The Big Names
The biggest names in cycling have been busted again and again for using performance enhancing drugs. Every year cyclists are thrown out of races for having been caught using EPO, steroids, and for blood doping. Doping has become such a huge part of cycling that cyclist find ways to avoid testing and try to find new ways to increase their body’s natural potential to ride. With all the doping that does occur it seems impossible for a cyclist to compete without doping and have any chance at all to win. Doping may have killed cycling as a world respected sport, only time will tell if doping can be eliminated from cycling.
Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong is the doping scandal in years that has come out of cycling and the United States. The former world recorder holder for winning the Tour de France, said to be the most grueling race of any sport, has had his titles stripped away from him after he has confessed to doping. A cancer survivor turned in to super star athlete and hero to many for all his work to help cancer patients and treatment, Lance has had his titles stripped by the United States and now faces legal charges as well. Lance has confessed to using EPO, human growth hormone, and steroids. Lance has confessed to using performance enhancing drugs in all of his seven victories.(Calamur) He has stated though that he “viewed it as a level playing field.”(Calamur) Lance has since had many interviews about his drug use and is awaiting trial by the United States government for having been funded by the government while he was riding and using these performance enhancing drugs.
Alberto Contador
From 2000 to 2010, through these ten years none of cycling’s biggest name have not had their names dragged through the mud with positive drug tests. During the 2010 season, Alberto Contador test positive for small amounts of the stimulant clembuterol in 2010 and had his Tour de France title stripped from him.(Esteban)
Jan Ullrich
Jan Ullrich was one of cyclings biggest competitors, and was the rival to Lance Armstrong. Jan has been caught using EPO, blood doping, steroids, and other performance enhancing drugs while riding in many of his races.(Bike Pure) He is said to have been doping in the Tour de France multiple time including times that he competed against Lance Armstrong finishing second behind him.
Eddy Merckx
Eddy Merckx is known as the most accomplished and successful cyclist of all time. He won the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia 5 times each. Eddy was also the World champion once as an amateur and three times a professional.(Cyclinghalloffame.com ) He is also one of only two individual to achieve the cycling “Triple Crown”.(Cyclinghalloffame.com ) In 1969 after the death of Tom Simpson the cycling world was checking for doping much more harshly. Eddy tested positive after 16 stage of the Giro d’Italia and after a huge controversy over the way the sample were handled, Eddy was thrown out of the race and disqualified.(Esteban) Even with this set back Eddy has still be crown the world’s most accomplished cyclist to ever compete in the sport.
2006 Tour de France
In the 2006 tour de France many of cycling’s biggest names were busted for having tested positive for doping in some form. Jan Ullrich, Lance Armstrongs biggest rival test positive during this tour and was kicked out of the race. Ivan Basso, Oscar Sevilla, Joseba Beloki, Francisco Mancebo; the tours biggest names and favorites all tested positive and were kicked out of the tour.(Esteban) Even after the tour, its winner Floyd Landis, tested positive for using performance enhancing drugs and had his title stripped from him.(Esteban)
Team Festina
In 1998 an entire team was kicked out of the Tour de France for doping charges. Team Festina from Spain was kicked out after a team masseuse who arrested and caught carrying four hundred vials of EPO.(Esteban) This case happened after years of cyclists being able to stay a step ahead of the testers as they used different drugs to enhance their racing potential. All of the member admitted to the doping charges and served there suspensions.