Are all professional cyclists using EPO? I'm beginning to think the reward is greater than the risk of being caught. Consider this week's announcement about Roberto Heras. There are two ways to respond to this announcement...Roberto in a press conference says "I am not thinking of retirement, but to fight to the end to demonstrate my innocence. This result never entered my head. I am convinced that the testing method doesn't provide the necessary guarantees. There have been a lot of previous errors and in my judgment, it's not trustworthy." Separately his attorney said, "There was nearly unanimous agreement that no one saw (EPO) beyond a doubt, and it clearly proves that the method is flawed, even if the results coming back Friday are negative," Heras's attorney Andreu Garriga, adding that the validity of the EPO test "has been questioned because it gives no guarantees."
Or, as in the case of David Millar, he admitted his usage of EPO and accepted his suspension and has now signed a contract to race with Saunier Duval. Do we think any less of him for admitting ot or do we think more of him for admitting it?
We will probably never know the truth about Heras. Did he or didn't he. Only he knows. Maybe, maybe not. Could it be that he was given some sort of tainted food or liquid. But I have to ask myself this question, why? Heras response "I want to reiterate once again that I've never taken a doping substance in my life. I passed 12 doping controls during the last Vuelta. I was leading the race by four and a half minutes and had victory in my pocket. It would have been madness to have committed a doping offense. It would have been incomprehensible and absurd." Yes it would be incomprehensible and absurd, but why did the test come back positive in both A & B samples?
The case and court decision for Tyler Hamilton could have landmark implications. We'll have to wait for that decision. If the testing procedures are flawed or there is too much room for error, then we must determine a better way. Let's face it, it will never be a 100% proof positive. Should EPO be legalized?
