Doping

From reading the press reports, a lot of people think that drug testing in cycling isn't working. The reasoning is that some cyclists are still using EPO and blood transfusions to gain an advantage.

I think that testing is working or people wouldn't be getting caught. I think that the major of cyclists are clean and one reason is the deterrent factor. Most of the cyclists know there is a good chance they will be caught if they cheat and so they don't. There are a few who think that the risk of getting caught is worth the reward of cheating so they try it.

To say testing isn't working would be like saying the judicial system isn't working since people still commit crimes. We arrest criminals, convict them and send them to prison but still others commit crimes. Imagine how many people would commit crimes if there were no consequences for their actions.

Cycling is one of the only professional sports where athletes are tested on a regular basis. For years, the player unions of the big American sports have fought random drug testing. The reason I believe is that rampant drug use would be discovered.

I do think cycling could increase the penalty for illegal drug use but even that would not eliminate the problem completely. As in the judicial system, the death penalty or life in prison doesn't discourage some people.