I don't think Fuentes had any secret solutions. Autologous transfusions can't be detected with a validated, accurate, and 'legal' test. The people who got caught were performing homologous transfusions, which to me is crazy. Defeating the EPO test still appears to be very easy. I also think manipulating the parameters of the new 'blood passport' is going to be rather easy.Packeteer said:As for the reticulocytes you are right that is more of a legal question if it can be used against someone. It can however be used by me and you to get a good guess if someone is doping.
I am also very curious what methods the doctors use, particularly Fuentes. I personally know much more about EPO and steroids/testosterone than i do about blood doping. Fuentes obviously got away with it from a testing perspective, he knew something we still dont. Not only do me, you, and all the admitted dopers i have discussed this with not know how he got away with it but all the anti doping agencies haven't seemed to figure it out yey. This is why i think its silly for people to assume Lance was clean. Ullrich didn't get caught but we still all know he doped however Lance and Jan are matters for a different discussion.
To me the facts are quite clear. Doping is widespread because it is so easy to pass the tests. 100% negative tests in the peleton does not mean everyone is clean unfortunatly.
I do race but I am actually not a big bodybuilder, i never competed as a bodybuilder. I was somewhat overweight as i got into cycling. At the time i was not cycling competativly, it was just for general fitness. I took up bodybuilding and filled out my thin frame that i was born with at the same time i worked off all the fat. When i was doing bodybuilding i never intended to get huge, just very well defined and keep my weight down. I ended up loving cycling more than bodybuilding so that is what i do now.
I currently race and am a pretty good climber. Learning how to keep my weight down and performance up has helped with my cycling. One thing i have noticed however is how rediculously skinny climbing specialists are. Competative bodybuilders are a lot like climbers. They want to get their fat levels down to rediculous levels while maintaining their muscle. It is very hard to get your fat down that low without losing a lot of strength. I can obviously confirm myself you can climb well without steroids. However it is a HUGE help to use them and sometimes i wonder.
When I raced, there was a point where I would get too skinny. You knew it when you got there as you would start to lose power, feel fatigued and get sick easily. To me, that is where the drugs, especially steroids, have got to help. You can continue to lose fat while maintaining muscle mass and stamina. I never used drugs, but I certainly wonder what it would have been like to have them. I think they have to make a big difference in the top amateur ranks even with just a simple steroid plan; especially when you're racing from March to November.