Cycling Central: Oct 21

SBS sports show Cycling Central hosts a panel discussion about drugs in cycling in which anti-doping researcher Dr Michael Ashenden says cyclists are afraid to tell the truth about doping and that there are more skeletons in the closet.

“There is no question cyclists are afraid to tell the truth about what has happened both in the past and what’s continuing to happen today,” said Dr Ashenden. “I’m in touch with cyclists who have told me things that I am not able to take to the authorities because they (cyclists) won’t put their name to it. Certainly I pass the information anonymously to the authorities but unless there’s a name they can then go to corroborate that evidence, there’s nothing they can do.”

Dr Ashenden joined the President of Cycling Australia Klaus Mueller, cycling journalist Anthony Tan and Cycling Central host Michael Tomalaris in the panel discussion about drugs in cycling.

He claims that the issue of doping in cycling is bigger than the individuals who are found guilty.

“It’s not just about pulling out more cyclists and labelling them drug cheats. It’s about asking them who was encouraging you or who was aware of this and was there any sort of structural flaws that need to be brought into the open. I believe that it’s the environment more than anything that has led to the problem we’ve got today,” said Dr Ashenden.

Klaus Mueller said he believed Australia led the way in terms of its anti-doping practices.

“There is no suggestion that the sort of conduct that we’re speaking about that’s happening overseas in the peloton, is happening over here,” said Mueller. “I think we’ve got in place in Australia world’s best practices and that’s not to say that they can’t be made substantially better, but they are presently world’s best practices in relation to detecting and clamping down on dopers. In the past, Cycling Australia has in fact been criticised for being too vigilant… and we’ll continue to take that vigorous attitude to it.”

5pm Sunday on SBS ONE.