USADA wins the Snails Race

Submitted by Kris Thompson on

Going for some low hanging fruit today, doping. We're beating that dead horse until it's glue. Coffee talk discussion gives me the chance to rank and you a chance to fire back with your 2 or 4 cents.

Finally Joe Papp was sentenced for 3 years’ probation, 6 months’ house arrest by the Federal Government and 8 years sanction by USADA. His list of customers was what got local pro cyclist, Chuck Coyle suspended for 2 years and it's been rumored that his lists holds nearly 180+ domestic cyclists names and the majority are not pros. Originally busted nearly 2 years ago, he was going to get a much worse sentence but "his sentencing was delayed while he cooperated with federal and U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) inquiries into his former customers and others."

[Commentary] Meanwhile many of his former customers may have moved on from cycling as they haven't yet been called up for a pro team. According to my watch, Chuck Coyle is one of a couple "customers" that have been busted. Given that it is possible that some riders have or will be moving on, how can USADA suspend someone who no longer participates?

On a positive note, USADA has been getting results
- Florida Master cyclist takes 2 year suspension
- Another Master cyclist busted

It is unknown if these riders were on Papp's list but it is possible that USADA had a reason to test them

So are you satisfied with how the Joe Papp story has played out?

It's different if someone like Lance Armstrong is found guilty of doping even though he no longer competes but if a cat 4 cyclist is on that list and 4 years later gets a suspension, to me that just seems, um embarrassing for all. Conspiracy theories can run wild on how this is playing out, like, why was a very visible Boulder cyclist one of the first riders to get busted for being on the list, no one else has been busted by that association, could USADA be trying to send a message to Boulder/Colorado riders? Never did USADA provide 303cycling with a aggregate number of Colorado riders on that list, could this strategy be due to Colorado having a high number on that list? Will USADA be setting up camp at some races they have access to this year in Colorado? Is it also possible that some lower ranking riders have been contacted by USADA but will not be publicly dealt with? In the end a lot could have taken place without the public even knowing.

Past Discussions

- How Wide Spread is Doping in Amateur Cycling

News Item: 

13 Comments

So you are postulating that a

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on

So you are postulating that a number of local Master's racers are doping? Tell me, as a single local Master's racer been implicated by Joe Papp? So what if they use to race and no longer do. We are talking about guys with wives and children who may or may not be able to make the time to be competitive anymore.

Dopers

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on

I am just entering the discussion but I gather there is 1 known rider from a team that was disbanded this year as referenced earlier in this discussion. Apparently not kosher to blurt his name so I won't. As a local masters racer with children I certainly understand the challenges of balancing training with life activities and keeping some family harmony intact, and the inevitable fluctuations in fitness and ability to be competitive in the masters categories. I guess I am agreeing, one cannot just connect dots of doping to racing less. And there are some guys that I think are just genetically gifted (unfortunately I am not one of those) and have been uber competitive for years. Just because they are super strong does not mean they dope. That said, I would love to see Papp's list to learn of any others that have doped on the local scene. Of course, Papp is just one source and there are plenty other avenues to access HGH/Steroids/Testosterone/EPO/etc. These performance enhancers are unfortunately readily accessible to our local high school football players/athletes/etc (that is another discussion) so I am sure grown adults can find them as well.

Yes, I think what Papp got was fair, now release the list

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on

You need to add local Phil Z who finally got busted. We also have to wonder about a team Skins rider from 2010 (I know I am not allowed to say his name), who had USADA show up to test him, and then he never raced again in 2011. Where is the info on him?

I am happy with the sentence Papp got. So many people want to vilify the guy and I certainly understand that. However he has done more, once he was caught, to work with the fed to get people busted. In a time when so many people lie about it, denied it, make excuses, he deserves credit for doing what he did (and I am not in any way saying that makes him a good guy or excuses what he did).

I am also glad to see more guys getting busted in testing, like the 2 riders on the Canadian team recently, or the guy at masters track nationals, and the guy at masters road nationals. We need more testing. As for cheating in CO I have no reason to think it is any worse here than else were, whether in the pro/am races or in the masters level. Having done national this year I can tell you the guys from CA defiantly think it is more prevalent in their state then we do, but maybe we are just turning a blind eye.

Local dopers

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on

Don't come back to cycling. You are not good for the sport, even if you reform yourself. I have lost two potential lucrative sponsorships from local companies because they have heard about doping at the LOCAL level. Thanks for f'ing it up.

I am not satisfied with

Submitted by Antonio (not verified) on

I am not satisfied with Papp's sentence. Sure, he has cooperated in the past couple of years. But I saw and heard him testify against Landis. (Never mind that he had no information related to whether or not Landis actually doped.) Papp acted as if he had already repented and put the doping world behind him. But we now know that was not the case. He was still selling to any willing buyer when he testified and continued to do so for awhile after that. Clearly, Papp kept trying to make money at this until the feds back him into a corner. Talk about hypocrisy.

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