Here they are, from left, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Spains Prime Minister, Pat Mc Quaid the UCI President and El Torpedo himself, Alberto Contador. One of the worst sporting decisions in history, was made in Spain yesterday, Tuesday February 15th 2011. Note this day in your diaries, as this was the day that professional cycling lost all of its remaining creditability, the little it had left.
Alberto Contador has been cleared by the Spanish Federation of any doping offences. This despite the fact that he tested positive when clenbuterol was found to be in his body during the Tour de France in 2010. But over the past weekend, we had the extraordinary situation occur where the Spanish Prime Minister "Tweeted" , that Contador had no legal case to answer.
What the hell is going on here?
Does this mean we will soon see Barrack Obama fire up his Facebook page and come to the aid of Tiger Woods to have his fine over turned for his profound "spittinggate" over the weekend at the Dubai Desert Classic?
Politics in sport - again. Just when the world needed cycling to do the "right thing", they hit one right out of the ball park by coming up with the most ridiculous ruling ever.
Now the UCI can appeal the decision of the Spanish authorities and send the case to arbitration with CAS to make a final ruling. but will they?
Meanwhile El Contador gets back on his bicycle and pedals his way around another race, grinning from ear to ear, starting today.
Why the heck can a national federation even get involved in such a decision process anyway?
If I am the pride and joy of Spain and I am making the most of all of the worlds publicity after winning for the third time, the worlds greatest cycle race, why would I ever dream that my own federation is going to dob me in?
On top of that, if I am the UCI's biggest draw card and the world is waiting for another Andy Schleck/ Alberto Contador show down in the French Alps in July at a time when the world is considering giving up on cycling, why would I be worried?, of course the UCI will do the right thing by me.......after all, they have done it before with other high profile riders, haven't they?
There aren't enough oily smelly rags in my cupboard to do this story justice. If Contador is acquitted because nobody can prove how the substance founds its way into his body, then the door is now open for all drug cheats to say, "I didn't put it there", it must have been contaminated from somewhere.
I just wish the US Federal investigation into the US Postal team arrives sooner rather than later. I see this investigation as cycling's equivalent to D Day, whether the allies win this time around who knows, all I know is that it could well be the very last straw for a sport that continues to dive over the abyss.
Maybe the IOC could do the right thing and kick cycling out of the Olympics until such time that riders, teams, sponsors and doctors, all get their act together to really make a fresh start.
How many more cases, near deaths and deaths does cycling need to endure before somebody who has the power says "enough".
As a well known Spanish cyclist said yesterday after the news of Contadors case, "I don't know who to believe any more in the world of cycling"
Pedal man
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