Financial doping is similar on one level

in terms of achieving success on an uneven playing field.

The problem with doping in cycling is that there are only around 500 professional cyclists in the world. So, at the peak of EPO (Armstrong/Riis/Ullrich etc) it became extremely difficult for very good cyclists to become professional without taking drugs.

These drugs have serious health risks and other long term effects that are not known. Most of them are designed to be used for patients recovering from cancer or heart disease, not for world class athletes who already have huge hearts and high levels of oxygen in the blood.

So when doping is endemic in cycling, it forces many riders who want to turn professional to take serious risks with their health - in order to get the necessary results, sponsorship etc. to make a living.

Posted By: Mecagoenti, Jul 12, 17:44:32