If you want to understand the institutional nature of doping, you need to look no further than USA Cycling.
In 1984 Olympics the American cycling team was found to be participating in blood doping similar to what Landis is accusing 26 years later.
The first question you might ask is didn't we learn our lesson ? Perhaps the better observation is maybe we learned the wrong lesson.
The key folks who fought against the blood boosting in 1984 included David Prouty, Dr. Thom Dickenson, and Rob Lea. The end result of the controversy was that all three ended their tenure with the highest levels of the sport.
Conversely, many of the names implicated as being participants in the scandal went on to become leaders within the sport and the federation.
Pat McDonough went on to be, of all things, the USA Cycling Athletics Director.
Eddie B left the federation and started Lance Armstrong's first professional team Subaru Montgomery, which later became the US Postal Team.
Dr. Ed Burke went on to be a doctor with the USCF and an influence on Lance's coach Chris Charmichael
Danny Van Haute is the director of the Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Team
Mike Fraysee received an award from the UCI for his service, served as the VP of Pan Am cycling, and served as Joe Papp's director and patron.
Dr. Falsetti - who was brought in to do the transfusions served as a medical adviser to the US Postal Cycling Team and continue working with elite athletes.
4 comments:
Don't forget the Phinneys were on that team....Taylor phinney now on Lance's team.
Nailed it, but there are a couple of background facts. Blood doping in '84 was not officially illegal, but obviously wrong, so some of the team chose to not boost - including Connie Carpenter. She still took the gold over American blood booster Rebecca Twigg. Pat McDonough did ride the red pony in '84 and medalled as part of the 100% boosted pursuit team. Also, Steve Hegg, Harvey Nitz, Mark Whitehead, all with zero consequences. Assholes and hypocrites all, especially the snakes who wriggled up the USCF ladder and now cast boulders from their glass houses.
A very concise piece of history - well done.
Spice, the Phinneys did not participate in the blood doping.
While not against the rules, the major ethical dilemma was that, due to the short time between the trials and the Olympics, there was insufficient time to transfuse their own blood, so the docs and athletes used other people's blood to pack.
As a result a few of the athletes got very sick and could not compete.
They're all very lucky that's all that happened.
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