Earlier this week news came out that former House of Pain rider, Michael Pepper used banned substances and was tested positive during a cycle race last year October. Usually you'll hear about International Tour de France riders get tested positive for the use of banned substances but hardly South African riders. Michael Pepper used the exact same banned substance than Contador but riders do disagree with the fact that Contador came away with a 1 year ban while Pepper is facing a 3 year ban. The question is why is this happening? We all know this the answer why our sport is on the point of going nowhere and why riders decide its time to do a other sport than to face this drama day in and day out.
Thanks to Bike Pure, a organization against the use of banned substances in any sport besides cycling. If you wear their armbands, you'll show your support again doping as well by listing your name you'll show to the world that you're a clean rider. I was fortunate enough to be chosen to be a ambassador for Bike Pure and spread the word of why you shouldn't dope and the side effects of why not do use banned substances. Potential youngsters for the future of pro cycling is also facing the consequences of being target of doping. Some team managers have also been caught for giving banned substances to team riders etc when the riders don't even notice it. Thanks to the Drug Free Sport which forms also part of the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) they're catching riders who doped and so far its a success. As riders we would like to see a difference in our sport.
As I passionate cyclist, I follow the rules and regulations based on WADA. By doing so, I know that I'm a clean rider when they test me in the near future. Sometimes riders are tested positive due to the fact while you're in hospital or after visiting a doctor, the medication also have drugs in it which makes it also more complicated. Riders who got injected with medication or are on medication due to some issues with illness can get a letter from the doctor that can be send to WADA or Drug Free Sport to notify them in this matter.
The more we spread the word on doping the better the chance is that we'll clean up the sport. I think now its a crucial time for us to sit down and have a discussion on this matter. If no one is going to stand up and talk about these things then we'll never see a positive outcome.
Visit http://www.bikepure.org/ or http://www.drugfreesport.org.za
My next blog will be about the UCI African Cross Country Continental Championships down at Jonkershoek.
Till then!
Cheers
Yolande
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