When doping became part of the job
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Do you think cyclists still use drugs? Let’s listen and find out!
Since the tour started in 1903, there have been a lot of doping scandals. Instead of trusting in their own performance, some racers have used different kind of boosters to keep their energy level up. As the sport became more competitive and lucrative, more cyclists started to use performance-enhancing drugs in their careers.
Thomas Simpson was one of Britain’s most successful professional cyclists. During a very hot racing day, he fell of his bike just 1.4 km before reaching the top of the mountain. He wanted to continue the race but fell off his bike again. He fell unconscious and died on his way to hospital. Afterwards, 4 ampules were found in his shirt pocket. One of these ampules was filled with amphetamines. During the autopsy, alcohol was also detected in his blood. The combination of the heat, the amphetamines and the alcohol proved fatal.
Since the death of Simpson, the control on doping tightened. The Tour de France of 1998 was characterized by several doping scandals. The more investigations and tests there were, the more doping abusers were revealed. This edition of the Tour was renamed by the media 'le Tour du Dopage', the Tour of Doping.
More than a third of the best cyclists in the world have admitted to using drugs during their career. Anti-doping scientists estimate that approximately 4 out of 5 cyclists were cheating. From the 1990s to the mid-2000s, cyclist who were 'clean' were in a minority. The famous Lance Armstrong said that it was part of the job and he couldn’t win without using drugs.
The usage of doping continues in the cycling world, but the attitude toward it is starting to change. Hopefully, in the future, cycling can move on to a bright, dope-free future.
Since the tour started in 1903, there have been a lot of doping scandals. Instead of trusting in their own performance, some racers have used different kind of boosters to keep their energy level up. As the sport became more competitive and lucrative, more cyclists started to use performance-enhancing drugs in their careers.
Thomas Simpson was one of Britain’s most successful professional cyclists. During a very hot racing day, he fell of his bike just 1.4 km before reaching the top of the mountain. He wanted to continue the race but fell off his bike again. He fell unconscious and died on his way to hospital. Afterwards, 4 ampules were found in his shirt pocket. One of these ampules was filled with amphetamines. During the autopsy, alcohol was also detected in his blood. The combination of the heat, the amphetamines and the alcohol proved fatal.
Since the death of Simpson, the control on doping tightened. The Tour de France of 1998 was characterized by several doping scandals. The more investigations and tests there were, the more doping abusers were revealed. This edition of the Tour was renamed by the media 'le Tour du Dopage', the Tour of Doping.
More than a third of the best cyclists in the world have admitted to using drugs during their career. Anti-doping scientists estimate that approximately 4 out of 5 cyclists were cheating. From the 1990s to the mid-2000s, cyclist who were 'clean' were in a minority. The famous Lance Armstrong said that it was part of the job and he couldn’t win without using drugs.
The usage of doping continues in the cycling world, but the attitude toward it is starting to change. Hopefully, in the future, cycling can move on to a bright, dope-free future.
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