Return of the Prodigal Sons

by joeyc on Nov 1, 2009 8:10 AM EST

Most first time narcotic offenders are delt with a bit of empathy, allowed to either serve in the community or face a jail term and after that they go back into society and move on - why is it they are not all treated the same in cycling?

Example, when one rider returned there was a big cheer, Vino returns and no welcome back party. I'm not sympathising with criminals but are we as a society shunning certain riders and embracing others even though they've committed a similar crime?

How will we treat Rasmussen when he returns? What about the naive kids - Ricco and Kohl. What about Valverde if he has to serve time for his past sins, will we forever resent them or will eventually let them back into the fold?

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after that they go back into society and move on

Not sure it’s quite straight forward as that. If you’re applying for a job and your potential employer knows that you’re a former drug user, they’ll certainly think twice about giving you a job. And about jail time, I’m not sure what the laws are in other countries, but in Ireland, if you have any sort of criminal record, there’s plenty of jobs that will no longer be available to you, Police, Teacher, Nurse, Pilot, Fireman etc.

Although I do agree that some riders find it easier to reintegrate into the peloton, but that has more to do with their own attitudes after being caught doping than the actual doping.

http://www.irishpeloton.com/

by irishpeloton on Nov 1, 2009 9:23 AM EST reply actions

Optimal reintegration strategy

1. “I did it all on my own with no help from my team or other riders”
2. “I only took the stuff once at a difficult moment”
3. Take the ban and shut yer trap

by tedvdw on Nov 1, 2009 10:00 AM EST up reply actions

I'm not sympathising with criminals

Jeeze, I call em junkies and people wail, you accuse them of being criminals and no one even notices. Is not fair – wah! wah! wah!

pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway

by fmk on Nov 2, 2009 9:04 AM EST reply actions