Alberto Contador Strikes Back

Alberto Contador is an amazing man. First, he claims that the anti-doping science is inadequate to catch cheaters using new sophisticated methodology, then he complains that his Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC) is capitulating to pressure from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the International Cycling Union (UCI): who refuse to accept his tainted meat argument as the source of his positive test for clenbuterol during the second rest day of the 2010 Tour de France. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero goes even farther by claiming that "there is no legal reason to sanction Contador."

But sanctioned Alberto Contador certainly will be, for one year, by the Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC): a trifling punishment: suggesting a lack of intent. There is a fundamental disagreement among experts as to the source of the clenbuterol, contaminated meat being most unlikely, blood transfusion most likely, no test to verify either with absolute certainty. WADA lives in a fantasy land, claiming that the tests they do have will detect anything. Seven time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong would dispute that claim and stands as a perfect example of WADA lies, stupidity, and arrogance: if he doped? Nothing was detected in the USPS cycling team medical waste dug out of a dumpster by a French television station during a past Tour de France and examined by a laboratory, except actovegin, which combined with a rich infusion of platelets at the sight of injury may speed recovery. May speed recovery, an outrageous claim, thousands of dollars are charged by quack doctors who may be providing nothing more than an expensive placebo. Thus the problem, even though traces of actovegin were found among the medical waste; was actovegin a part of the WADA prohibited list at the time? Does actovegin have any medical efficacy? Do we draw the same sort of conclusions that WADA does that the mere presence of a substance regardless of medical efficacy: the ability to increase performance or the ability to increase recovery: constitute mens rea, intent and criminal responsibility? The French probe into the USPS cycling team alleged doping activity generated a large case file, adorned with a photo of Lance Armstrong cycling down the Champs Elysees: with a second photo superimposed of a syringe inserted into his posterior. If this is the result of a three year expensive French investigation into the doping activity of the USPS cycling team, the US Federal government may have to explain away the costs of their Salem like witch hunt without results! The President of the United States of America would have a difficult time proclaiming that there "is no legal bases to sanction Lance Armstrong."

The circle the wagon WADA mentality of defense when questioned by doping experts as to the state of the testing: how could you let a man win seven consecutive Tour de France races against known dopers without a positive test? How could a man associated with Operation Puerto and allied with a team with a known record of doping offenses, Astana: Alexander Vinokourov tested positive for a double cell population after a Tour de France rest day, Alexander Vinokourov injured early in the Tour de France after a collision with a motorcycle, miraculously wins a demanding time trial, without a prohibited technique? Yet, people of teams with notorious reputations, riders with checkered pasts are never red flagged as potential offenders and are allowed to compete and win without discomfort: Phonak! Except for Lance Armstrong, who had the most extensive testing and UCI biological passport data compiled in the history of cycling: during the comeback: yet, LNDD could find no anomalies? How can anyone disagree with Alberto Contador about the disgraceful, deplorable state of the anti-doping crusade?

Will the Spanish release the Alberto Contador case file for public inspection, or will we be held in ignorance about their reasoning until the appeal by the UCI? Is Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero privy to inside information, was he sent a copy of the case file? We are endlessly cautioned not to make inferences without being presented the facts, a posteriori.

Fine, patience is a virtue, there has been an inordinate amount of delay in this case already, but the vital signs would be intriguing.