Oh, Come On...

I hope this trophy doesn't have clenbuterol in it...

Really?

Is anyone even that surprised anymore?

In a *not-shocking-in-the-least* breaking news front today, 2010 Tour de France Champ (I mean CHUMP) Alberto Contador has supposedly tested positive for clenbuterol, a bronchodilator drug given to asthma patients to open their airways.  The alleged positive test came from mandatory drug testing from the second race day of this year's Tour.

Clenbuterol is a completely legal medication; however, it is on the UCI's list of banned substances.  But, for the laymen and those not familiar with the rules of cycling and anti-doping measures, so are many of the medical products you and I use every day.

Allergy medicine?  Yup - you're getting a two-year ban if you get caught with that in your blood stream.  Asthma inhalers?  That's what Contador just got busted for.  Hell, even the newly-formed high school mountain bike league here in Colorado has banned caffeine the day of a race.

High schoolers, no caffeine?  Good luck trying to enforce that. 

Of course, in a *not-shocking-in-the-least* move by Contador, he has a team of "experts" ready to testify that it was food contamination, and is proclaiming his innocence.

Wha-wha-what?!?

So let me get this straight...someone put asthma medication in your spaghetti?  You, my man, are an idiot.

If there's ONE THING that can be learned from the Floyd Landis 'scandal', is that, for God sakes, you can't lie about it...you're just making it harder on yourself.

Back to the "surprise" of the issue.  No one should be surprised.  No one should be shocked.  Fact is that you can't honestly trust that anyone is clean in professional cycling.  Yes, teams such as Garmin-Transitions are doing everything they can to prove they are, but unfortunately, the linens have been dirty so long in this sport that a lack of positive tests likely means they're getting around the anti-doping measures, not complying with them.

The difference between this and cycling?  Body weight.

But that doesn't mean I'm not going to watch and keep up to date on pro cycling.  To a certain extent, it's kind of like pro wrestling.  When I was in high school and college, I watched WCW Wrestling religiously.  I even splurged to go to a couple of events when they came nearby.  Loved it.  The Big Show, Goldberg, Sting, the nWo...man, that stuff was fun.  Were those guys athletic?  Absolutely.  Were they clean?  Absolutely not.  'Roided up beyond all belief.  (Man, Goldberg was awesome...)

But I knew that.  So I just sat back, and enjoyed the show.

Just like the Tour de France.