Close but no cigar
Nov 22nd, 2006 by Peter
If you just read the sports section once and a while, you may have a hint about the doping problems in the cycling sport. Like most others I am of the opinion that most contestants in the most prestigious events have to be doped up on EPO, anabolic steroids, blood doping and whatever is mentioned to stay in the top half of the races.
A few is caught red handed, but as always they insist that they are tested wrongly, or victim of media schemed attack. So I found it refreshing that one of the more popular former riders in Denmark named Jesper Skibby now finally admits his abuse in his new biography. Here in Denmark it is big news, and raises all kinds of questions. Especially about the other more famous riders since, Skibby wasn’t really considered the cream of the cycling elite even in his best days.
If he was an ok rider and had to use drugs, didn’t other and better riders have to use too, and why don’t they come clean? Actually Jesper Skibby wasn’t the first one in Denmark who I would have believed to dope himself up. He really weren’t that good in my opinion.
Jesper Skibby is/was a lively fella who always had time for a funny remark during and in-between races. Most people like him for his positive attitude and his ability to call a spade for a spade. I actually like the guy too, but no need to say that I’ve lost a lot for him after hearing about his doping. Apparently the secret have weighed heavily on his shoulders, and now that he has retired for some years, he felt it was time to come clean. Good choice.
I gotta give him a little respect for finally admitting his abuse, and I can understand how a sportsman’s mind work, when he feels the pressure to perform and reach out to the last resort (not that I approve it at all). One thing I do not understand, though, is the things Jesper Skibby said on the TV the other evening.
No doubt he was sorry that he used drugs to enhance his body (he had that hanged-cat-look on his face in public for the first time ever), but he also said that he were proud of the races he won during his career. He justified this by telling that he wasn’t sure that the drugs really helped him, since how could he know? He actually said that he didn’t believe they worked at all (but still kept using them). I have to agree that it may be hard to tell if you have a good day, or the drugs have kicked in. Even so, this do not justify using them. Of course drugs give you an edge in the long run, and it is the same as cheating. The moment you use doping for the first time, is the first time you decide to cheat to gain money and fame. There is no excuse.
Right now I am torn between happy and sad that one of the “old elite guys” in Danish cycling finally creeps to the cross, but there are others that I would rather have seen do it. Also I am little sad that Jesper Skibby didn’t regret it wholeheartedly. Besides this I believe that there are many more prestigious Danish riders, who made way bigger results during their careers. This makes them way more suspicious in my book.
I really hope this new openness will start a ravine in at least the Danish cycling world and make the others suspects admit it too. Cycling really need a remake of their image.