Discovery Channel Team Disbanding

You know that cycling is in good shape as a sport when the team that won the Tour de France 8 of the last 9 years disbands after their most current win.  Doping sucks.

Comments

[Lisa M]

I know - I'm crushed. Personally, I think cycling is one of the most beautiful sports to watch - the teamwork is so unique. I'm especially sad for Levi who finally had the supporting team to push him to great success.

*sigh*

I guess I'll have to tune into more Aussie Rules and Rugby. The american sports scene, in general, is a real turn-off for me.

[Kevin]

Yes, doping sucks, but it has been a part of sports for decades:

http://www.t-nation.com/readArticle.do?id=459625

[Gary Davis]

Time to open up a can of worms:

I am a competitive athlete, and have toyed around on the edges of professional, or high level amateur competition for years (bodybuilding, power lifting, shot put in track and field). I, for one, don't understand all the fuss about athletes using steroids or other performance enhancing substances.

As a pro-bodybuilder, I myself have used steroids under my Dr's supervision, have blood tests every 2 weeks to test my liver tolerances...I have also used estrogen blockers, and other substances (legal and "illegal") to enhance the effects of my diet and supplementation regimen.

A lot of people have this idea that when you take a steroid, or engage in doping, or whatever, that you automatically become a better athlete. But that is just not the case. Barry Bonds hand eye co-ordination was not increased because of any "alleged" substance he used...No one's natural athletic ability is even remotely effected by what they take. The only thing that happens is an increase in speed, power, and strength. But natural things like agility, hand eye co-ordination, are not effected at all.

Also, I work my ass off in the gym every day. I work out 2 hours per day 6 days a week with one day off for total rest. I diet very cleanly, high protein, moderate carbs, and good sources of vegetable fats and fibers.

The idea that an athlete who gets an easy ride to victory because he or she is juiced is just a myth...its just not true!

[alan f]

Gary, unfortunately steroids have clearly helped Bonds' career. If you can't understand that, them I'm worried about you. Barry Bonds averaged 32 HR's a year for the first 14 years of his career. Then at age 35 (the age when baseball players had typically started to see a decline in performance) he went for 49, 73, 46, 45, and 45 HR's. You MAY be right about hand-eye coordination (although even that is disputed) but there is no doubt that steroids allowed Bonds to play longer and thus GREATLY contributed to him reaching 756. Also, being stronger meant that some of his HR's would have been warning track outs, had he not been on the juice.

Long live Henry Aaron, the real homerun king!

[alan f]

Gary,

Just to follow up, I understand what you are saying about steroids. Listening to some of these talking heads can give one the opinion that all you have to do is take steroids and you too can be a world class athlete. That of course is not true and I believe that's the point you made. I think though where you and I differ is that I do firmly believe that steroids can enhance the career of an already skilled athlete.

For what it's worth, this topic was related to cycling and nobody quetions the truth that blood doping provides cyclists with added endurance, which is a huge part of the sport. It's really sad because I love cycling but that sport had reached the point where I simply don't trust ANY riders to be clean.

I believe you asked why steroids matter so much to fans. For me, I want to see what level an athlete can perform at, simply through training/practicing. I like to know that an athlete achieved an incredible feat and wasn't aided by drugs.

[Gary Davis]

Alan F, Tell me where in my comment did I say that steroids did not help Barry Bonds. I never said that performance enhancing drugs did not give an athlete an edge. What I did say was that they do not "change" you or automatically switch some magic switch on that makes it possible for you to do something that you were before unable to do.

Example: I cannot hit a baseball. Never could. Tried it, and can barely hit a slow pitch softball. On Steroids, which I have admitted to taking, I still can't hit a baseball...

Barry bonds could hit a home-run ball, his hand eye co-ordination dictated that he could. Now, on steroids his bat speed may have increased thereby enhancing his ability to hit the ball further (assuming that he did), but lets also add to the fact that at 35 years of age Barry also:

Increased his batting specific training.

Sought out the professional health of a nutritionist (not counting those Balco guys).

The point is, despite your points but not discounting them, Barry may have increased his abilities but its not something that just "happened" after he took steroids. He planned for it, trained for it, ate for it, strives for it.

Here is what I am not disputing: I am not disputing that Barry, the Cyclists, or anyone else has an "edge" over the competition.

What I am disputing is that an athlete should be shunned because of the use of steroids. We work hard...just as hard as those who do it simply through training/practicing. If I, or anyone else removed those things, and only took steroids/performance enhancing drugs...nothing would happen. People give the drugs to much credit. They help, but that's all.

You know what's funny: The last time I competed as a bodybuilder, 2 years ago, I was taking steroids, HGH, and an anti-estrogen. I have never taken diuretics because I "cut-up" pretty easy. But this last time that I was competing I was really struggling to get my body-fat down. I was tired, I was loosing sleep, I was losing muscle...it was just bad. You know what I did, after being encouraged to do so by my dietitian, that completely changed everything? I drank more water...I added 2 1/2 quarts more water to my diet and everything changed. I lost 3 percent body fat in one week, I put back on 4lbs of muscle through cell hydration and volumization, I got my 8 hours of sleep back, my strength in all my lifts went up etc...

So should water be illegal?

Ok, I know that is an absurd example...and I already know what you are going to say, and you are right...

But I think my point is still valid in the limited sense that the things that we "thoughtfully" do, with medical advice, consent, and care...should be considered valid forms of athletic expression