Under the new leadership of Bouchard-Hall, USACycling has implemented some changes to rider licensing in 2016. Among these changes is a RaceClean surcharge of $5, $25 of $50 (depending on your category and type of license) to "dramatically increase anti-doping tests in 2016," particularly at the amateur level.
USAC will lose $1M this year and clearly USAC has is detractors--people love to trash USAC, including me. But, I am cautiously optimisting that Bouchard-Hall "gets it" and will do what he can to change the culture.
Here's my take on RaceClean:
Many pro-level racers have complained that they should not have to pay more to enforce drug testing for amateurs. The argument is essentially "why punish me for the actions of a few assclown amateur masters doping dicks." To that, I would ask why should pros be the only ones who get a chance at a fair, clean racing? Yes it's a depressing sign of things when masters/amateurs feel the need to take PEDs but if you don't think it's a real issue, lets take a look at the data. Scanning through the list of USADA sacntions for the past couple years, a large percentage of them are for amateurs and here's a quick sampling:
Oscar Tovar, 31, testosterone (busted at a Grand-friggin-Fondo of all things)
Todd Robertson, 51 Modafinil (2nd strike)
Daniel Baker, 37 (Cat 3 CX racer LOL) synthetic testosterone
David LeDuc, 63, EPO, exogenous steroids and amphetamines
David Anthony, 45, synthetic erythropoietin (EPO), also busted at a Grand Fondo.
Personally, I will gladly pay a little extra to know that when I get beaten, it's because the other guy trained harder, dug deeper, or just generally sucks less than I do.
What say you? Is this the beginning of the end of USAC in amateur bike racing, especially mountain bike racing? Or does this signify the start of a change within USAC that will keep it relevant? Will RaceClean work as an effective deterrent? Will you be renewing your USAC license next year?
USAC will lose $1M this year and clearly USAC has is detractors--people love to trash USAC, including me. But, I am cautiously optimisting that Bouchard-Hall "gets it" and will do what he can to change the culture.
Here's my take on RaceClean:
Many pro-level racers have complained that they should not have to pay more to enforce drug testing for amateurs. The argument is essentially "why punish me for the actions of a few assclown amateur masters doping dicks." To that, I would ask why should pros be the only ones who get a chance at a fair, clean racing? Yes it's a depressing sign of things when masters/amateurs feel the need to take PEDs but if you don't think it's a real issue, lets take a look at the data. Scanning through the list of USADA sacntions for the past couple years, a large percentage of them are for amateurs and here's a quick sampling:
Oscar Tovar, 31, testosterone (busted at a Grand-friggin-Fondo of all things)
Todd Robertson, 51 Modafinil (2nd strike)
Daniel Baker, 37 (Cat 3 CX racer LOL) synthetic testosterone
David LeDuc, 63, EPO, exogenous steroids and amphetamines
David Anthony, 45, synthetic erythropoietin (EPO), also busted at a Grand Fondo.
Personally, I will gladly pay a little extra to know that when I get beaten, it's because the other guy trained harder, dug deeper, or just generally sucks less than I do.
What say you? Is this the beginning of the end of USAC in amateur bike racing, especially mountain bike racing? Or does this signify the start of a change within USAC that will keep it relevant? Will RaceClean work as an effective deterrent? Will you be renewing your USAC license next year?