bing181

No teams were suspended. Nor were there masses of riders suspended, in reality there were very few - Basso, Ulrich, Scarponi, Valverde, plus a few lesser names ... Lots of riders implicated, but then even more footballers where surprise surprise, none were even investigated. FIFA etc. etc.!! The biggest part of the scandal isn't that it was so widespread, but that when it came to light, so little was done. But then again, doping wasn't illegal in Spain at the time either, so hands were tied - which explains why the suspended riders were almost exclusively non-Spanish, primarily Italian. Valverde was picked up through the back door, as he was initially banned from racing in Italy, which then led to him being banned internationally. Also, the point should be made that a cycling team is very different from a football team. Cyclists on the same team often don't even live in the same country, and usually work with individual coaches, trainers and doctors (a bit like tennis players in that regard) - though teams like Sky are starting to change that with a more structured, organised and integrated approach.

Which WADA clearly said they were unhappy with. Won't happen again.

Yes it does, but that won't stop people.

No lawyer, and no knowledge of anything that isn't already public, but I would have thought that ASADA are on top of "reasonable satisfaction". Their case has been signed off on by at least two outside experts, and I would have thought that if they can establish to reasonable satisfaction that Dank was in possession of TB4 and was also carrying out an injection program at Essendon, that that in itself would be enough.

Thanks for reports and comments. Appreciated.

He's not wondering what to do. I think that's the point.

How many phantom or mock drafts from the period had Wines ahead of Toumpas? Any at all?

When I come across off-kilter posters like Werridee, often the only conclusion I can come to is that they're Communication 101 students doing a research project in trolling as part of their Social Media unit. Good luck with the studies Werridee, let us know how you get on. It's the least you could do.

He has come to the realisation that he has other interests and directions in life that are more important to him than being an AFL footballer. No shame in that. Along with the club, I for one thought he was worth persevering with, though once again, it shows that "making it" is as much about the mental/psychological side as it is footballing ability. You can't teach hunger.

Interesting if true, though equally, was always going to be the case. The Lever situation reminds me of the Stringer one.

How can they answer differently if they're telling the truth? - though suspect that little of this hinges on information that the players have provided.

Just to be the resident pedant, it didn't actually. The UCI appealed in March 2012, and the case was heard in November. Much of the initial hold-up in that case was because all the documents had to come from Spain (perhaps not particularly rapidly) and then be translated. The CAS hearing had been initially scheduled for June, which is only a few months after the appeal had been lodged, and is more in keeping with how long the CAS appeals take. But, agree with your post. If that's how they want to play it.

I agree. And nor should Toumpas's anticipative hip surgery.

Well summarised DD. I'd presume it's between these two - which will at least make the Wines/Toumpas parallels easier when we start tearing ourselves apart over the choice 2 years down the track. (Meanwhile hoping that whoever we don't take plus Laverne don't turn out to be the pick of the bunch ...)

From what I understand of Jordie, I'd be surprised if he was moved on or put through the Rookie wringer. While I accept the argument that we can't have passengers, a seniorish player and solid citizen, who can provide some leadership and guidance at Casey to and with the young players, while being there as backup, is not just a worthwhile position, but a necessary one. Roos talks often about establishing a strong culture across the whole club, and it's in that light that I'd keep Jordie on, at least for the last year of his contract. If anyone's to be paid out and re-rookied, surely the only candidate would be Evans.

And having type 1 Diabetes isn't "baggage"?

And the difference with your insane love for an unproven, never played-an-AFL game 18 year old? The more you attack Toumpas, the more you undermine every argument you have re McCartin. Though the only problem with that is that you don't see it.

Perhaps you could take a leaf out of HH's book, and add to that: I will never post on Demonland again.

30 what? He's 26, will be 27 in January.

Neither. Helmut.

Except that we'll find out 2-3 years earlier.

There are no certainties with draft picks. The difference between ND pick 40 and RD pick 2 is minimal, and the chances of that pick becoming A Player is equally low in both cases.

You don't know that.

Says the man who has posted 6+ times in this thread.

Keeping on a couple of fringe/depth players as against taking speculative picks in the 3rd and 4th rounds of a weak draft is NOT the reason why the club is where it is.