Riders should stage a boycott until the EWS gets their shit together. This is just plain crazy.
I think riders caused this. Not Maes who I'm 100% sympathetic towards, but the naive attitude some of them had early on, not taking doping control seriously. It led to an inevitable crack down(maybe over reaction) and firming up of the rules. Now Maes is the first innocent victim of everyone not taking this seriously soon enough.
I think all 3 parties fucked up here.
EWS fucked up getitng the UCI involved for the drug side of things. They now have no ability to use common sense and must adhere to what the UCI say on these matters.
The UCI did what they always do and fuck things up.
Martin fucked up for not going to a hospital/applying for a TUE/ taking medication that he wasn't 100% clear on.
The one thing that can be controlled here is the rider. Martin should have taken more steps to ensure he was not ingesting something he shouldn't have.
Such a bummer to see him stripped of his wins. He was riding so damn well at all the stages so far. Am gutted for him...
Riders should stage a boycott until the EWS gets their shit together. This is just plain crazy.
Like women in the 60s burned their bras, all participants in ENDURO should free themselves from the tyranny of their fanny packs! Rise up! Refuse to do fart flicks in your instagram videos because you know the truth! Toss the reflective single lens glasses that make you look like an 80s wrestler with a mullet! Be free children of ENDURO! Wear gloves that don't match your fork stickers! Burn those fanny packs and show the man you won't be held down!
Then go back to dh where you failed the first time, leading you to this miserable existence of glorified xc racing.
Like women in the 60s burned their bras, all participants in ENDURO should free themselves from the tyranny of their fanny packs! Rise up! Refuse to...
Like women in the 60s burned their bras, all participants in ENDURO should free themselves from the tyranny of their fanny packs! Rise up! Refuse to do fart flicks in your instagram videos because you know the truth! Toss the reflective single lens glasses that make you look like an 80s wrestler with a mullet! Be free children of ENDURO! Wear gloves that don't match your fork stickers! Burn those fanny packs and show the man you won't be held down!
Then go back to dh where you failed the first time, leading you to this miserable existence of glorified xc racing.
...ironic ending considering the man in question, and the dude who won the overall last year.
I still can't find an answer to if the doctor had the drug on hand or if it was prescribed and Maes camp still didn't check before filling the prescription. If the doctors, even volunteers didn't get a memo of drugs not to bring, and moreover didn't get the list of substitute drugs. The drug Maes took has a alternative that is approved by the UCI/Wada
The EWS are actually at fault here for providing doctors at an event who are not aware of the list of prohibited substances. Their lawyers would...
The EWS are actually at fault here for providing doctors at an event who are not aware of the list of prohibited substances. Their lawyers would have advised them very clearly to highlight that probenicid was administered outside the event, even if it was by one of their race doctors. But it’s pretty poor from them to provide medical care at a event who will administer prohibited treatment.
EWS: "Therefore, the prescription of medication outside of EWS racing that has ultimately lead to the penalty imposed on Martin Maes must serve as a lesson to all athletes, organisers, teams, coaches and medics that although the athlete will always be held responsible in the outcome of an adverse anti-doping finding, all parties in mountain bike sport must be responsible at all levels for learning and operating at the highest level, and with the best knowledge available.”
The banned substance was administered by volunteer doctors at the NZ Enduro, two weeks prior to the first EWS in Rotorua. This has nothing to do...
The banned substance was administered by volunteer doctors at the NZ Enduro, two weeks prior to the first EWS in Rotorua. This has nothing to do with the EWS or their staff. The doctors admit to trying to check but were unable. It's not a newly banned substance and has been on the list since the 80's so maybe they should have known, but I would assume the list is long and to remember them all would be asking a bit much.
Yeah I’ve got mixed up between the NZ Enduro and the NZ EWS, cheers for pointing it out. Looks like the team just needs to keep the prohibited list on them at all times.
Yeah I’ve got mixed up between the NZ Enduro and the NZ EWS, cheers for pointing it out. Looks like the team just needs to keep...
Yeah I’ve got mixed up between the NZ Enduro and the NZ EWS, cheers for pointing it out. Looks like the team just needs to keep the prohibited list on them at all times.
That’s a very looooong list. If I’m remembering correctly, it’s a very large binder. With the advent of the internuts, it’s a the tap of a finger.
I think its funny my boycott idea got downvoted so hard.
The riders have the leverage if they actually act like it. No riders. No race.
Anyone who wins this year, be it at this race or the overall, knows they did so with a big "*" above their name. Its lame. So lame. And if you (an EWS racer) think some technicallity based in the road world or otherwise couldn't strip you of your awesome season, you are sorely mistaken. The EWS needs the ability to overrule something like this. Otherwise, Chris has lost control, which isn't a good thing.
Martin is handling this like a man triple his age in wisom, which is impressive but this still isn't right.
This is simply dumb. Life has nuance and you need to be able to accommodate it and be flexible.
We all understand that these athletes are responsible for what goes in their bodies, but why doesn't everyone think there is this massive infrastructure for these races to check on all these things? This is Enduro not the NBA.
Is Sven and the NZ Enduro going to have a full time compliance officer with a medical background to ensure all of the VOLUNTEER medical staff are aware of the bike racing regulations and be able to debate with a physician over standard medical practices of the country vs. those regulations? Martin could have been more thorough in his due diligence about his treatment but after he woke up and saw his condition worsening, I am willing to bet he and the doctor were a bit more concerned about his leg and general health than continued follow-up on standard treatment with WADA. What does Martin make a year 150K, 200K? That's a nice amount of money for riding bikes but it's not like that pays for an entourage of support staff. Sure GT has a manager, but that person is responsible for logistics for the whole team and is a generalist. Should GT's Enduro team have a lawyer on retainer to be able to provide briefs to governing bodies about treatment plans? If things continue down this road, it will just lead to more overhead being spent on teams which means less money for riders which is bad for the field.
Road racing has fucked over cycling but holding Enduro racers to same standards as multi-million dollar road cycling teams doing the TDF is utterly ridiculous. Shit even the WC can't even afford to have real pits in MSA - its the rent-a-tent and uhaul pits...
The suspension sucks but it is what it is. I’ll play devils advocate and ask why he didn’t check the meds once he was in cell...
The suspension sucks but it is what it is. I’ll play devils advocate and ask why he didn’t check the meds once he was in cell range? He would have then discovered that they are banned, properly applied for a TUE and then maybe have been cleared to dominate.
Martin: My leg hurts worse, the cut looks worse too.
Doctor: Ooooh, yeah, that's looking bad buddy. You might lose your leg.
Martin: Are you kidding?
Doctor: No. But I can give a stronger antibiotic, it's one of the last steps before a surgical procedure.
Martin: Nah, let me wait for a TUE for about a month and then get back to you.
I think its funny my boycott idea got downvoted so hard.
The riders have the leverage if they actually act like it. No riders. No race...
I think its funny my boycott idea got downvoted so hard.
The riders have the leverage if they actually act like it. No riders. No race.
Anyone who wins this year, be it at this race or the overall, knows they did so with a big "*" above their name. Its lame. So lame. And if you (an EWS racer) think some technicallity based in the road world or otherwise couldn't strip you of your awesome season, you are sorely mistaken. The EWS needs the ability to overrule something like this. Otherwise, Chris has lost control, which isn't a good thing.
Martin is handling this like a man triple his age in wisom, which is impressive but this still isn't right.
If Martin Maes would have got to keep his wins and not get punished he would have been the one with a big "*" above his name. Like it or not, taking that substance made him able to take other more potent banned substances without it showing in testing.
I don't think he did, but that's not really important.
If the doping tests in EWS are going to have any chance of being credible they have to strike down on anyone who breaks the rules, regardless of how credible the explanation is.
What I do think is that it is incredibly sloppy of Maes to take a banned substance, especially after all the commotion with graves and Rude last year.
To blame this on UCI is just plain stupid, I normally have little love for UCI, but here they are simply doing what any anti doping organ would do.
If Martin Maes would have got to keep his wins and not get punished he would have been the one with a big "*" above his...
If Martin Maes would have got to keep his wins and not get punished he would have been the one with a big "*" above his name. Like it or not, taking that substance made him able to take other more potent banned substances without it showing in testing.
I don't think he did, but that's not really important.
If the doping tests in EWS are going to have any chance of being credible they have to strike down on anyone who breaks the rules, regardless of how credible the explanation is.
What I do think is that it is incredibly sloppy of Maes to take a banned substance, especially after all the commotion with graves and Rude last year.
To blame this on UCI is just plain stupid, I normally have little love for UCI, but here they are simply doing what any anti doping organ would do.
Yeah, you are probably right. Everyone knows Martin intentionally gashed his leg, got it infected THEN took a masking agent so he could dope. Was all part of the master plan...
cmon dude, there would be no astrix for some dude taking a medicine that by two doctors' account was 100% required for the dude to keep an infection from spreading. It didn't give him any edge whatsoever. It also isn't a masking agent for all doping...
Common sense...it appears to allude most of us these days.
Yeah, you are probably right. Everyone knows Martin intentionally gashed his leg, got it infected THEN took a masking agent so he could dope. Was all...
Yeah, you are probably right. Everyone knows Martin intentionally gashed his leg, got it infected THEN took a masking agent so he could dope. Was all part of the master plan...
cmon dude, there would be no astrix for some dude taking a medicine that by two doctors' account was 100% required for the dude to keep an infection from spreading. It didn't give him any edge whatsoever. It also isn't a masking agent for all doping...
Common sense...it appears to allude most of us these days.
With great power comes great responsibility.
Internet Bicyclists cannot be climbing to the highest hills, demanding full-accreditation within press coverage and prime real estate for events and then find the stirpiculture too stiff.
'Roadie' this and 'TDF' that all-day-long; soon Mountainbike will instead have zero-resources for sustained finance and enter a (long overdue) downturn.
But hey, there'll be another location on the map for EB-5 type program incentives and... uhh, supporting members.
If Martin Maes would have got to keep his wins and not get punished he would have been the one with a big "*" above his...
If Martin Maes would have got to keep his wins and not get punished he would have been the one with a big "*" above his name. Like it or not, taking that substance made him able to take other more potent banned substances without it showing in testing.
I don't think he did, but that's not really important.
If the doping tests in EWS are going to have any chance of being credible they have to strike down on anyone who breaks the rules, regardless of how credible the explanation is.
What I do think is that it is incredibly sloppy of Maes to take a banned substance, especially after all the commotion with graves and Rude last year.
To blame this on UCI is just plain stupid, I normally have little love for UCI, but here they are simply doing what any anti doping organ would do.
Yeah, you are probably right. Everyone knows Martin intentionally gashed his leg, got it infected THEN took a masking agent so he could dope. Was all...
Yeah, you are probably right. Everyone knows Martin intentionally gashed his leg, got it infected THEN took a masking agent so he could dope. Was all part of the master plan...
cmon dude, there would be no astrix for some dude taking a medicine that by two doctors' account was 100% required for the dude to keep an infection from spreading. It didn't give him any edge whatsoever. It also isn't a masking agent for all doping...
Common sense...it appears to allude most of us these days.
As I said, I don't think he did, but no one can know for sure.
As I said, I don't think he did, but no one can know for sure.
Using this logic, no one can know for sure *anything*. Maybe everyone else is taking a masking agent that is so good the ENTIRE EWS is doping! Maybe Sam Hill is in fact an alien from a different planet. We can't know for sure, after all.
Again, common sense has to prevail. This case is so damn obvious. Two doctors. A gash to his leg. An infection. He would have been granted a TUE had the whole process not been so fucked in the first place.
This is absofuckinglotely ridiculous. Anyone arguing to the contrary makes me cringe, not just for the sport, but the future of our species.
Using this logic, no one can know for sure *anything*. Maybe everyone else is taking a masking agent that is so good the ENTIRE EWS is...
Using this logic, no one can know for sure *anything*. Maybe everyone else is taking a masking agent that is so good the ENTIRE EWS is doping! Maybe Sam Hill is in fact an alien from a different planet. We can't know for sure, after all.
Again, common sense has to prevail. This case is so damn obvious. Two doctors. A gash to his leg. An infection. He would have been granted a TUE had the whole process not been so fucked in the first place.
This is absofuckinglotely ridiculous. Anyone arguing to the contrary makes me cringe, not just for the sport, but the future of our species.
Common sense would have been for him to either go to the hospital and get the approved treatment, or to at least apply for a TUE right away.
Instead he showed up at both the two first races testing positive for a masking agent.
Why didn't he apply for a TUE right away?
Was it because he forgot?
Was it because he saw it as a perfect opportunity to get ahead with the help of some banned substances when he had such a good excuse lined up?
Was he involved in a complex plot with this doctor to mask his intake of banned substances during the off-season?
Personally, I think he forgot.
But I don't feel sorry for him.
The same rules apply to all contestants and I'm sure that the majority work hard to take care they don't find them selfs in this kind of situation.
Common sense would have been for him to either go to the hospital and get the approved treatment, or to at least apply for a TUE...
Common sense would have been for him to either go to the hospital and get the approved treatment, or to at least apply for a TUE right away.
Instead he showed up at both the two first races testing positive for a masking agent.
Why didn't he apply for a TUE right away?
Was it because he forgot?
Was it because he saw it as a perfect opportunity to get ahead with the help of some banned substances when he had such a good excuse lined up?
Was he involved in a complex plot with this doctor to mask his intake of banned substances during the off-season?
Personally, I think he forgot.
But I don't feel sorry for him.
The same rules apply to all contestants and I'm sure that the majority work hard to take care they don't find them selfs in this kind of situation.
Either you are a doctor, a WADA official or a total esoteric nerd. I'd NEVER think to apply for a TUE (in real time) or similar for a medicine that is designed to help me keep my leg during an infection that is known to have ZERO performance enhancing effects. Especially when my team manager has asked the doctors (DOCTORS, not nurses or EMTs) what they think, and a DOCTOR administered it. Pushing some paperwork around and risking your leg is the most stupid, idiodic thing I've ever heard. Safety of the rider should be first. Not paperwork. If you think otherwise you are an absolute moron.
Any racer would have taken the help and advice that is right there, again from a board certified doctor. Anyone probably would have listened to his advice, too, with respect to doping. He's a damn DOCTOR!
So you think he took the masking agent then said "oh boy, now I can dope!"? Really? REALLY? His performance hasn't changed one bit. He dominates to the same degree.
Fucking crazy. I'm so over this.
Bummer Martin. You are handling this like a champ. I'm so turned off by the whole thing I'll follow EWS racing with a huge chip on my shoulder.
Can we all go back to focusing on world cup DH now. Everyone bitched and moaned that world cup wasnt rad enough, EWS was so much...
Can we all go back to focusing on world cup DH now. Everyone bitched and moaned that world cup wasnt rad enough, EWS was so much better, bla bla f-ing bla. World Cup DH is still the greatest, too much drama in the spirit of enduro haha.
I wouldn't underestimate Gwinadonna in the drama department :D a broken crank story almost brought down Vital :D
Although I think he did the correct thing in doing the treatment and anyone here would have done the same since no one wants to take the risk of losing a limb, I do think the wise thing would have been to research the medicine as soon has he had the chance (since at that moment they couldn’t apparently) and apply for the TUE while continuing the medicine since it was needed.
I think thats where Maes and GT team manager failed and probably regret not having done more investigation. The denial of the TUE by the UCI was probably related to the time it was applied (after the failed tests) were it should have been applied right way when the treatment was made.
I think its funny my boycott idea got downvoted so hard.
The riders have the leverage if they actually act like it. No riders. No race...
I think its funny my boycott idea got downvoted so hard.
The riders have the leverage if they actually act like it. No riders. No race.
Anyone who wins this year, be it at this race or the overall, knows they did so with a big "*" above their name. Its lame. So lame. And if you (an EWS racer) think some technicallity based in the road world or otherwise couldn't strip you of your awesome season, you are sorely mistaken. The EWS needs the ability to overrule something like this. Otherwise, Chris has lost control, which isn't a good thing.
Martin is handling this like a man triple his age in wisom, which is impressive but this still isn't right.
+1 they definitely do have the leverage as everything ultimately affects them as well....
re the UCI hilarious to think that they are so Anal about TUE's but if you are of the other T Martin could actually race with a speciified level of Testosterone and according to the UCI even keep woody the woodpecker.... talk about madness.... use a drug needed for a medical condition out , use a drug for another condition IN.....oh and we'll let you keep your bike-bits
(Point 4.3 references retroactive TUE's note (d) get out clause , they MAES GT did everything they were asked to do but can't even appeal because they are specifically not allowed to ,,, you can't make this stuff up... actually the UCI have lol...)
on a side note pity that Maes isnt sponsored by YT,,, the marketing opportunity could have been hilarious....
come catch our 2019 limited edition YT TUEx ....
If Martin Maes would have got to keep his wins and not get punished he would have been the one with a big "*" above his...
If Martin Maes would have got to keep his wins and not get punished he would have been the one with a big "*" above his name. Like it or not, taking that substance made him able to take other more potent banned substances without it showing in testing.
I don't think he did, but that's not really important.
If the doping tests in EWS are going to have any chance of being credible they have to strike down on anyone who breaks the rules, regardless of how credible the explanation is.
What I do think is that it is incredibly sloppy of Maes to take a banned substance, especially after all the commotion with graves and Rude last year.
To blame this on UCI is just plain stupid, I normally have little love for UCI, but here they are simply doing what any anti doping organ would do.
Yeah, you are probably right. Everyone knows Martin intentionally gashed his leg, got it infected THEN took a masking agent so he could dope. Was all...
Yeah, you are probably right. Everyone knows Martin intentionally gashed his leg, got it infected THEN took a masking agent so he could dope. Was all part of the master plan...
cmon dude, there would be no astrix for some dude taking a medicine that by two doctors' account was 100% required for the dude to keep an infection from spreading. It didn't give him any edge whatsoever. It also isn't a masking agent for all doping...
Common sense...it appears to allude most of us these days.
C'mon man. Probenicid is a masking agent for anabolic steroids.
No matter how accidental it was and unfortunate for Maes, there is no way the UCI can let that slide.
I'm not the UCI's biggest fan, but they seem to be the only party in this clusterf*%$ that hasn't been sloppy.
The penalty is actually pretty light.
If Martin Maes would have got to keep his wins and not get punished he would have been the one with a big "*" above his...
If Martin Maes would have got to keep his wins and not get punished he would have been the one with a big "*" above his name. Like it or not, taking that substance made him able to take other more potent banned substances without it showing in testing.
I don't think he did, but that's not really important.
If the doping tests in EWS are going to have any chance of being credible they have to strike down on anyone who breaks the rules, regardless of how credible the explanation is.
What I do think is that it is incredibly sloppy of Maes to take a banned substance, especially after all the commotion with graves and Rude last year.
To blame this on UCI is just plain stupid, I normally have little love for UCI, but here they are simply doing what any anti doping organ would do.
Yeah, you are probably right. Everyone knows Martin intentionally gashed his leg, got it infected THEN took a masking agent so he could dope. Was all...
Yeah, you are probably right. Everyone knows Martin intentionally gashed his leg, got it infected THEN took a masking agent so he could dope. Was all part of the master plan...
cmon dude, there would be no astrix for some dude taking a medicine that by two doctors' account was 100% required for the dude to keep an infection from spreading. It didn't give him any edge whatsoever. It also isn't a masking agent for all doping...
Common sense...it appears to allude most of us these days.
C'mon man. Probenicid is a masking agent for anabolic steroids.
No matter how accidental it was and unfortunate for Maes, there is no way the UCI...
C'mon man. Probenicid is a masking agent for anabolic steroids.
No matter how accidental it was and unfortunate for Maes, there is no way the UCI can let that slide.
I'm not the UCI's biggest fan, but they seem to be the only party in this clusterf*%$ that hasn't been sloppy.
The penalty is actually pretty light.
also has other uses...you do know that originally that little blue pill you probably use from time to time actually wasn't originally intended to raise things but it does mask the fact that normal just doesn't cut it any more....
and wait wut, ' current hands down at the time leader of the EWS, injured himself , so he could mask up his roids use... please.......
Yeah, you are probably right. Everyone knows Martin intentionally gashed his leg, got it infected THEN took a masking agent so he could dope. Was all...
Yeah, you are probably right. Everyone knows Martin intentionally gashed his leg, got it infected THEN took a masking agent so he could dope. Was all part of the master plan...
cmon dude, there would be no astrix for some dude taking a medicine that by two doctors' account was 100% required for the dude to keep an infection from spreading. It didn't give him any edge whatsoever. It also isn't a masking agent for all doping...
Common sense...it appears to allude most of us these days.
C'mon man. Probenicid is a masking agent for anabolic steroids.
No matter how accidental it was and unfortunate for Maes, there is no way the UCI...
C'mon man. Probenicid is a masking agent for anabolic steroids.
No matter how accidental it was and unfortunate for Maes, there is no way the UCI can let that slide.
I'm not the UCI's biggest fan, but they seem to be the only party in this clusterf*%$ that hasn't been sloppy.
The penalty is actually pretty light.
also has other uses...you do know that originally that little blue pill you probably use from time to time actually wasn't originally intended to raise things...
also has other uses...you do know that originally that little blue pill you probably use from time to time actually wasn't originally intended to raise things but it does mask the fact that normal just doesn't cut it any more....
and wait wut, ' current hands down at the time leader of the EWS, injured himself , so he could mask up his roids use... please.......
I think you have misunderstood my comment.
It doesn't matter how unfortunate or unintentional this doping infraction was.
Maes has been caught with a masking agent for steroids in his system and they can't just excuse it. There has to be some sort of penalty.
The "dog ate my doctors homework" story isn't a good enough excuse.
I'm not accusing Maes of doing steroids.
Going by his own story, he took a banned masking agent and due to his own and his doctors negligence, he didn't apply for a TUE until he was caught with it in his system.
He has been busted for a legit infraction, he has plead his case and they have given him a light penalty.
He'll serve it out and be allowed back.
It all looks pretty fair to me.
And insinuating that I have erectile disfunction is a bit of a dick move mate!
I haven't seen this on Vital yet so I'm posting it below. This is the statement from Dr. Tom Jerram, official race doctor of the NZ Enduro. He is the same doctor who prescribed and administered probenicid to Martin Maes.
I think you have misunderstood my comment.
It doesn't matter how unfortunate or unintentional this doping infraction was.
Maes has been caught with a masking agent...
I think you have misunderstood my comment.
It doesn't matter how unfortunate or unintentional this doping infraction was.
Maes has been caught with a masking agent for steroids in his system and they can't just excuse it. There has to be some sort of penalty.
The "dog ate my doctors homework" story isn't a good enough excuse.
I'm not accusing Maes of doing steroids.
Going by his own story, he took a banned masking agent and due to his own and his doctors negligence, he didn't apply for a TUE until he was caught with it in his system.
He has been busted for a legit infraction, he has plead his case and they have given him a light penalty.
He'll serve it out and be allowed back.
It all looks pretty fair to me.
And insinuating that I have erectile disfunction is a bit of a dick move mate!
I'm with the logic 100% *if* the doctor wasn't volunteering during a race and *if* he hadn't issued his own statement, which by all accounts is accurate (and to some extent puts his profession on the line).
If Maes had some other doctor who wasn't "neutral support" and wasn't part of a race prescribe this sort of thing, I go "damn, that's unfortunate but you've got to impose some sort of pentalty".
The fact he was *racing his bike* and had to make health decisions in the field where he received incorrect advice from the doctor pertaining to banned substances, and that doctor has backed up the story 100% makes me go 'cmon guys, this is clearly not a case of a rider doping but a case of a doctor doing his job and a rider concerned about health first, and putting paperwork second.
There should be a way for common sense to prevail, clearly there isn't - on behalf of WADA, the UCI, the EWS and, as it appears, the droves of interneters.
EWS fucked up getitng the UCI involved for the drug side of things. They now have no ability to use common sense and must adhere to what the UCI say on these matters.
The UCI did what they always do and fuck things up.
Martin fucked up for not going to a hospital/applying for a TUE/ taking medication that he wasn't 100% clear on.
The one thing that can be controlled here is the rider. Martin should have taken more steps to ensure he was not ingesting something he shouldn't have.
Such a bummer to see him stripped of his wins. He was riding so damn well at all the stages so far. Am gutted for him...
Then go back to dh where you failed the first time, leading you to this miserable existence of glorified xc racing.
If they'd use mountain bike tracks instead of bike parks for dh I'd have a really strong case.
Want to hang out with me at the northstar one and chase all the racers around with nasal spray and watch them freak out?
Is appealing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport still an option for Team GT? They've overturned the UCI before, I believe.
The riders have the leverage if they actually act like it. No riders. No race.
Anyone who wins this year, be it at this race or the overall, knows they did so with a big "*" above their name. Its lame. So lame. And if you (an EWS racer) think some technicallity based in the road world or otherwise couldn't strip you of your awesome season, you are sorely mistaken. The EWS needs the ability to overrule something like this. Otherwise, Chris has lost control, which isn't a good thing.
Martin is handling this like a man triple his age in wisom, which is impressive but this still isn't right.
We all understand that these athletes are responsible for what goes in their bodies, but why doesn't everyone think there is this massive infrastructure for these races to check on all these things? This is Enduro not the NBA.
Is Sven and the NZ Enduro going to have a full time compliance officer with a medical background to ensure all of the VOLUNTEER medical staff are aware of the bike racing regulations and be able to debate with a physician over standard medical practices of the country vs. those regulations? Martin could have been more thorough in his due diligence about his treatment but after he woke up and saw his condition worsening, I am willing to bet he and the doctor were a bit more concerned about his leg and general health than continued follow-up on standard treatment with WADA. What does Martin make a year 150K, 200K? That's a nice amount of money for riding bikes but it's not like that pays for an entourage of support staff. Sure GT has a manager, but that person is responsible for logistics for the whole team and is a generalist. Should GT's Enduro team have a lawyer on retainer to be able to provide briefs to governing bodies about treatment plans? If things continue down this road, it will just lead to more overhead being spent on teams which means less money for riders which is bad for the field.
Road racing has fucked over cycling but holding Enduro racers to same standards as multi-million dollar road cycling teams doing the TDF is utterly ridiculous. Shit even the WC can't even afford to have real pits in MSA - its the rent-a-tent and uhaul pits...
Doctor: Ooooh, yeah, that's looking bad buddy. You might lose your leg.
Martin: Are you kidding?
Doctor: No. But I can give a stronger antibiotic, it's one of the last steps before a surgical procedure.
Martin: Nah, let me wait for a TUE for about a month and then get back to you.
This is why he didn't check.
I don't think he did, but that's not really important.
If the doping tests in EWS are going to have any chance of being credible they have to strike down on anyone who breaks the rules, regardless of how credible the explanation is.
What I do think is that it is incredibly sloppy of Maes to take a banned substance, especially after all the commotion with graves and Rude last year.
To blame this on UCI is just plain stupid, I normally have little love for UCI, but here they are simply doing what any anti doping organ would do.
cmon dude, there would be no astrix for some dude taking a medicine that by two doctors' account was 100% required for the dude to keep an infection from spreading. It didn't give him any edge whatsoever. It also isn't a masking agent for all doping...
Common sense...it appears to allude most of us these days.
Internet Bicyclists cannot be climbing to the highest hills, demanding full-accreditation within press coverage and prime real estate for events and then find the stirpiculture too stiff.
'Roadie' this and 'TDF' that all-day-long; soon Mountainbike will instead have zero-resources for sustained finance and enter a (long overdue) downturn.
But hey, there'll be another location on the map for EB-5 type program incentives and... uhh, supporting members.
Again, common sense has to prevail. This case is so damn obvious. Two doctors. A gash to his leg. An infection. He would have been granted a TUE had the whole process not been so fucked in the first place.
This is absofuckinglotely ridiculous. Anyone arguing to the contrary makes me cringe, not just for the sport, but the future of our species.
Instead he showed up at both the two first races testing positive for a masking agent.
Why didn't he apply for a TUE right away?
Was it because he forgot?
Was it because he saw it as a perfect opportunity to get ahead with the help of some banned substances when he had such a good excuse lined up?
Was he involved in a complex plot with this doctor to mask his intake of banned substances during the off-season?
Personally, I think he forgot.
But I don't feel sorry for him.
The same rules apply to all contestants and I'm sure that the majority work hard to take care they don't find them selfs in this kind of situation.
Any racer would have taken the help and advice that is right there, again from a board certified doctor. Anyone probably would have listened to his advice, too, with respect to doping. He's a damn DOCTOR!
So you think he took the masking agent then said "oh boy, now I can dope!"? Really? REALLY? His performance hasn't changed one bit. He dominates to the same degree.
Fucking crazy. I'm so over this.
Bummer Martin. You are handling this like a champ. I'm so turned off by the whole thing I'll follow EWS racing with a huge chip on my shoulder.
There was a better way to handle this.
I think thats where Maes and GT team manager failed and probably regret not having done more investigation. The denial of the TUE by the UCI was probably related to the time it was applied (after the failed tests) were it should have been applied right way when the treatment was made.
re the UCI hilarious to think that they are so Anal about TUE's but if you are of the other T Martin could actually race with a speciified level of Testosterone and according to the UCI even keep woody the woodpecker.... talk about madness.... use a drug needed for a medical condition out , use a drug for another condition IN.....oh and we'll let you keep your bike-bits
here's a good read.... in relation to TUEs https://www.ukad.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-04/TUEs%20criteria.pdf
(Point 4.3 references retroactive TUE's note (d) get out clause , they MAES GT did everything they were asked to do but can't even appeal because they are specifically not allowed to ,,, you can't make this stuff up... actually the UCI have lol...)
on a side note pity that Maes isnt sponsored by YT,,, the marketing opportunity could have been hilarious....
come catch our 2019 limited edition YT TUEx ....
No matter how accidental it was and unfortunate for Maes, there is no way the UCI can let that slide.
I'm not the UCI's biggest fan, but they seem to be the only party in this clusterf*%$ that hasn't been sloppy.
The penalty is actually pretty light.
and wait wut, ' current hands down at the time leader of the EWS, injured himself , so he could mask up his roids use... please.......
It doesn't matter how unfortunate or unintentional this doping infraction was.
Maes has been caught with a masking agent for steroids in his system and they can't just excuse it. There has to be some sort of penalty.
The "dog ate my doctors homework" story isn't a good enough excuse.
I'm not accusing Maes of doing steroids.
Going by his own story, he took a banned masking agent and due to his own and his doctors negligence, he didn't apply for a TUE until he was caught with it in his system.
He has been busted for a legit infraction, he has plead his case and they have given him a light penalty.
He'll serve it out and be allowed back.
It all looks pretty fair to me.
And insinuating that I have erectile disfunction is a bit of a dick move mate!
If Maes had some other doctor who wasn't "neutral support" and wasn't part of a race prescribe this sort of thing, I go "damn, that's unfortunate but you've got to impose some sort of pentalty".
The fact he was *racing his bike* and had to make health decisions in the field where he received incorrect advice from the doctor pertaining to banned substances, and that doctor has backed up the story 100% makes me go 'cmon guys, this is clearly not a case of a rider doping but a case of a doctor doing his job and a rider concerned about health first, and putting paperwork second.
There should be a way for common sense to prevail, clearly there isn't - on behalf of WADA, the UCI, the EWS and, as it appears, the droves of interneters.
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