Is the Tour de France done?

[tucker01]

From all the shit last year with the winner testing positive. To the countless positive tests this year. Is this race just a joke now?

Even French newspapers are saying they should cancel it.

Thoughts?

 

[MCx2]

I think they should just allow doping. What's the fuss if the majority of the riders are juiced anyway? I think people get too wrapped up in the "integrity" of their sports in regards to steroids. Just let em ride.

 

[tucker01]

It is the impact on kids and younger athletes. Who feel the have to use to be able to compete at an elite level.

Is that what we want?

Tis a slippery slope.

 

[KelJu]

I think they should just allow doping. What's the fuss if the majority of the riders are juiced anyway? I think people get too wrapped up in the "integrity" of their sports in regards to steroids. Just let em ride.

I agree a 100%.

I would also add that there could be a natural Tour De France, and a juiced Tour De France.


I think if they publicized the natural competition with more attention and endorsement deals, many riders would just prefer to stay natural. Also, the riders should be tested more often, so that they know with 95% confidence that all natural riders are reallly natural.

 

[PreMier]

It is the impact on kids and younger athletes. Who feel the have to use to be able to compete at an elite level.

Is that what we want?

Tis a slippery slope.

I agree. I mean I want to let them ride, but on the other hand I would like to see them do it naturally.. and without aid.

Oh, and I fucking love watching the Tour.

 

[Bakerboy]

The problem with all pro sports is the same. As soon as huge amounts of money are involved athletes/ coaches will do anything to win. The Tour is an insanely hard race just to finish, (just to get a chance to compete you have to be so good- the elite of the elite; a genetic freak) riders take so many risks (speed wise- on the downhills, and in the sometimes wet/slick conditions) not to mention what they take as enhancements. You also ride as part of a team- so like anyother sport you have your superstars who get protection from the other players. It's a game of chess. Everyone has their role: sprinter, hill guy, time trial guy etc. They are like worker bees working for the queen bee...
I love the sport but there are no ethics left in it- when it first started there was something to cheer for now it's what you don't see that makes you wonder. I'm sure 90% of the riders are dirty and the ones who test negative are not necessarily clean it's just that they are a few years ahead of the testing.

 

[Gordo]

A juiced Tour De France and a Natural Tour De France would be interesting to see which beats out. Unlike the Olympia and the Natural Olympia (which never gets any press) I think the Natural Tour De France would beat out the "enhanced" tour in popularity because, in that sport, people are more interested in genuine human accomplishment. At least I think they are since people are so ready to denounce a winner when they test positive (it all started with Ben Johnson).

The problem is that there's no good way to ensure a natural is "natural"

 

[tucker01]

The problem with all pro sports is the same. As soon as huge amounts of money are involved athletes/ coaches will do anything to win. The Tour is an insanely hard race just to finish, (just to get a chance to compete you have to be so good- the elite of the elite; a genetic freak) riders take so many risks (speed wise- on the downhills, and in the sometimes wet/slick conditions) not to mention what they take as enhancements. You also ride as part of a team- so like anyother sport you have your superstars who get protection from the other players. It's a game of chess. Everyone has their role: sprinter, hill guy, time trial guy etc. They are like worker bees working for the queen bee...
I love the sport but there are no ethics left in it- when it first started there was something to cheer for now it's what you don't see that makes you wonder. I'm sure 90% of the riders are dirty and the ones who test negative are not necessarily clean it's just that they are a few years ahead of the testing.

Does that mean we should just forget about ethics and sports and let the athletes get away with doping, and the influence they have on younger generations?

It isn't just as simple as let the athletes dope. There are so many people impacted on a variety of different levels.

 

[Bakerboy]

I don't agree with doping either but even if you have a natural and a juiced Tour- which would never happen- how could anyone be sure that the natural riders were not cheating?

 

[MCx2]

I think at some point so much time and money will be dedicated to keeping steroids out of sports that it will start to take it's toll on day to day operations of said sport. Sports are still businesses and they have to make money. What if removing these stars that are doping starts to hinder the marketability of these sports? I know it's an ethics issue but money is money, and we all know what wins in the end. I just think eventually all these efforts to stop steroid use will be in vain.

 

[NeilPearson]

Just making doping manditory and everyone will be on the same level. I don't give a crap what it says to the children of the world.

 

[tucker01]

I dunno. I don't have a problem with people using steroids. Too each there own. But when there are specific rules in sports, that specify not to use, then there should be a bigger concern by society in general. Entertainment and sports play a large role in many of our lives, what are we saying morally or ethically, if we just give up to cheaters?

And that is a load of shit you don't give a crap about the children of the world. Maybe that is the problem with our culture, we have become too independent and money driven, and lost our societal values.

 

[bio-chem]

yea, the tour is tainted. the french were so pissed they never pinned anything on lance armstrong while everyone else has been testing positive around him. now everyone in that sport is dirty. its too bad too. oh well.

 

[ZECH]

I think at some point so much time and money will be dedicated to keeping steroids out of sports that it will start to take it's toll on day to day operations of said sport. Sports are still businesses and they have to make money. What if removing these stars that are doping starts to hinder the marketability of these sports? I know it's an ethics issue but money is money, and we all know what wins in the end. I just think eventually all these efforts to stop steroid use will be in vain.

You're seeing it now!!

 

[BoneCrusher]

I dunno. I don't have a problem with people using steroids. Too each there own. But when there are specific rules in sports, that specify not to use, then there should be a bigger concern by society in general. Entertainment and sports play a large role in many of our lives, what are we saying morally or ethically, if we just give up to cheaters?

And that is a load of shit you don't give a crap about the children of the world. Maybe that is the problem with our culture, we have become too independent and money driven, and lost our societal values.

No Iain. We don't. This is the same issue I've had with baseball. I don't pay attention to either sport really cuz nobody is kicking anyone in the head, but the ethics of it are what brings me in. There are rules that everyone involved is up to speed on. The big hitters in baseball are all breaking records while getting reamed in the press for juice abuse. Here we are ditto in cycling. MMA? Guys are getting the boot for a year if they come up dirty and their wins are converted to NC's.

We need to either say "hey ya know what? everybody skates now ... gear under every Christmas tree." Either that or we stop making excuses for guys who are major stars that turn up dirty and start handing out lifetime suspensions. Pete Rose is banned for life for gambling and his accomplishments mean jack as far as the hall of fame goes. WTF is the dif? If an athlete is busted he gets warned. He gets busted again he's through ... or we say everyone who is medically able to use gear can.

Ethically anything less is a farce.

 

[tucker01]

My opinion you break the rules you face the consequences.

I view pro sports as a microcosm of our society. When cheating is common, and no one gives a shit. I feel that reflects a lot on our societal values.

When the ethics of a sport deteriorate, it would only make sense that ethics and morals in our regular life would deteriorate.

It is sad that we are now at a stage where no one gives a shit about each other, the bottom line is the might buck, and me, myself, and I.

Again this is just my opinion and views about sporting and life.

 

[tucker01]

Oh and with baseball. It didn't have a steroid stance until the last collective bargaining agreement. Which in and of itself is a joke.

MLB just likes to push things under the rug and ignore. Out of site out of mind.