Cycling and doping, they go together like a horse and carriage

Professional cycling is entering the meat of its Spring season, with exciting finishes and entertaining races. And yet it can't shake its history of doping, as three recent articles from the BBC depressingly illustrates.

The first notes that defending Tour de France champion Alberto Contador (who won thanks to the leader of the Tour being pulled by his team on doping suspicions)(http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/cycling/7307339.stm), will not have the opportunity to defend his yellow jersey, as his Astana team was not invited to participate. Contador is a young and talented rider, there is no question he will be back - as will other Astana riders. However, the team itself is finished, as it should be. Too many of its riders have been implicated in doping scandals for the team to get an invite to the big dance this year.  The Team's webpage doesn't show the TdF on its schedule.

Next up, doper and 2006 Tour de France winner Floyd Landis (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/cycling/7303728.stm)has his last chance at proving he was wrongly convicted when he tested positive on the heels of an epic ride on the Tour's final mountain stage. The Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland will hear Landis' appeal, but his chances have to be counted as slim.

UPDATE: Per this press release (http://www.tas-cas.org/d2wfiles/document/568/5048/0/CP%20Landis%2024mars%20eng.pdf) (in French), the hearing captioned Floyd Landis v. United States Anti-Doping Agency is finished. The judges took more than 35 hours to hear both sides. All that remains is for final supporting documents to be provided by 18 April. The final decision is expected in June. Whatever the outcome, the decision will make for fascinating reading.

Finally, Dick Pound (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/cycling/7307977.stm), the ex-honcho of the World Anti-Doping Agency, will be sued by the International Cycling Union (UCI) for expressing his opinion that the UCI wasn't doing enough to combat doping. Now, Pound is a fierce critic when it comes to dopers and doping, so it isn't difficult to see how he'd ruffle some feathers at the UCI. Given that professional cycling is the sport most tainted by doping, you would think the UCI would have a thicker skin when it comes to critics.

Perhaps cycling can slowly put its shameful doping past behind it. Certainly, keeping the Astana team out, even if it harms innocent riders, is evidence that the Tour De France organizers are serious about their stewardship role (and their bottom line).

In any case, the season just beginning is full of promise. Like any fan I will enjoy the spectacle of riders heroically pushing themselves to their limits. It's just that I've learned to question overly heroic performances.