It's not too late to let your national federation president know what you think about doping, so they can keep it on their agenda for the Friday meeting.

I'm going to note the progress implementing the passport and McQuaid's placing of doping as first on his priority list. But I'm also going to suggest they tighten up the passport rules and be ready for sanctions when they get enough data to show one really shouldn't be able to maintain or increase hct over a grand tour, etc.

If I hear back, I'll post what I hear, assuming he doesn't ask for confidentiallity.

FYI. Heard back from the Canadian Cycling Association president, John Tolkamp. My letter to him below.

From: John Tolkamp [mailto:deleted by LF]
Sent: Tuesday, September 22, 2009 11:42 PM
To: Lister Farrar
Subject: Re: UCI Congress

Hi Lister, thanks for your thoughts. Yes, I am 100% behind what you are saying and will be discussing with the UCI. We (the CCA family) are also continuing to develop our national program and I hope we have something in place for next year which builds on True Sport and can be put in place by develop coaches and clubs.

thanks,
John


On Tue, Sep 22, 2009 at 10:22 AM, Lister Farrar <listerfarrar(at)telus.net> wrote:
Dear John:

‘Nice seeing you at the track nationals. I envied you having a bike when I passed you and your wife with our car full of kids after one of the sessions.

I’m writing to encourage you to help Pat McQuaid keep the pressure on doping, during any discussions at this years UCI congress.

I know the CCA has increased its efforts under your watch (e.g. as an agenda item, and including ‘True Sport’ on the national team uniform), but indications are that there is still work to do to make the passport work, such as the recent discussions about Armstrong’s passport results. http://www.localcyclist.com/2009/09/lance-...ult-to-explain/

I’m sure the cycling establishment is tired of the constant doping scandals and criticisms. But I am too, especially the public assumption that top cyclists are doped. It makes it very difficult to be an advocate for cycling as I would like to be with the school programs with which I’m involved.

One aspect I think is missing from the UCI approach is a communications strategy to promote an alternative to doping and cheating. The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport has ‘True Sport’, and UK cycling has ‘100% Me’. What both these ideas do is present an alternative that is not simply anti-doping, a negative, but something a young rider could aspire to, a positive. Easier on those of us tired of the scandals too.

Good luck in Switzerland.

Yours in cycling
Lister Farrar
Victoria BC