Jan's Juice Bag and Cycling's Prisoner's Dilemma

It ain't no sloppy lab work.

It ain't no French conspiracy.

One of cycling's strongest is exposed. Fuentes had a bag marked Jan, and low and behold that Jan was the 97’ TDF winner.

I do think that Jan was one of the most naturally talented cyclists in we've seen in years, if not lacking a bit in the discipline area. But he was caught in the prisoner’s dilemma that has had a stranglehold the pro peleton forever. I think that it was Hinault that said that drugs don’t turn ponies into race horses, and I think that he is right. But the horses don’t trust each other, so they feel the need to get jacked up on the juice. If they could trust each other, everybody would be better off racing clean. No wasting money paying slimy docs. No risking their health taking suspect drugs. No tarnishing of the beautiful sport.

Of course, they would have to contend with more horses. The ones who did not want to enter the Kentucky Derby cuz they knew it was rigged and they did not want the pressure. I’ve known a few, and that the biggest shame of the whole process.

So, easy to gripe about this. I’m saying nothing new. So here’s the solution to cycling’s prisoner’s dilemma (along with every other sport): Amnesty. I’m not saying let em dope. I’m saying come clean and tell all. Everything. Much like the Truth and Reconciliation courts in South Africa. Uncover the networks and methods. Even let those on suspension come clean and back in. Of course, they would have to agree to the kind of testing that Slipstream is doing. But if they start clean, the physiological profiles will tell all.

I can’t think that there is one cyclist in the peleton that would rather be on the juice. Make it easy for them to give it up.