This coming Sunday will mark the end of the 94th Tour de France and the sport of cycling is drowning in controversy. Athletes that should be celebrated for their ability to endure three weeks of racing through the flats and mountains of France are being discredited with allegations of blood doping, human growth hormones, and testosterone enhancing. What more can the cycling leaders and community do to save the credibility of their sport?
American cycling experienced a giant surge in popularity with the emergence of Lance Armstrong as an endurance superstar and cancer survivor. Last year’s Tour de France debacle with several big name cyclists and then the eventual champion Floyd Landis failing blood tests served as a monstrous setback directly following Armstrong’s retirement. Cycling fans were betrayed and saddened at the muddied name their sport was receiving.
The Union Cycliste Internationale, or UCI, attempted to fight back at the doping issues with a charter that required all tour riders to be subjected to testing, while also agreeing to accept the penalty of a year’s salary and two-year ban from the sport if they tested positively.
Disaster struck yet again this week with the positive blood doping tests from pre-tour favorite Alexandre Vinokourov after the Anti-doping Charter was set into place. Vinokourov and his Astana team have since been dismissed from this year’s tour amid layers upon layers of controversy.
The key for the cycling world is to now restore loyalty to their sport. An event like the Tour de France surviving for 94 years is not an accident. Fans are drawn to the courage spilt out on grueling mountain climbs, chaotic sprints, and efficient time trials. Harsh penalties such as lifetime bans and severe monetary penalties are needed to deter these riders from stealing the glory away from a fantastic sport. The turning of heads needs to stop in order for the riders to regain credibility.
The tour is a predominantly European sport, but Americans need to take pride in a championship that was dominated by one of their own for seven years. Stand outside the football, baseball, and basketball bubbles and appreciate athletic feats that take place elsewhere. We must hold our athletes accountable in order to preserve the essence of all sports.
American baseball is currently battling against steroid-era records such as Barry Bonds’ attack on Hank Aaron’s home run record. The NBA is enduring a shaving points incident withreferee Tim Donaghy. The accountability of our sports must be upheld before an asterisk is placed next to all modern day stat leaders in the record books.
Fans must demand the commissioner’s and owners of their favorite sports to be harsh and unforgiving when it comes to cheating. Future generations of sports superstars can not grow up believing that you can do whatever it takes to get ahead even if it requires cheating.
Following Stage 16, the Tour de France is currently being led by Michael Rasmussen of Denmark with American Levi Leipheimer six minutes behind in 4th place. These athletes have remained clean throughout their careers and should be celebrated for their tenacity during this year’s racing. I urge fans to watch and appreciate the sport regardless of the allegations. The more support the event receives; the more accountable these athletes will have to become.
Honesty and integrity must be insisted upon in cycling and every other sport in which Americans excel. Cheer those that are competing for the love of their sport, and frown upon those that choose to disregard the sport’s rules and history. We must command the ruling bodies to enact severe penalties that will keep these athletes clean.
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