Doping

Interesting but it's not doping. Guess they'll add it to the "prohibited methods" list and yet still have no decent way of testing/preventing it.

Didn't they talk about banning altitude tents? That never happened.

Taking a rebreathing test raises the carbon monoxide level in your blood to just under 6%, says Lundby. You would go about your normal day with levels of about 0.5% just from exhausts and pollution, while a smoker’s is about 8%. For a normal adult, after a rebreathing test levels would be at 2% by the next morning and back to normal within the day, even quicker if you exercise during that time.

I knew it! I’ve been banging on for years that taking up smoking would make you faster. It’s quite simple: smoking 20 a day blocks your lungs up a bit and the smoke has less oxygen in it which is a bit like altitude training. Think how efficient your lungs have to become after a few years of hard work from that! You simply stop smoking a couple of weeks before competition so you can cough it all back up and clear your lungs and, hey presto, super strong clear lungs! Look at all the old Tour winners, they all used to smoke.

Look at all the old Tour winners, they all used to smoke.

Yes, and here's an example, but Gino didn't stop 'a couple of weeks before competition'.

According to the caption he's 'relaxing' before the start, and I think it's a Tour stage

NB I've only just noticed this, but the caption mis-spells his name - it is, of course, Bartali.

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I remember watching some comic relief thing where they were climbing Kilimanjaro and the unfit smoker (Chris Moyles??) faired the best for altitude sickness.

I'm sure you weren't using this as evidence but just in case any would be smokers out there got any ideas - altitude sickness impact varies wildly with genetics and has little to do with fitness.

That Guardian Story

It's more than a bit annoying that the Guardian article is written as though it is only cycling that has a problem with doping. You have to get right to the bottom before there's any mention of other sports, but I don't think the Russians at Sochi in 2014 were cyclists.

While I accept that doping is a problem in cycling, I certainly don't accept that other sports are innocent. I'd particularly like to know what footballers (the richest sport) are using.

And another thing

Apart from doping, what about the other methods of cheating?

Taking the train (Maurice Garin) would be a bit tricky with modern TV coverage, but there's still mechanical doping and buying and selling races.

It's well known that bribery was quite common in the past - what about now?

And «péché mignon»--his 'cute little sin' / peccadillo.

but there's still mechanical doping

One swallow doesn't make a summer.

There's a whole website dedicate to exposing people that cut running/marathon courses.

While I accept that doping is a problem in cycling, I certainly don't accept that other sports are innocent. I'd particularly like to know what footballers (the richest sport) are using.

There's no doubt it occurs in a lot of sports. Remember the Barry Bonds scandal, for instance. But yes, money talks. We know that at least since Fuentes.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/BALCO_scandal

To name but a few: athletics, swimming tennis. I’d say doping (as a percentage of top competitors) is higher than in world tour cycling in all of them.

This nonsense with Jannik Sinner tells you all you need to know about tennis and the WTO’s stance on protecting its assets.

It’s always rugby

And it’s ruined aspects of the game. They’re all too big and powerful to have properly contested scrums.

Some doping book I read was saying that back in the 60/70s on the tdf the front runner would be haggling as to how to split the prize money if they let one another win certain stages and overall win. I could easily see some of these big teams with wads of cash doing similar

CERA still be using by some.

Wiki doping?
https://youtube.com/watch?v=sjzRhf8IYIg&si=Pngrq0rY2twDHBqu

Watching that and reading a few things, the ultra running community really does think of themselves as some kind of shining light of morality. Funny that, as usually the combination of extreme physical endurance, sponsorship money, competition and personal glory doesn't bring out the softer side of people.

Damian Halls We can't run away from this is actually next on my read list

https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/health/the-rise-of-testosterone-doping

I wonder if the shrinking testcles requires a saddle change. Making amyone switching saddles a suspect.

Saddles that cause enough issues that your balls inflate is also reason for a saddle change though.

But that can also be fixed by taking enough testosterone

LOL that article is a fucking "how to" guide!