As an avid cyclist and triathlete, it was absolutely unbelievable today to find out Alexandre Vinokourov tested positive for blood doping at this years Tour de France… WTF?!?!?   With the HUGE cloud of controversy that is already hanging over professional cycling, it is just sickening that at this stage of the game that a tour top contender and the Astana team captain was still willing to risk his career and the rest of his team’s race!   Is it an addiction?   All tour riders know that WHEN they get caught (not IF) for any type of banned substance use, their fine is equivalent to 2 years of their current salary – that’s a LOT of money to be flushing down the toilet, not to mention your own reputation… 

Anyway, not just in cycling, but in any type of sport – cheating doesn’t get you anywhere.  Fitness gains and strength gains can of course be gotten through the use of illegal substances, but for what possible long-term gain?   How can you look at yourself in the mirror knowing that you’ve cheated yourself?

For more breaking news about the latest pro-cycling / Tour de France scandal, drop by:

http://www.velonews.com/tour2007/details/articles/12910.0.html