PACK YOUR BAGS " PHAT Mc Quaid !

Phat beware !

Whilst you laugh yourself to sleep , reading the news of those on the Cyclingnew’s Forum , trying to get a “ Change.org Petition “ organised to call on you to resign , consider the real danger !

People are genuinely pissed off with your behaviour in regard towards Paul Kimmage ! So much so they are putting their hands in their pocket and donating to the “ Defence Fund “ ! Can you think of ANYONE other than Hein who is trying to help you ?

Below is a copy of a broadcast email going the rounds :

 “  Update about "World Cycling Organization UCI: For president PatMcQuaid to resign and cycling to be cleaned up"

Hello fellow cycling fan,



Thank you for telling Pat McQuaid it’s time for change! More than 400 people supported this petition in only three days.
Your reasons for signing make it clear that McQuaids departure is only the first step towards fixing cycling. It doesn’t end there.
Support and comments from you have given us added inspiration to keep going. We’re planning our next moves. Something a bit different...
You can follow us here on twitter @PatMustGo for updates.
Thanks again .
Fans of cycling


Seems that about 400+ Cycling Fans , have done as I have done , signed the petition . Small beer really , not worth losing sleep over . Most Media people would yawn and pass on to another story BUT when people dig into their pocket for the “ Chip In Fund “ , THEN the Media people are going to follow that story !

Giving Media privileged access used to be a great way to control the story ! Who is going to bite the hand that feeds them ?  On a scale of 1 to 10 , with the current media situation , you would now be rating MINUS !

So what do you do ? I suggest you get onto your buddy Hein , and call a halt with this court nonsense in December , could be you get out of this with a few bruises and hurt pride . Leave it too long and Paul will have a “ WAR CHEST “ and all the media egging him on to Counter Sue and guess where you will find yourself then ?

AS a fellow born in Dublin , I am glad that I am an Aussie ! Would too many Irish be happy to see you bashing a fellow Irishman for “ peanuts “? Living in Switzerland you will be safe from the man on the Irish Street , but the effect of public opinion , on your family will be another matter . Won’t be long before the Irish media ask ALL & Sundry to disown you ! Having been banned from attending the Olympics as a Cyclist in your Cycling Career , you must have a thick skin , but do you really think it fair for your family to suffer the scorn that will come their way through the notoriety you will create when Paul Kimmage arrives in the Aigle court and WINS ! You will look the prize chump when he also wins the Counter Suit , wonder how much he will be awarded there ?

Whilst you have any dignity Pat , pack your bags , take a long restful holiday in one of  those countries where there are no Cycling Events , and hope that when you return to society , there are no issues to bite you !


Those of you reading this Blog may be aware , I was trying to call on  WADA/IOC to work together , to establish an “ ALL SPORTS AMNESTY “ ! Last week UCI decided that they would not indulge themselves in this matter . Fortunately for All , they made a good decision since those they were seeking to come forward would NOT ! Nobody trusts the leadership of the “ UCIless “ and thus it would be unreasonable for ANY Government , to stand back and allow their Citizens to admit to breaking their Laws ! The article discussing an Amnesty “ UCI “ style :

http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/09/news/mcquaid-says-no-amnesty-seeks-another-term-as-uci-chief_239510

David Millar , reformed Doper , budding Journo , took Phat to task last Saturday in Holland and generated a few brownie points in the process .

Anyone that can rid Cycling of the blight of “ Doping “ deserves support , and Paul Kimmage’s constant  efforts have encouraged many , hopefully we will now see more coming forward to support his efforts !

Addition Wed  26th Sept :

Led to believe this LINK will divert you to the " Chip In for the " Paul Kimmage Defence Fund " !

Those wishing to use " Paypal " will be able to add to the $33000+ already contributed !

CONTADOR DECIDES ?

After we suffered 566+ days of turmoil , for “ El Pistolero “ the travail begins again ! CAS has made an important declaration that neither party in the dispute offered !

CAS is saying we think you are both wrong about the cause of the adverse findings , BUT we think this “ contaminated supplement theory ” could have been the cause of the “ Clenbuterol ” in the doping test ! What are they Judge or “ Defence Lawyer ”? Whatever they choose to be , they have added controversy to the case !

Going back a little , closer to the start , we have a Spanish Politician , Zapatero , the then Prime Minister , facing an Election trying to garner the votes of Cycling Fans . He weighed in as the Prime Minister of Spain knowing that people listen to his opinion , by saying :

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/spanish-prime-minister-backs-contadors-claim-of-innocence

“ There is no Judicial reason to sanction Contador ”

Well the whole world got to hear about that , Spanish Cycling Fans would have been elated but he still failed at the polls ! Put in context , this remark was made after a One year ban was imposed by the Spanish Federation and to which Contador made objection by filing an appeal . One wonders what could have happened if Zapatero had stayed stumm ? Will Contador be happy to see that John Fahey , a Past Politician from Australia , who retired from the office of Premier of the biggest state in OZ , New South Wales , has stated that WADA , of which he is currently President were then left with no choice but to go to the CAS ?

On 8th February he stated in an article broadcast by Reuters :

"I can say with regard to the Contador decision, it was regrettable that, when the Spanish federation proposed a 12-month penalty, a senior politician made a statement to say that Contador was innocent,"

John Fahey went on to state some of his personal thoughts about this case and CAS :

" I have great respect for CAS, I worry about decisions of individual national federations where it comes to dealing with their own sportsmen and women who have tested positive, because clearly the temptation must be there to protect one of your own," he said.

"I don't know the alternative. I can't imagine that Spain would say to Italy, you deal with all Spanish positives and we'll deal with all Italians, I think hell will freeze over first.

"I can certainly understand where there must be a certain level of national element, particularly if it's a national hero."

Already there is a thread on Cyclingnews Forum regarding why Alberto should Appeal the CAS findings :

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=16530


We have seen in recent days the withdrawal of the Grand Jury Investigation of Lance Armstrong in the USA , and that is creating it’s own set of problems for all concerned !

On a personal note , I can see that there is a case for outside intervention in the matter of National Level Athletes ! Top tier athletes gain International attention and thus huge international fan bases , this causes polarisation when any thing crops up that attacks their credibility ! Imagine the furore that would arise if any one questions “ Bolt’s ” running records , Thorpe’s swimming records , Redgrave’s rowing records ?

Perhaps the solution is to have sub committees of the International Federations sit IN A TIMELY MANNER and judge each case on it’s merits ! In this day of the internet and “ Tele conferencing “ the paperwork and personal visual contact is albeit instantaneous ! Oh , I forgot , the Lawyers would want a piece of the action since they are in the business of making money out of others misfortune !

How many “ Doping Matters ” could have been settled with the same results if the Lawyers had not been involved ? My guess 95% , perhaps some would then still go to CAS , then Lawyers could be necessary ?

Meanwhile there are matters to finalise for Alberto , in that there is a request from UCI of $2.45M penalty although others have suggested he is liable for upwards of $12M in damages ! Another consideration is his continuing employment by Saxo Bank Team ?

Due to the CAS determination Saxo Bank Team lose ALL his “ Pro Tour Points ” from the point that CAS decided was the suspension point AND it seems he will have to ride for two years before he gains any further points to help the Team that chooses to employ him after the current ruling expires in August 2012 !

Alberto had a press interview this week and stated :

"I can't understand the final verdict," said Contador. "I've gone through everything, spent hours going over things. If there's anything I can do to prove my innocence I'll do it. There are many things that I cannot understand about this decision but for the moment I want to keep them to myself. I'm not an expert."

My personal attitude to “Doping ” is well known to all , it is SPORTING FRAUD :

I would like to see the following sanctions applied in ALL sports with International Uniformity :

Minimum of four years suspension from their chosen Sport

Locked in the family house with an ankle bracelet for a period decided by the presiding sports court , thus saving the community the expense of detaining them in Prison ! Sporting Fraud is a crime and deserves to be treated in the same way as Theft or burglary !

Loss of employment in any type of Sports Activity whether it is in Media , Travel , Coaching or Competition in other Sports !

Sanctions against All personnel working with the Athlete including Trainers , Masseurs and Team personnel impacting on their ability to cheat their employers and the Public !

Harsh penalties need to be applied to ALL TOP TIER Sports Athletes so that those choosing this career path will know that they are NOT to take the EASY OPTIONS offered by others ! There are those that attach themselves to an aspiring athlete and see it as a way to improve their personal circumstances and thus EVEN conspire against their protégé , so as to get recognition earlier than would be the case if the athlete followed his normal progression in their chosen sport !

Personally I have met Alberto many times and ridden on rest days with his teams and am in doubt as to what has actually taken place ! Will he turn out like those shams , Flandis , Crapp and Shamilton or will scientific investigation and further judicial proceedings eventually prove that it was a “ NO fault situation ” ?

This matter is nowhere near conclusion !

On a lighter note , I found this item in relation to the benefits of the UCI Bio Passport :


Originally Posted by T_S_A_R
the biopassport was presented as a way to build cases against dopers.

Dear TSAR,

We finally captured the last doper and banned him. His name is Floyd Landis. All is well now. But thanks for asking.

- Pat McQuaid
UCI el-Presidente



The wag that wrote this comment has the Avatar shown !

Seems that More cans of worms have spilled as a result of the CAS decision :

Saxo Bank Team’s status ?

Points system in relation to Cycling Athletes’ Suspensions ?

Conspiracy theories about the timing of the release of information about the Conclusion of the Lance Armstrong Grand Jury and the release of the Contador Case findings ?

WE LIVE IN INTERESTING TIMES ?