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Monday's mailbag: Discovery, DNA and AJ

Published: Dec. 11, 2006

The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Writers are encouraged to limit their submissions to one letter per month.The letters published here contain the opinions of the submitting authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, policies or positions of VeloNews.com, VeloNews magazine or our parent company, Inside Communications, Inc.

Don't jump the gun
Dear Editor:
It is disheartening that the DiscoveryChannel excluded from ProTour team group based on a "link" betweenIvan Basso and illegal drugs. Until Basso has been formally found guilty, how canhe and his team be hung in effigy? It is unimportant if you, or I,or the editors of this publication think he is guilty of wrongdoing.He simply has not been found guilty. Though this does notimply his innocence, we should not make an example of Basso without clarityof evidence and an actual, fact-based ruling by an ethically based panel.This has become a witch hunt of the lowest order. In the end, cyclingsuffers through the continuous stream of awful publicity. I do hope the great Eddy Merckx is correct in assumingthis process will make cycling a better sport.
Frank Selden
Lynchburg, VirginiaGood riddance
Hi
It's about time! The sport has had ablack eye for several years now.

As well as a busted limb or two. Even though Bassois not 100-percent officially charged, it's time someone stands up andcalls the bluff of these riders that are cheating. (Not saying Basso is.)But enough is enough! I am sick of hearing about this or thatraid, and or this or that findings of cheating regarding different ridersall the time. It's pretty pathetic trying to tell someone youlike and enjoy cycling, when all the major news reports on the sport aredrugs. On a side note, regarding Bettini's recent claimhe will retire before DNA tests. I have always been a fan of his,but I would now like to withdraw my "Fan" status for him. Whata joke! He can't possibly be serious? That's just wrong!Yet, Basso knows if he does not agree to the DNA testing he will not havea job. They call them selves "Pro?" I don't think so!
Michael Martens
Milwaukee, WisconsinBorn in the U-S-A!
Dear Editor,
Regarding your story “Discovery Channel excludedfrom ProTour team group,” all I can say is Europe is not America whereyou are innocent until proven guilty. Thank God I was born in the great USA.
Carol Zeissner
Buena Park, CaliforniaBut Basso agreed!
Editor,
What is all of this chin music about Basso and hisrefusal to submit to a DNA test? He agreed to submit a DNA samplewhen he signed on for Discovery, didn't he?
Fredric Byrnes
Walnut Creek, CaliforniaThat's true, to a point, Fredric. The releaseissued on November 17 says that Basso has agreed to submit such a samplein the event he is asked to do so in connection with "a national judicialor disciplinary investigation." The national disciplinary procedure inItaly is already over and because there was no Spanish doping law on thebooks last year (since changed) the Operación Puerto judicialinvestigation has sputtered to a stop. - EditorWho the heck is AJ?
Dear Velo,
I just finished reading AJ'scomments on how he was "misquoted." How is it that a guyI have never heard of until this week, at the ripe old age of 25, knowsso much about what went on the 1970's and 80's?On the other hand, I wouldlike to know why riders are so against DNA testing? Cycling is dying in the general public's eyes right before us. The guys making the money as pros don't seem to care.Hey guys, I don't think most of you have banked enough money to retireand live the rest of your life. Do us a favor. Change your attitudesor go serve coffee. That's the only thing most of you seem to bequalified for after cycling anyway. I hope baristas all over theworld are not offended.
Dalise Jackson
San Diego, CaliforniaRide for the sake of riding
Dear AJ,
Nice reaction AJ. Bring yourself up to Coloradoand we’ll go for a ride. We don’t have to race; because unlike themajority of cyclists I think you have forgotten about why we ride.We ride because we love it, not because we want to win the Tour or makemoney doing it. I race because I love the competition and comradery,not because of what it says on my license. If I get beat, I’ll trainharder. If I beat you someone will come along and hand mea whoopin’, that’s just how it is, but I won’t claim they are using drugs.

The only reason you have to defend your positionis because you made it sound like you are the only person living right.Millions of “pro” racers don’t dope, won’t dope, can’t afford to dope,but most importantly do not want to think that hard work doesn’t get themanywhere anymore. If hard work and dedication isn’t enough, thenmaybe we’ll make good bass fishermen.

Look us up in Colorado when you get here, you’llfind us at the bar raggin’ on guys like you.
Bryan Mickiewicz
Ft. Collins, ColoradoI got ya covered
Yo AJ,
If you need a wing man, I’m ready.

As a junior coach I appreciate the words. I havewitnessed the subtle doping as well as the extreme. It time that we usetechnology to clean up the sport and I hope that moves like baring Discoveryare a start in the right direction.

To everybody else, you can suck my wheel.
Dan Belling
Charlotte, North Carolina
The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Writers are encouraged to limit their submissions to one letter per month.The letters published here contain the opinions of the submitting authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, policies or positions of VeloNews.com, VeloNews magazine or our parent company, Inside Communications, Inc.