't admit what he did, but chose to take the coward's way out and admit only what he had to admit. Meanwhile, riders like Andre Kashekin, Roberto Heras, and Jorg Jaksche can't find a contract after having admitted that they actually doped. What gives here? Why are the honest athletes being blacklisted while the slimier ones (Basso, Hondo, VDB, Di Luca, Valverde) roam free? Is there no justice in the sport of cycling? Apparently not.

Increasingly, Basso is looking more like a politician and less like an athlete. And if he spoke English just a bit better, I would think he was an American. I'm sure he and Roger Clemens could spend a nice evening talking about the millions of dollars they have made over the years for their lies and deception. I hope Basso comes back, races clean, and wins. But I fail to understand why Jaksche and the other honest, transparent names above can't do the same. It is time for cycling to reward honesty, and punish deception, instead of the other way around.

Petacchi Suspended, Vila Positive, But Do Fans Care?

Petacchi wasn't planning on riding the Giro this year, but his suspension will affect his planned participation in this year's Tour de France

Alessandro Petacchi lost his appeal to the CAS yesterday for his non-negative test in last year's Giro, and is now suspended until August of this year. The CAS panel determined that the Italian did in fact break the rules, but did not do so maliciously, so he faces only a one year ban.

Meanwhile, Patxi Vila, the Spaniard of the Lampre team, has reportedly tested positive for abnormal testosterone levels. He faces a two year ban if found guilty. Lampre is standing behind their rider, and urging all to suspend judgment until the counter analysis has been completed.

With more doping related news sweeping through the peloton, the question of how the sport will be affected is top of mind. Fans seem not to care about doping in the peloton. A recent survey here on Euro Peloton revealed that fans will never stop following cycling, even if convicted dopers return to cycling. Most fans seem to be jaded by the myriad problems affecting the sport. They have become numb to the doping issue, and seem perpetually ready to forgive and forget.

Vila, here shown winning a stage in Paris-Nice ahead of Floyd Landis in 2006, faces a two year ban for abnormal testosterone, just like Landis

All of this is good news for Petacchi and others, who can expect to recieve huge support from their fans as they make their comebacks. Indeed, a rider like Ivan Basso seems to be more popular than he was before his doping confession. When riders cheat, it would seem, they become more human to fans, more vulnerable. This underdog factor tends to galvanize their fan base instead of alienating it. And as long as a sponsor like Liquigas or LPR are willing to sign tainted riders, all ends well for an accused/guilty cyclist.

UCI Reveals 'Top Rider' is Positive . . . But Who?

Science is finally starting to catch up with today's cheats as the war against doping continues

UCI head Pat McQuaid and colleague Anne Gripper announced yesterday in Switzerland that a 'top rider' has been found with abnormal blood values, and will face sanctioning for the positive test. With the lack of a positive ID, the speculation can begin for who the big name is that will face sanctioning. Although innocent until proven guilty, below are the most likely suspects.

Alejandro Valverde, Caisse d'Epargne

"The Green Bullet," or "valv.piti" according to the Operacio Puerto documents, has long been under suspicion for doping, even if he has never been convicted. A talented rider, Valverde was referenced numerous times in the Puerto documentation, and was saved by his country's governing body closing the case on Puerto, effectively ending any chance at disclosure, which was a shame for the sport of cycling. He had a very quiet early season until his win at Liege, which may point to the fact that he was lying low trying to avoid further suspicion. Should the Spaniard be 'the one', the LBL title would go to a much deserving Davide Rebellin.

Danilo Di Luca, LPR Brakes

Di Luca too has been suspected of foul play, and the 2007 Liege-Bastogne-Liege winner even served a three month sentence in the "Oil for Drugs" case from a few years ago. Always calm, the sauve Italian says he has nothing to worry about. He has logged very few results thus far in 2008, much like Valverde. With the Giro right around the corner, Di Luca must hope he'll not be kept from riding in defense of his 2007 title. A suspension at this point in his career would effectively end his tenure as a pro cyclist.

Andreas Kloden, Astana

Kloden has made strange choices recently that have drawn suspicion to the aging German stage racer. He decided to leave team High Road (then T-Mobile) just as they began their exhaustive anti-doping program, and then he was "sick" for the majority of the early season. Recently, German authorities have alleged that he was among the T-Mobile riders that blood doped in the 2006 Tour de France, but no charges have been formally filed. If Kloden is found guilty, the Astana team would fall even further out of grace with ASO and RCS Sport, the organizers of many of the important European races. Needless to say, Astana can't afford any more doping cases as they try to rebuild their credibility.

Allessandro Petacchi, Milram

"Ale-Jet," like all of the other riders on this list, has already been accused of doping, either frormally or informally. In fact, the Italian sprinting ace is waiting for judgement to be passed down for a non-negative test in last year's Giro. Also, like the others above, a two year sanction for Petacchi will no doubt spell the end to his career. Once one of the most feared sprinters in the peloton, Petacchi has not been able to harness his winning form since injuring his knee cap two seasons ago.

Whomever is named as the rider guilty of doping, it can't be good for cycling, and the bigger the name, the worse the sport will suffer. But it's like they say, "you can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs." Hopefully the rider found guilty will serve as one more warning to riders thinking of doping. As time goes on, the biological passport system will make it more and more difficult to cheat, which is just how most fans and riders want it.