A vicious cycle of chemicals

IT WAS not exactly the revolution which the Tour de France requires.

But the cyclists who hung back at the start of the 16th stage in protest at the event’s recent scandals and the fans who booed yellow jersey holder Michael Rasmussen at least gave the sport hope that it has a future.

A few good men did something.

If the evil of drugs which has turned one of sport’s most gruelling events into little more than chemical meals on wheels is to be seriously addressed, however, then powerful men have to do much, much more.

There had been hopes that 2007 was to be the ‘Clean Tour’, primarily because all 189 riders had been cleared before the race started, had signed a charter rejecting drug use and doping and agreed to forfeit a year’s wages if caught.

Since then T-Mobile rider Patrik Sinkewitz has tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone, Rasmussen has been kicked out of the Olympics and world championships by the Danish national team after missing out-of-competition drugs tests and tour favourite Alexandre Vinokourov has been chucked out after failing a dope test. Then yesterday the Cofidis team pulled out after confirming Cristian Moreni has failed a drugs test.

Short of finding Pete Doherty wearing a yellow jersey, there could not be more proof that the sports is in a right fix.

Up until now, however, the fans have put up with the suspicions, beguiled by the colour and the drama.

They have turned a blind eye to the odd cheat, in the hope that the sport’s legends at least were men of honour. That is no longer the case.

Not when last year’s winner Floyd Landis tested positive for synthetic testosterone.

Not when Bjarne Riis, team boss of CSC, recently announced he had been on drugs at the time of his 1996 Tour win and throughout his career.

It is why German TV pulled the plug on the Tour.

It is a lead others should follow. That includes ITV and Eurosport and the sponsors who pump millions into an event which includes Britons Bradley Wiggins and David Millar.

Ah yes, Millar. He’s the Scot who served a two-year ban for using EPO but who responded to the news of Vinokourov’s ban with the sentiment: “It’s tragic. If a guy of his stature has done that we can all just pack our bags and go home.”

There is nothing more irritating than a righteous convert.

But, come to think of it, didn’t Millar have exactly the right idea? Never mind going slow. Wouldn’t they be doing sport a favour if they all packed their bags and went home?