We’re currently having an open discussion in my district about whether to spring a USADA test at one of our local amateur road events – they typically have M & W classes, with 300 – 500 racers ranging from Cat 5 to Cat 1/2/3 races that usually have a handful of regional level pros and maybe a few NRC pros guesting. Joe Papp lives here and seems a decent enough reformed doper, but some of his former clients live here too, so it’s not like we can presume my area is clean. The racer reactions on the listserve are interesting – ranging from a few positives, including from the leading racer in the district who *really* dislikes dopers – to a lot of people who are happy to bitch but don’t want to do anything about it, to a lot of other people who seem to think it can’t be happening here because the stakes are relatively low. The main reaction seems to be to throw trivial objections at the concept, as if it’s a bad and unworkable idea – because, you know, it’s never been done before ergo that proves we can’t do it, etc. I don’t know what’s motivating that, and it bugs me.

It’s as if all the recent busts of dirtbag amateurs and masters racers aren’t happening, and that it can be cured by denial or wishful thinking – as if a pile of dog crap on the sidewalk will pick itself up if only we keep stepping around it. That hasn’t been my experience in life generally but the approach seems to work okay for some people…

I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s like the Other War on Drugs. People are really upset that it’s happening *over there* but really don’t want to pay the price to win the war *right here* and they particularly don’t want to know if one of their friends has a problem. Doping doesn’t occur in a vaccuum, and only to pros. It starts with a racing culture that tolerates it or is in denial about it being a problem.

Individual responsibility is the starting point, but the next step in adulthood is taking responsibility for your neighborhood. I’m thinking we’re not exactly a model group of grown-ups sometimes.

WADA rules state that blood temperature should be no more than 38C; best advice is to claim swine-flu fever.

This was a brilliant post. Too funny!