posted Nov 10, 2008

No system will be 100% fool proof. The system will always be open to abuse.

Regarding the 09 route its nothing special. The only real climb that matters will happen to decide the race, this means everyone can just roll along sucking wheels until the penultimate stage. Watch out for the TTT that might make a difference, for me the TTT is a welcome return, I would like the ITT to be a little longer too.

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posted Nov 11, 2008

GS girl- you're lucky that post didnt get deleted! I've tried to make that comment regarding a certain athlete loads of times on numerous BBC forums but I cant seem to get round the legal team. Well done.

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posted Nov 11, 2008

I have beaten the system!!

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posted Nov 11, 2008

GS - i think you have mis-represented the UK system.

The "three strikes" rule is not an olympic one, but one upheld by UK athletics. I think you will find that other countries do not take the stance that the british do with respect to missed tests and subsequent Olympic eligibility - and equally you have to know the circumstances in which CO missed the tests, which is key as to why ultimately she was deemed eligible to compete again at olympic level.

GSg - out of interest - what do belguim do with respect to missed tests / olympics?

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posted Nov 11, 2008

Belgium? Get caught, serve time, and then a clean slate basically. Meaning, if you've served your time then that's it. I'm all for longer bans (one or two years is laughable, I'd go for five at least) but I don't support life time bans. Lifetime Olympic bans however, that's something. Problem with that is that it's only going to affect those sports for whom the Olympics are the pinnacle. Guys like Murray (tennis) or Ronaldo (completely random footballer) could care less about the Olympics.
(Belgium's system isn't the one to follow either btw)

And ok, I didn't know it was just athletics that had the lifetime O. ban (was Millar in Beijing?), but I do know the circumstances. The rules are what they are, and she broke them. Once you start reversing decisions because she "didn't to mean to break them" that's a very slippery slope you're on. All you need for that to blow up in your face is a cheater who happens to be a very good liar (I'm not saying that OC is just that, but she has opened the door for them).

Imho of course

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posted Nov 12, 2008

Mystery! My member page tells me there's been a post after my last one (TOW belgium's doping rules and the OC debate), but I can't see one...

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posted Dec 1, 2008

There goes everybody else's chances.

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posted Dec 2, 2008

Armstrong: "Nobody's paying attention to me any more, so I'd better do something stupid like ride the tour again!"

Drug supplier: "I can't help you this time."

Armstrong: "Uh Oh!"

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posted Dec 2, 2008

This will be legendary. Canny wait!

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