Braun Suspended for Balance of the 2013 Season

[steve B]

I guess nobody read that post I spent some time on

Basically, Some drug tests are prone to positives from things besides cheating.

So an automatic lifetime ban is not warranted. Even the WADA - A bunch of complete hardcases when it comes to doping- recognize mitigating factors and often use reduced bans for negligent use.

Lifetime bans WILL NOT STOP DOPING.

In cycling doping is common, even with a 2 year ban for a first offence and an insanely stringent testing plan. Pro riders need to file a whereabouts form months ahead of time for the offseason so the testers can find them. Missing a test is a positive Being seen by certain doctors is a positive.

And the riders still take stuff.

EPO thickens the blood. For a person fit enough to have a resting heartrate around 40 and also usually a large heart, that means a huge risk of the blood pooling in the heart and clotting, leading to strokes that are almost always fatal. A number of young riders died unexpectedly at absurdly young ages. Insanely fit guys that are 22-23 don't normall just die.

That's right- EPO CAN BE FATAL. That's as serious a lifetime ban as you can think of, and people still doped with it and still do.

Steve B