THIS WEEK IN PRO CYCLING »

Get the VeloNews Email Newsletter FREE

  Learn More | Archive
Home » Top Stories » News and Features »

Monday's mail bag: Dopers, strict rules, facists and saving tracks

Published: Sep. 8, 2003

Hit 'em wear it counts
Editor;
In my humble opinion, the rule to adopt for all pro sports is simple:You test positive (A and B) for drugs, your annual earnings are cappedat 10-percent of what you are making or $1,000,000 a year, whichever isless (see

Especially at the higher echelons, this still allows an athlete to makea substantial - albeit reduced - income from his or her talent. However,the kicker - a second positive test gets a lifetime ban from professionalsports - anywhere. Doesn't matter the sport you start out in or want toplay - cycling, baseball, anybody's national type of football - you establisha common list of banned substances and cheaters and then THROW THE BASTARDSOUT!
David Parish
Houston, TX

A battle that won't be won
Editor;
Unfortunately for Amber Neben (see "Nebenfaces battle after nandro' positive," September 5, 2003) it doesn'tmatter how it got into her system, what
her levels were or for that matter, what her defense is. Shewill get two years just like I got, which is unfortunate.

USADA is the Gestapo, there are no checks and balances. I found outfirst hand. So Amber if you're reading this don't spend a lot of moneyon lawyers, it just won't help. USADA will not listen. USADA evenbroke an agreement my lawyer and I had with them which cost me 2 1/2 monthsof extra suspension time. Unless you have something in writing aboutgetting credit for your self imposed suspension, keep racing!

It took them almost a full year before I had my hearing.
Regards.
Duane "Dewey" Dickey

Dickey was one of five riders riders from three countries to havetested positive during the 2001 Vuelta a Guatemala. Dickey tested positivefor the prohibited substances phentermine, boldenone and nandrolone onOctober 28, during that race. - Editor

I want my fifty bucks back
Editor;
I agree that the U.S riders should have known and found out for thethemselves about the UCI testing (see "MTBworld's: The medical monitoring mess" by Jason Sumner - September 5,2003) but I wonder, did my USA Cycling dollars send them there, payfor hotel, entry fee etc. etc.?

If so, USA cycling should have made sure all those things were donebefore spending my money and sending pro's on a quick holiday. I also gota kick how the USAC rep said the UCI and the riders were to blame but failedto mention they are our national organization and failed to check on theseimportant issues!

Mike Dunbar
Pasadena, CA

Would a note help?
Editor:
Poor Todd Wells. It must be tough riding under those fascists at theUCI. As a professional he should have known about the medical checkups.Todd is very poor representative of his country and sponsors for not livingup to his end of being a participant at the World's.

His explanation of "the UCI sucks," just doesn't cut it.

The rules have been in place for awhile, no doubt. Apparently Todd needsNORBA (mommy?) to pin a "Get a UCI medical test today" reminder to hisjersey or maybe he just isn't that motivated to race.

What a waste of national/federation money!
Curt Weitkunat
Albuquerque, NM

World champion?
Re: Mario Cipollini (see "Cipo'heads home" September 7, 2003)
It's time to go.
Gary Setta

He did go. He caught a plane back to Italy on Sunday morning. - Editor

It may be news to some, but is it Velo news?
Editor
While I must admit that I clicked on the link regarding Lance Armstrong'sdivorce and read the entire article, I realized later that this was nottrue "velo" news and really it is none of my business.

I considered this... if a lesser known cyclists was getting a divorcewould this be news? Each morning I come into work check my emailand go to VeloNews.com to see what’s going on in the world of professionalcycling. If Lance decided to post this news on his website (whichhe did) that is his decision to make. But I know this reader willchoose to bypass such stories in the future.
Tim Swift
Christiansburg, VA

A 'drome in need is a 'drome indeed
Hello,
It would be great if you could give coverage and support to the U.S.velodromes. We stand the risk of losing the DickLane Velodrome in East Point, Georgia, as well as theEd Rudolph Velodrome in Northbrook, IL to resurfacing and repair issues.I’m pretty sure they are dealing with similar challenges at the remaining16 tracks.

Over $12,000 was raised and $20,000 was pledged in the month of Augustat Northbrook. The Atlanta area track just closed out the seasonon Saturday night with the East Point Grand Prix, which was won by JamieCarney, drawing their largest crowd in 15 years.

With many communities budgets running in the red, the challengesfaced the tracks now are huge. These two venues are being kept alive bypassionate volunteers who donate time, energy, and money. They continuallymust convince local government of the value of having a track, when oftentimes many users are not from that said town.

Please forward this to someone who can contact me on this request.I feel it is important to keep the existing velodromes up and running,to offer opportunities to riders of all ages and abilites the thrill oftrack racing.

Thank you,
Kenny Labbe’

Portable track finds a home
Editor;
After months of negotiations with John VandeVelde, the NorthamptonCycling Club acquired the Vandedrome, a portable 170-meter cycling track.It made its way from Somerville, New Jersey to the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts,via nine movers, six box trucks and two flatbed tractor-trailers. The velodromehas been in storage for several years, so it will need a substantial amountof work before cyclists begin racing in the summer of 2004.

Bringing the velodrome to Northampton represents the beginning of arevival of track racing in New England. In 1884, H.E. Drucker built a specialbicycle track inside the Hampden Park trotting track in Springfield, Massachusetts.This track launched bicycle track racing, which became a popular spectatorsport. During one three-day meet in Springfield, all American and Europeantrack records were shattered before the eyes of 27,000 spectators.

The Vandedrome is a portable, 170-meter track with a wooden surfaceand a steel infrastructure. Up to 24 cyclists compete on its 54-degreebanking. There are over twenty velodromes located throughout the UnitedStates, but this will be the first in New England in decades. The Vandedromewas used in the 1998 Goodwill Games and has traveled to a dozen or so locationsthroughout the country.

Now the exciting and hard work begins. Anyone who is interested in participatingin the formation of a velodrome committee, with the intention of rehabbing,locating and opening the velodrome, is invited to attend an introductorymeeting on Monday, September 15th at 7:00 at Seelye Hall, Room 206 on theSmith College Campus.

The meeting will include a photo presentation of the track, a Q&Aperiod, round-table discussion, and recruitment of committee members. Thecommittee will be looking for volunteers to help with fundraising, advertisingand marketing, venue search, velodrome repair and rehab, legal issues andvolunteer recruitment. Call John Frey at 587-8915 or email johndfrey@comcast.netwith questions or if you are interested in participating but cannot attendthe meeting. Further information can be found at www.northamptoncyclingclub.org.
John Frey
Massachusetts


VeloNews.com welcomes your letters. Please send your comments toWebLetters@7Dogs.com. Pleaseinclude your Full Name and Home Town. Letters may be editedfor length and clarity.