Posted this on the TT forum (as in timetrialling, not the hairdressers car) but it applies here too
Whilst I’m completely against what doping has done to the professional side of the sport I can almost understand it – mortgage to pay, kids to feed and so on. There is a financial gain to be made by injecting or popping a few pills. Utterly wrong but if its between continuing to earn a living or losing your home, then I suppose some feel they have no choice. I can almost come to terms with why Evans thought he needed to dope – a young impressionable kid wanting to do well and possibly having a future in the sport. The finger there should be pointed at those that supported him
What I struggle to come to terms with is why someone fairly mediocre would dope to win something like the national 12? And not only dope, but fabricate some unbelievable story for the first test, then question the validity of the tests following being caught for a second substance. I can only assume that it would be for bragging rights, or to feel superior to others in the competition which in turn is completely cancelled out by the deceit when he actually tested positive. ‘Yeah, I’m brilliant and I beat all of you’ loses its clout somewhat when you cry about having a bottle tampered with, only for that story to be shown for what it really is. As for trying to get out of it on a technicality, well it just makes a bad situation even worse.
In my opinion there’s something drastically wrong with someones mental state when they feel the need to do any/all of this. If you’re so desperate for a trophy there’s plenty on ebay – get yourself one and engrave it with whatever you want without having to train a bit harder – save yourself the effort of getting up early or standing in the rain at the start. I race because I want to do well, I enjoy competition and I like having a target of beating someone and achieving it. It loses its point a bit when you’re competing against others who have an (illegal) unfair advantage.
The idea that someone else alluded to on here that there are a large number of amateur riders doping is pretty sinister. I’m pretty awesome at being shelled out the back of a crit or road race but it angers me when I’ve done the training in the dark, cold and wet only for some idiot to cheat and beat me – why bother? Whether its TT’s, road races or MTB most of us spend a considerable amount of both time and money trying to improve ourselves. Doing this makes a complete mockery of it all and the sooner its stamped out the better. I’d happily pay more if it meant more drugs testing,
Townsend doped and in my opinion nothing short of a lifetime ban will suffice. I’ve little time for anyone that thinks what he’s done is acceptable or excusable