pigman":1h9d03kh said:
not quite! Up till Tom's death, the medicine bag was part of a riders tools of the trade. The officals and riders both knew there were likely to be adverse health effects, but doping contols were minimal and many a blind eye was turned. After Simpson, everyone realised things couldnt carry on like that systematic dope controls and sanctions were put in place so that the incident could never be repeated. Point is up til that point doping was ok, almost legalised, after that it became illegal. For those that continued doping, it was still fairly simplified - pot belge and steroids, ie stronger muscles and resistance to pain. And who knows what went on behind the Iron curtain with all the science they applied? The mid 80's took things a lot further with blood doping and cardio vascular enhancements right up to where we are today.
The biggest change has been the public reaction to doping.
I think that has been down to a change in the landscape of recreational drug use. A bit of cannabis use in the 50s and 60s was not given news headlines, so "drugs" was not such a scary word.
Nowadays, "drugs", means some poor looser with a spoon, a lighter, a syringe, fucked up complexion and teeth, laying in a puddle of their own puke under some forgotten railway arch in Soulth London. That is a far more tabloid compatible image that can be used to whip up disgust for, and rejection of a user.
Drugs in sport is one thing;
"Drugs" in sport is whole other thing that is handled in a disproportionate way, and it becomes increasingly expedient for the politicians of our sport to bring about ever more draconian measures because they have dealt with this
after it has become a ticking political timebomb.
I would not want to be the one who has to dig the sport out of it's mire, but abit more stick and bit less carrot is the only way. It is important for us though, the diehard fans, to keep a brave face and continue to support the sport after this summer's audience become bored of hearing about Wiggins and go back to ignoring cycling.