Local boy Bergman suspended

[TomT]

Bergman suspended

The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced Wednesday that Adam Bergman has accepted a provisional suspension after testing positive for EPO. Bergman, 23, tested positive on April 6, 2004 during an out of competition test. Bergman began serving the provisional suspension on July 27, and the time served will count toward a full suspension should a doping violation be determined at an arbitration hearing.

[mtnbykr]

why the "thumbs down"??

is it 'cuz he got caught or that he did it in the first place??

here's (http://www.velonews.com/race/mtn/articles/6697.0.html) another "hero" getting busted...

kl



.

[TomT]

http://www.morcmtb.org/forums/images/icons/icon13.gif for taking it in the first place.

I guess I'm just missing something in my thinking. I enter races knowing that I am not going to win, or not even come close, but just have fun competing. On Monday morning, I lick my wounds and go back to my day job. Maybe it is different when you don't have a day job. Last summers "big" local cycling news was the local boys contract with Jelly Belly and it was quite suspicious when any reference to him was removed from their web site a month ago or more.

Seems like an awfully big risk.

[halls]

In other news today. Filip Meirhaegle failed an EPO test and has retired ASAP. He admitted to using EPO this year. To bad , he was a great world mountain bike champ.

[mtnbykr]

.... he was a great world mountain bike champ.
and a cheater!!!

[i posted a link to this in my first post.]

he should be stripped of all his "wins" if they can prove he was doping at the time.

it's all big money, the olympics and sponsorship. too bad, mtb racing used to be such fun...

kl


.

[halls]

How very , very true. (sorry i missed the link) I looked on the Specialized web site and they have announced it also. wow! I still think the local mountain bike scene is very good. Usually nothing but positive vibes is what i get. I don't think EPO would help me do the expert stuff at LeBanon. I think Filip lost contact with the fun of mountain biking .

[Magic]

I don't feel that they lose interest in the sport, they are driven by there sponsers demands for good results. So in turn they try to find any edge they can over the compitition. The big time sponsers have to own up to there share of the blame. Not to say doping is okay, but you'd all be amazed at the amount of drugs and what-not that people are taking to gain an edge on others. Even in the local racing scene. It's there, people just turn there heads. Is testing the answer, or do legalize it all for an equal playing field.

[destrago]

I don't feel that they lose interest in the sport, they are driven by there sponsers demands for good results. So in turn they try to find any edge they can over the compitition. The big time sponsers have to own up to there share of the blame. Not to say doping is okay, but you'd all be amazed at the amount of drugs and what-not that people are taking to gain an edge on others. Even in the local racing scene. It's there, people just turn there heads. Is testing the answer, or do legalize it all for an equal playing field.
I've often wondered what the effects of just letting athletes use whatever the hell they want would be. Since everyone needs to have big money sponsorship to compete in major events these days because of the costs of the advanced technologies in any sport (even running), the money issue is pretty balanced for the major events. So everyone could afford whatever they wanted - plus legitimacy would bring down the price.

I seem to think that then a 'clean' league would form for those who are clean, but of course then what if there's use in there. The other thing is that if you let everyone take any performance enhancing drugs, they'll all get hopped up on PCP before a race and ride/run (literally) until their legs break off or something.... and then you have the long term effects of drug use, and here I am thinking specifically of athelets who are competing as young teenagers and under major parental or other pressures. What happens to them later in life? I do realize that these things even happen now, but I think it would only be amplified if performance enhancing drugs were legit. You'd HAVE to dope just to compete. The race wouldn't be for who is in the best shape, but who can handle the highest doses of the best stuff for the longest times. It seemed like such a neat idea at first, but in the end it always seems like a really really bad idea. Just my thoughts.... and I've admittedly never been competitive in athletics.


-Tony

[grizzly adam]

why the "thumbs down"??

is it 'cuz he got caught or that he did it in the first place??

here's (http://www.velonews.com/race/mtn/articles/6697.0.html) another "hero" getting busted...

kl



.
"Filip is a great person and an exceptional athlete who exercised exceptionally poor judgment," said Specialized founder Mike Sinyard. "It truly saddens me to see his accomplishments diminished this way. I believe that as a person, he is fundamentally above such things, but [he] made a grave mistake." Just say it like it is - he's a dumbass -

I wonder what he'll do now for work.

[nigel]

Man that blows, I'd hoped Bergman would go far too. Looks like hes done for now, guess he'll have to come back home and sandbag like a few others do :(

D

[TomT]

No sandbagging,that's for clean riders.

According to the suspension, he is not to compete in any competitions under the jurisdiction of UCI, USA Cycling or the United States Olympic Committee.

[nigel]

The thread on this at www.mcf.net (http://www.mcf.net) is going to be crazy, some of them folks think doping is fine, or at least thats what im getting out of reading it.

[ostertoaster85]

I've often wondered what the effects of just letting athletes use whatever the hell they want would be. Since everyone needs to have big money sponsorship to compete in major events these days because of the costs of the advanced technologies in any sport (even running), the money issue is pretty balanced for the major events. So everyone could afford whatever they wanted - plus legitimacy would bring down the price.

I seem to think that then a 'clean' league would form for those who are clean, but of course then what if there's use in there. The other thing is that if you let everyone take any performance enhancing drugs, they'll all get hopped up on PCP before a race and ride/run (literally) until their legs break off or something.... and then you have the long term effects of drug use, and here I am thinking specifically of athelets who are competing as young teenagers and under major parental or other pressures. What happens to them later in life? I do realize that these things even happen now, but I think it would only be amplified if performance enhancing drugs were legit. You'd HAVE to dope just to compete. The race wouldn't be for who is in the best shape, but who can handle the highest doses of the best stuff for the longest times. It seemed like such a neat idea at first, but in the end it always seems like a really really bad idea. Just my thoughts.... and I've admittedly never been competitive in athletics.


-Tony
How's this for an idea. What if you were allowed to take whatever you want as long as you can pass the drug tests. Then people could admit to doping and get rid of the controversy but they still wouldn't be able to take massive amounts. In reallity the only thing that would change would be that the rule followers would now be able to dope just as much as everybody else. Yet, people would still be limited in how much they can take because they still have to pass the doping tests.

[noise_is_life]

Maybe there should be a new class.

- Amatuer
- Pro
- Enhanced Pro

[nigel]

Maybe there should be a new class.

- Amatuer
- Pro
- Enhanced Pro
They might as well do the enhanced pro class since so many are proving to be using. Would be fun to watch, but i dont think any of their results should count towards anything.

[halls]

Maybe we need an unenhanced class? Everything old school. From bikes to gear.
Single speed, rigid fork, tube socks and no clipless pedals , etc. Just in case someone is on epo, we make it mandatory to down at least a six pack of miller high life ! , thus washing out the illegal juice. ok , maybe not a whole 6 pack, just a couple . :crazy:

[halls]

Just another thought. Taking illegal stuff to perform isn't right. Can it be stopped? I don't know but riding is everything to me , not winning . That's probably why i never won any races. For those who need to win at all cost, maybe i should say good luck , and do whatever it takes ,it's your health and happy trails.

[jitterjepp]

I think taking drugs is lame. I don't think it's any different than throwing your bike on a truck and having someone drive you ahead a few miles and dropping you off. Anyone who gets caught should pay the price. I don't feel one bit bad for cheaters. You have people out there who are out there giving everything they have and not using anything. It's a huge ripoff to those people who thought they were on a level playing field. It totally changes the dynamics of a group a racers. They didn't just ripoff the guy who got second behing them they ripped off everyone down to the last rider and all the spectators. It's like playing poker with a guy who stacked the deck. I don't think they should just be banned I think they should be required to reimburse all athletes for entry fees and also be liable for damages to the group that organized the race and for any expenses the other riders and teams had to do the race. That includes everything from travel and shipping expenses incured by riders all the way down to spectator fees.

What is the difference between everyone being on drugs and racing and none of them being on drugs and racing anyway? If everyone has the same advantage it makes no sense what-so-ever to have a class of drug users.
If you change to a drug using class what will those people do to gain thier next advantage? Maybe they will start sabotaging opponents bikes or putting poison in the pre-race meeting pasta bowl. They are cheaters and need to be treated as such. If you aren't winning train harder of figure out better training methods. I you still cant win after giving it you very best then well, I'm sorry you are not the best. To bad. Try harder and if it doesn't work out still then you just have to try even harder or deal with reality.

[grizzly adam]

They are cheaters and need to be treated as such. If you aren't winning train harder of figure out better training methods. I you still cant win after giving it you very best then well, I'm sorry you are not the best. To bad. Try harder and if it doesn't work out still then you just have to try even harder or deal with reality.
AMEN!

I would think that the humiliation and the repercussions of doping would be enough to keep people from doing it.

[tmac]

AMEN!

I would think that the humiliation and the repercussions of doping would be enough to keep people from doing it.
Yeah, it is sad that even after doping offenses, these guys still seem to be the famous ones at the top of the sport. It proves the point that there is no bad publicity.
I think there is a fine line between proper punishment and allowing someone to "serve their time" and get back to competition. All in all, we as a community need to treat cheaters more harshly. I certainly would not hesitate to give them negative rep points on the MORC boards!

[mtnbykr]

I would think that the humiliation and the repercussions of doping would be enough to keep people from doing it.
who remembers d dickey and enhanced...errr grand performance from a couple years ago??

maybe it's time for lifetime bans and removal of all wins etc from the records.

kl

[nigel]

who remembers d dickey and enhanced...errr grand performance from a couple years ago??

maybe it's time for lifetime bans and removal of all wins etc from the records.

kl
He just kinda dropped from the scene for a while, hes been racing (sandbagging)again though, doing a little mtn racing too.

[berrywise]

Wasn't that sometime around 2002 that he was suspended? That's what I recall and I thought it was for two years so that would be right around now that he could start racing legit again.




He just kinda dropped from the scene for a while, hes been racing (sandbagging)again though, doing a little mtn racing too.

[SickBoy]

Dewey even showed at some MNSCS races during his suspension, which I thought was lame. Getting off on the technicality that they were out of NORBA jurisdiction at the time.

[halls]

Just a couple of more doping thoughts. I've been reading the MCF website. They have posted some very interesting views on the whole doping stuff. ( i should be working but???) For whatever it's worth. I saw Dewy last year at the Seeley Fat tire race. I did the short one and then watched the finish of the long race. I think he was third. I can tell you this , he wasn't sandbagging it. It was a close race , he was spent. I think it was last year or the year before i did the Cable Classic and there was a rumor of some guys taking a short cut and finishing well up in the standings. I don't know if it was true or sour grapes. But it made me wonder how i would feel if i took EPO and a shortcut and still finished way in the back? I might have to buy a horse and take up Polo!:laugh:

[nigel]

*shrugs* either way to me if you get caught doping, you obviously did it and eveything you do from then on means nothing even if its clean, just because your past results are so clouded and may never be "real" even if they were. Once a looser always a looser, there is no excuse for it. I guess to me it proves you dont love the sport.

D

[mtnbykr]

check out what todd wells (http://www.toddwells.net/) has to say, the posts from 7/28 and 7/30 pretty much sum it up...

kl

[nigel]

check out what todd wells (http://www.toddwells.net/) has to say, the posts from 7/28 and 7/30 pretty much sum it up...

klId be pissed too! Hell all that training and putting all you got into something only to be cheated out of it!

The funny thing about this whole doping thing to me is the road vs. mtn view on it. The mtn pros are all against it and when someone is found to have tested positive for it they are shunned forever, whereas on the road side when they tested positive they are not guilty until they go through a hearing and bull**** like that (mcf has the cycling news link in the thread). I find it strange that they are protecting them from their guilt. Unless the testing is done wrong its gotta be accurate, id assume?!?! Ill be an ass here and say that Mtn bikers are more honest about this stuff and want to get the cheaters out, where the roadies accept it to either not blemish the "name and view" of the sport or because it is so prevelant throughout they dont want to all loose their jobs!

D

[KleinCrazy]

Id be pissed too! Hell all that training and putting all you got into something only to be cheated out of it!

The funny thing about this whole doping thing to me is the road vs. mtn view on it. The mtn pros are all against it and when someone is found to have tested positive for it they are shunned forever, whereas on the road side when they tested positive they are not guilty until they go through a hearing and bull**** like that (mcf has the cycling news link in the thread). I find it strange that they are protecting them from their guilt. Unless the testing is done wrong its gotta be accurate, id assume?!?! Ill be an ass here and say that Mtn bikers are more honest about this stuff and want to get the cheaters out, where the roadies accept it to either not blemish the "name and view" of the sport or because it is so prevelant throughout they dont want to all loose their jobs!

D

The only comment I have to say is from the stories I heard out in Fruita, and the article that came out a week later, Dirt Riders should just count themselves lucky that only Performance Enhancers are tested for. Recreationals are a completly different story.

[halls]

Todd Wells hit the nail on the head. He stands up for his sport and drives home the truth. Great incite from a pro. I agree, there is a difference between moutain ,road cyclists on this issue . Bottom line, Wells is right on.

[SickBoy]

The only comment I have to say is from the stories I heard out in Fruita, and the article that came out a week later, Dirt Riders should just count themselves lucky that only Performance Enhancers are tested for. Recreationals are a completly different story.
LOL, well, Say that to Rich (or is it Gary? I can never keep them straight) Houseman - he's serving a 1 year suspension for being busted on THC. Myles Rockwell never got busted while riding but was recently arrested for having a complete hydroponic farm in his basement. And then there was that Master's world DH champion chick who got busted for THC last winter.. I forget what her name is.

Also... Ullrich got busted for amphetamines in his system from X. So... recreational drugs DO get noticed....

[KleinCrazy]

LOL, well, Say that to Rich (or is it Gary? I can never keep them straight) Houseman - he's serving a 1 year suspension for being busted on THC. Myles Rockwell never got busted while riding but was recently arrested for having a complete hydroponic farm in his basement. And then there was that Master's world DH champion chick who got busted for THC last winter.. I forget what her name is.

Also... Ullrich got busted for amphetamines in his system from X. So... recreational drugs DO get noticed....
Ture, But they do not seem to cause near the uproar that performance enhancers do.

Maybe it is because of the whole unfair advantage as opposed to doing something illegal deal.

[Magic]

I think the key word is "enhancement". Mary Jane is not an enhancement drug, I feel that's why it's not targeted as heavily. Gonja is a depressant for some, others it has no effect at all. My thought are "to each his own". We only have to fight the demons in our own minds. If someone is taking something and gets on the podium, that is his demon. If they can live with it and feel good about their results, so be it.

[JBergland]

"Mary Jane is not an enhancement drug, I feel that's why it's not targeted as heavily."

It's used as a pain killer... and as anyone that has raced can attest to, killing some pain can come in handy!!

JB

[grizzly adam]

I'd get too hungry if I was riding with Mary Jane.
Of course I'd probably ride faster - for fear that someone was chasing me!
:)

[SPR]

I'd get too hungry if I was riding with Mary Jane.
Of course I'd probably ride faster - for fear that someone was chasing me!
:)
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: