Comments on: What if no one cared about doping? http://www.kadisco.com/2010/01/what-if-no-one-cared-about-doping/ Perhaps you're interested. Sat, 31 Dec 2011 16:15:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jason http://www.kadisco.com/2010/01/what-if-no-one-cared-about-doping/comment-page-1/#comment-5105 Jason Sat, 09 Jan 2010 01:24:29 +0000 http://www.kadisco.com/?p=1563#comment-5105 At the end of the day, all the sponsors really care about is not being embarrassed. If Manny tests positive, it puts a black eye on the event, the sport, and at least temporarily, the sponsors. Being inside the Olympic system forces something like proper drug testing, increasing the chances of an embarrassing situation for a sponsor. I'm sure if the genie could be put back in the bottle, corporate sponsors could care less whether or not there's proper drug testing in cycling - in fact, I'm sure they would be pleased if there wasn't, since it can only create embarrassment. But the genie can't be put back in the bottle, so you get our current situation, where cycling (and athletics) push like hell for proper testing, and Manny Pacquiao gets to thumb his nose at transparency. As an aside, if Festina had never happened, and the genie was still in the bottle, would Garmin-Transitions exist? Would Danny Pate still be a Euro-Pro? At the end of the day, all the sponsors really care about is not being embarrassed. If Manny tests positive, it puts a black eye on the event, the sport, and at least temporarily, the sponsors. Being inside the Olympic system forces something like proper drug testing, increasing the chances of an embarrassing situation for a sponsor. I’m sure if the genie could be put back in the bottle, corporate sponsors could care less whether or not there’s proper drug testing in cycling – in fact, I’m sure they would be pleased if there wasn’t, since it can only create embarrassment. But the genie can’t be put back in the bottle, so you get our current situation, where cycling (and athletics) push like hell for proper testing, and Manny Pacquiao gets to thumb his nose at transparency.

As an aside, if Festina had never happened, and the genie was still in the bottle, would Garmin-Transitions exist? Would Danny Pate still be a Euro-Pro?

]]> By: Josh http://www.kadisco.com/2010/01/what-if-no-one-cared-about-doping/comment-page-1/#comment-5104 Josh Fri, 08 Jan 2010 20:05:12 +0000 http://www.kadisco.com/?p=1563#comment-5104 Cycling and boxing couldn't be more different. That's why it's a hypothetical question. On the other hand, cycling sponsors are always influenced by public opinion. Also, I don't think that sponsors in aggregate have taken a clear position on doping. For instance, Liquigas signed Ivan Basso even before his suspension was up. Obviously, no one *wants* to be associated with doping, but there are lots of sponsors who have continued to support their teams even after a doping scandal. Cycling and boxing couldn’t be more different. That’s why it’s a hypothetical question. On the other hand, cycling sponsors are always influenced by public opinion.

Also, I don’t think that sponsors in aggregate have taken a clear position on doping. For instance, Liquigas signed Ivan Basso even before his suspension was up. Obviously, no one *wants* to be associated with doping, but there are lots of sponsors who have continued to support their teams even after a doping scandal.

]]> By: MB http://www.kadisco.com/2010/01/what-if-no-one-cared-about-doping/comment-page-1/#comment-5103 MB Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:42:38 +0000 http://www.kadisco.com/?p=1563#comment-5103 They exist in completely different economic models. Boxing revenue comes primarily from spectators - who have indicated quite clearly that they're not all that worried about doping. In cycling, revenue comes from sponsors, who have just as clearly indicated that they don't want to be associated with doping. They exist in completely different economic models. Boxing revenue comes primarily from spectators – who have indicated quite clearly that they’re not all that worried about doping. In cycling, revenue comes from sponsors, who have just as clearly indicated that they don’t want to be associated with doping.

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