Joe Papp on the endemic corruptions of doping in cycling, using the Levi Leipheimer allegations as a sounding board.
One point Joe eloquently addresses that we’ve raised repeatedly has to do with institutional barriers to exposing doping. While doping does indeed come down to individual corruption — whether it be the riders, their team managers, corporate sponsors or regulatory officials — the real motivator here is money. The doping culture isn’t based on any innate joys that come from cheating a fellow cyclist or team out of winning. It’s based on the amount of dollars at stake.
That point is well worth remembering when the urge to point fingers strikes. Big Money calls the shots in professional cycling, and all culpability ultimately resides at the door of the almighty dollar.