True, but what if they are all cheating?
They are, still.
The UCI could start taking the problem seriously, which would mean working with the WADA, rather then keeping them at arms length and claiming to be trying to solve the problem themselves, which they demonstrably are not. This would have to entail sanctioning cutting-edge testing with an associated risk of catching a small percentage of the innocent in the interests of catching most of the guilty.
Banning drug cheats from management could be made restrospective, so the likes of Riis and (soon) Bruyneel would go.
The culture change required is massive, and would require some drastic measures to implement. Permenant WADA chaperones for every top 50 rider on major races and compulsory accomodation in open dormitories might help, as would a no-excuses implementation of athlete responsibility for their own diet, so no more protracted bollocks about eating contaminated meat.
Or cycling could just step down testing to the level of other major sports so the problem stops getting noticed. More smokescreens along the line of the BP will give the illusion that the UCI is interested in tackling the problem, rather than following their real agenda of maintaining the status quo.
The latter is probably what will happen as it is far more compatible with the interests of the
industry sport.
The difference might evetually be made by fans and consumers rejecting the products of any sponsors associated with doping, but the opposite seems to be happening at present.
Pro cycling is a job; it's largely about making as much as you can in the time you've got. My view is that within the closed circle of the sport taking stuff is seen just like insider trading is seen in banking - not allowed , but we all know it goes on and probably most of us benefit from it.
An illuminating comment Paul..
Short clip of Tyler's interview.
I can't honestly draw any conclusions from this, but he doesn't sound too sure of himself to me.
He does come across very strangely there! Scared? Lying?
Full of regret about the olympic gold medal he just flushed down the toilet?