A few points:
1) USAC unilaterally walked away from the USAC/OBRA reciprocity agreement. OBRA would be interested in continuing the agreement but USAC is not.
2) USAC suspended rider can be excluded from OBRA events:
"13.6 Suspension reciprocity
Any OBRA member who is suspended by another athletic organization shall notify the OBRA Executive Director. When OBRA becomes aware of such a suspension, the OBRA Executive Director will investigate the circumstances of the suspension and may impose a similar suspension".
Under this rule one could, for example, be expelled for starting a fight at a bar darts tournament and be limited from OBRA events until the bar lets you back in. Historically this has been invoked several times to prohibit participation by riders that are suspended by USAC.
3) The OBRA penalties for doping violations were intentionally made lenient because the burden of proof is also low. Since the doping rules are in the racing rules it requires a vote of club representatives and not a board of directors action to change the penalties. This is a simple matter. Any member who wishes to change the penalties they merely need to present the proposed rule change in writing which then gets voted on, generally at the annual meeting.
4) I don't believe that WADA is interested in having local sporting organizations sign on as signatories. Rose City Softball, for example, is also not listed as a signatory.
5) OBRA doping rules incorporate the WADA prohibited substance list as well as similar wording with regards to offenses.
5) Assuming that "implementing a doping control program" means testing for doping this is outside of the financial resources for OBRA. I have been told that a single full WADA prohibited substances test can cost well north of $1000. It would be possible, although still costly, to use more selective and less specific testing but this would introduce the problem of using even less accurate tests.
Doping is not nearly so binary an issue as many people seem to think. It is not always doping vs. not doping. For example, although it may make some sense to prohibit competitors in elite level events from taking methylphenidate, as is currently done by WADA, I am not so sure that it makes sense to tell every person who is successfully using this drug to treat ADD that they can't race local bike races. There are similar arguments to be made for many other items on the prohibited list up to and including EPO and anabolics. The real defense against doping is to make sure that we don't take bike racing too seriously. For nearly all the OBRA members this is just a fun and healthy thing that we do. When people start to take it too seriously then they become willing to take excessive risks.
Mike
-----Original Message-----
From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On Behalf Of dazey1871
Sent: Monday, September 03, 2012 14:46
To: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Strengthen Anti-Doping in OBRA
One thing that this whole USADA vs. Lance Armstrong matter has demonstrated to me is that cyclings governing bodies can have a profound impact on the use of PEDs by its members. If Floyd Landis, Tyler Hamilton, and to a certain extent, the USADA can be believed, the UCI not only failed to enforce applicable prohibitions against the use of PEDs, it actively helped certain riders evade those rules. If that is true, it will undoubtedly go down in history as biggest disgrace in all of professional sports.
We Oregonians seemingly take great pride that our governing body, OBRA, is an independent organization that operates outside the auspices of the USAC and its relationship to the UCI. While I can never imagine OBRA engaging in the type of conspiracy in which the UCI is alleged to have participated, I have to wonder if we are guilty of an even greater sin. While the UCI may have turned a blind eye to rampant doping, we havent even bothered to open our eyes to the scourge of doping likely occurring in our ranks.
One of our members recently posted a link to the recent doping bust of two amateur racers in New York. Heres the link in case you missed it: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/28/sports/cycling/doping-in-cycling-reaches-into-amateur-ranks.html Its a chilling account of the lengths to which a forty-something Cat IV racer would go for nothing more than bragging rights. He bought PEDs on-line and through medical sources and self-administered them. If you dont believe there is a significant likelihood that this is occurring right now in the ranks of OBRA, then you are COMPLETELY DELUSIONAL! Just remember back to the heart-breaking example of Kenny Williams in Washington.
What is OBRA and its membership doing about PEDs? As far as I know, OBRA is not a signatory to the WADA Code. At one time, OBRA and USA Cycling had a reciprocity agreement that at least required OBRA to honor all disciplinary suspensions issued by the UCI, USADA, and WADA: (http://static.wsbaracing.com/docs/AR_M450_20100317_102247.pdf). However, as far as I can tell, that agreement has since expired. Consequently, it is possible that Lance, himself, could line up for the upcoming Cross Crusade. I certainly cant see any regulatory basis to exclude him or any other doper busted under WADA rules.
So, what do the OBRA rules state about doping? Heres the link to OBRAs rules:
http://www.obra.org/pdfs/2012rules.pdf
The prohibitions on doping are found in Section 19. What do those rules state? Simply that OBRA members cannot use PEDs (seemingly incorporating WADAs definition of prohibited substances), possess PEDS, or distribute PEDS. The rules also mention doping controls. It is a rules violation to refuse to participate in a doping control or to alter a sample. However, has anyone in the history of OBRA actually been subject to an OBRA-administered doping control? I would really love to know.
So, what happens if you violate OBRAs anti-doping rules? On a first offense a rider could get busted being loaded with EPO, HGH, testosterone, horse steroids, and crack, and would face the horrid, unbearable prospect of---wait for it, wait for it, a ONE MONTH SUSPENSION!! I have been sidelined longer with a saddle sore. Heck, a racer could get busted distributing PEDs to junior racers and get a one month suspension if it was a first offense. Second offenses require a one year suspension (1/2 of the USAC mandated suspension). Third offenses bring lifetime bans.
Really? Is this the best we can do in Oregon? Is this the example that we want to set for junior racers and other cyclists across the country? I dont think so. We can either continue operating in a complete state of denial or we can do something meaningful. I believe that OBRAs board should do the following: (1) make OBRA a signatory to the WADA code; (2) implement an active doping control program; and (3) ban Lance Armstrong, or any other USADA/WADA sanctioned rider from competing in any OBRA-sanctioned event.
We all need to be part of the solution. Im willing to be drug-tested. Are you?
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