Breaking the Omerta

It has become apparent that the ‘Omerta’ still lives on, in part. This unspoken knowledge of performance enhancing drug use among sections of the peloton and their support networks.

We feel the Omerta is not as prevelant as it was a decade ago. A time when brotherhood stood united in a dark and dangerous secret. Thankfully, the introduction of more stringent controls and a new found respect for their sport has broken the monopoly of the Omerta. Professional riders do not have to be ‘juiced’ to win. A realisation of honor and health have begun to recover the mantle of pride within our wonderful sport. It is disappearing yes, but gone, it seems not.

No rider can decide to dope on his own, it takes a network of ‘committed’ individuals. Performance enhancers and the tools used to indulge must be purchased, transported, stored, hidden, administered and covered up. Not a role for the individual rouge biker in search of his next win.

Whilst it still exists, protocols must be put in place to combat it. Bike Pure believe that every aspect which influences a rider to dope, must be checked. If the ‘decision to dope’ is tackled on all levels, then the war will be won.

To break the Omerta, riders and team staff must speak out against dopers. It is a most difficult situation to break the Omerta and point the finger at what may be a close friend. No one wants a telltale image. But these dopers are not friends to our sport. They are cheats putting their health at risk, putting their fellow team members jobs at risk and they need to be ousted and separated from the true cyclists who respect their profession and fellow athletes.

Fear of speaking out, with knowledge of previous cases, underlined that no rider wishes to risk their job and career. This fear must be rewritten as a positive aspect for a rider. Teams should seek honest riders, not cyclists who will live in fear of silence and betrayal.

Bike Pure wish to open a dialogue on the introduction of a one season ban for any rider, or two seasons for team officials, if it can be proven they have knowledge of another rider doping and not revealing this information. The culture must be changed. These riders are killing our sport. They are not to be protected, must form no part of the sport and risk the future progression of cycling.

The information could passed during out of competition testing, which would allow the Authorities the knowledge to pinpoint frequency of testing to reveal the offending rider. It would allow investigators to discover supply lines of a current doper and thus protect cycling. Everyone has his or her part to play.

The Omerta is a complex issue and exists on various levels. Consider the recent return to the peloton of Vino and Basso. Both guilty, one welcomed back to the peloton and the podium by fans and riders alike, the other booed and shunned. Riders were outspoken and openly critical about Ricco, but if they dislike cheats, then where is the disgust for other cheats returning to the ranks. Until the ban system is updated to discourage all riders from cheating. The cheats must be allowed to race after they serving the ban. But Ricco getting a contract with only 11 months of his suspension served illustrates that doping and the Omerta within certain teams are still whispered strongly.

The knowledge of another rider doping, would risk your own career, is not a solution but another part in a workable resolution.  The Omerta is protection for the cheats, the cheats are not welcome, therefore neither is the Omerta, it is a bad smell hanging around our beautiful sport, open a window, cast out the cheats and let the long chanted fresh start begin.

Bike Pure would appreciate submissions of how the sport could protect itself.