Conditions for doping, maybe. But not evidence of doping itself. And if you look at the way races work this year, last year, you’ll note changes. Which suggests at least a lot less doping going on.

and then couldn’t get a job. That doesn’t really give incentive to active riders to open their mouths.

Remember Armstrong’s wrath hurled at Simeoni?

If you never test positive, why confess. People will obviously know, but if you are a Basso or DiLuca, you will be forgiven by the fans and swiftly annointed as saints. I can’t say that if I knew that would happen that I would confess either. That is if I were a pro cyclist.

than the ones you’ve mentioned. Sella, Moreni, Jaksche, and Sinkiewitz all admitted to doping after they were caught. Museeuw has also confessed to doping at the end of his career.

I think the reason more riders don’t fess up once they’re caught is that it’s not clear that confession would be in their best interest. Millar and Basso have benefitted from confessing, in that their public contriteness has enabled them to ride again on big teams. But on the other hand, neither one of them got a reduction in their suspension for confessing (officially, anyway, leaving aside the creative accounting in Basso’s suspension). Ricco confessed and named names and still got a two-year suspension. I don’t see any teams knocking down Jaksche’s and Sinkiewitz’s doors to offer them contracts, but unrepententent walking pharmacy Tyler Hamilton is U.S. champion.

The sport and the anti-doping authorities have not given guilty riders much of an incentive to come clean.

could the ADA’s reduce sanctions in return for information. CONI apparently wanted to reduce Basso’s sanction in return for the information he gave them, but the rules did not allow it. Current rules now do. Riccò did get some reduction – his combined sanction unreduced would have been 30 months rather than 24. Hairsplitting, but at least it’s something.

Tyler Hamilton, walking pharmacy, ha!

…Frankie Andreu, Jonathan Vaughters and Stephen Swart – all admitted to doping after they retired.

Out of all of those riders mentioned above, only one, Moreni, admitted wrong doing and of premeditated doping immediately.

Sink only caved just before his B sample was due calling it off. Then 5 months later admitted to ’PO and blood doping.

I guess my point is this – those that are caught and acted humbled by it generally have gained empathy (i use that loosely) and been accepted back into the fold. Those who admitted after retiring also have that same empathy and weird acceptance. (vaughters, frankie)

But those who deny and those who admit but start calling out the sport as a whole, are the ones who seem to be looking from the outside in. This is the larger of the two camps for sure.

In fact it may be two camps. Those that deny are shunned by the fans and those that mouth off can’t get a gig. hmmmm.

Given this, my question still stands – why not admit it?

By doing so you help eradicate it. Its the first step in any addiction/affliction program.

Me thinks they don’t because it is still understood a good chunk are still juicing. Proof is in the pudding. Yes, testing is getting better, but there should not be more busts if the sport has cleaned up significantly.