Pollack and Cronjäger suspended, for doping, what else Options

[frenchfry]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/pollack-an...jager-suspended

Olaf Pollack and Markus Cronjäger have been provisionally suspended by the German Cycling Federation (BDR) after returning positive doping controls.

Pollack previously rode for Gerolsteiner and T-Mobile. Is there anyone left from Gerolsteiner that hasn't been busted? Does anyone need further proof that T-Mobile was rife with dopers?

[Steve in ATL]

Excellent news!

Remember: If you go hunting dopers, you're going to find them. One should rejoice when they are caught. Two more salaried positions for clean riders now!

[frenchfry]

Excellent news!

Remember: If you go hunting dopers, you're going to find them. One should rejoice when they are caught. Two more salaried positions for clean riders now!

Except that, according to the article, Pollack was riding as an amateur.

Possible that after doping throughout his pro career he can no longer get by without drugs.

I personally don't rejoice, I find it sad that we have almost daily confirmation that doping pervades cycling at every level and including every generation.

[diknutz]

Except that, according to the article, Pollack was riding as an amateur.

Possible that after doping throughout his pro career he can no longer get by without drugs.

I personally don't rejoice, I find it sad that we have almost daily confirmation that doping pervades cycling at every level and including every generation.

Doping, the psychology that allows and condones it at least, pervades all of the 1st world (at the very least)...why should cycling be an exception simply because you or I happen to follow it. Has God granted us some kind of exception from the travails of the rest? To address the problem will require a tectonic shift in our (yes you) value system...unfortunately, after that shift has happened, cycling may not be on TV anymore...in fact may not even exist as you know it anymore...so what, certainly bicycles will still be around, so take joy from that...all you need is two bikes to have a race.

The problem is so much bigger than doping...doping is a symptom, not the disease.

[frenchfry]

Doping, the psychology that allows and condones it at least, pervades all of the 1st world (at the very least)...why should cycling be an exception simply because you or I happen to follow it. Has God granted us some kind of exception from the travails of the rest? To address the problem will require a tectonic shift in our (yes you) value system...unfortunately, after that shift has happened, cycling may not be on TV anymore...in fact may not even exist as you know it anymore...so what, certainly bicycles will still be around, so take joy from that...all you need is two bikes to have a race.

The problem is so much bigger than doping...doping is a symptom, not the disease.

Maybe my problem is that I don't buy in to the psychology that currently pervades much (not all!) of the world. The mentality of more is better, excesses are a sign of being "better" than the rest, wealth being a symbol of success, narcissic egomaniacs being worshipped by the masses. This value system, in my opinion, is broken. I refuse to accept the current state as inevitable.

I see the bicycle as a cure to what is wrong with the modern world, not a means to participate in values I don't share.

[one-mint-julich]

Excellent news!

Remember: If you go THROUGH THE MOTIONS OF hunting dopers, you're going to CONVINCE SOME PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE REALLY TRYING TO find them. One should rejoice when theSE SMALL FISH are caught. Two more salaried positions for riders WHO HAVEN'T TESTED POSITIVE now!

Reads a little better now, I think.

[Steve in ATL]

Reads a little better now, I think.

So your philosophy is "Kill them all and let God sort them out," then?

[Lister Farrar]

As usual, I like all the answers here. And, as usual, I feel that mix of hope and despair.

So, optimists, how do you think things will change if the DS's etc. (the establishment) are the same?

And pessimists, doesn't catching and penalizing riders, (and declaring anti-doping a priority), count for anything?

I also strongly agree with Frenchfry that doping in cycling is reflective of tolerance of the win at all costs attitude in society. And could it be that unfettered capitalism showed it's weakness in this recession, exposing cheats along with the myth?

But I don't agree we're simply following the societal model. I think sport, because you learn your attitudes to it (from it?) early in life, contributes to cheating later.

But this also offers some hope. If we get any measure of control over this (and other forms of cheating), who knows what effect we could have on the next Madoff or Enron executive?

Just a disclaimer, I'm not going along with Michael Moore's latest movie...

[diknutz]

Maybe my problem is that I don't buy in to the psychology that currently pervades much (not all!) of the world. The mentality of more is better, excesses are a sign of being "better" than the rest, wealth being a symbol of success, narcissic egomaniacs being worshipped by the masses. This value system, in my opinion, is broken. I refuse to accept the current state as inevitable.

I see the bicycle as a cure to what is wrong with the modern world, not a means to participate in values I don't share.

frenchfry, I wholeheartedly agree with you...the bicycle is a means to cure what is wrong...bicycle racing on the other hand, can sukadik...i don't buy into it either, except inasmuch as there really isn't anything else for sale.

[D-Queued]

...

I see the bicycle as a cure to what is wrong with the modern world, not a means to participate in values I don't share.

Cheers!

I love the bicycle.

Dave.