For at least the last 50 years there has been a constant cloud of suspicion hanging over the "Tour de France" cycle race that some riders were taking drugs to enhance their performances and their chances of winning. This remark is true not only for France and French cycling but for all major countries and for cyclists of all nationalities.
Nowhere has the thin line been defined between medicines necessary to heal injuries and drugs used to enhance performances !!! There is no systematic control of sportsmen and women before they participate in top class international competitions. This is true for all sports, not only cycling, even today.
The Tour de France is a perfect example of what is not done !!! Drug taking was rife and the death of Tom Simpson on the Mount Ventoux in 1967 was perhaps due to an overdose of drugs.
His death that day was supposed to be "the scandle" to end drug taking in the Tour de France and everywhere else in sport !!! Has sport been cleaned of drugs ? 45 years later the answer is "NO" !!!
In fact, his death was finally ascribed to the sweltering heat of that day, not to amphetamines which he had in his pockets etc !!! No one around him was guilty of any neglect !!!
Sportsmen who take drugs to enhance their performances are cheats. They are thieves who steal the glory (and even money) from clean competitors.
45 years later and even recently new culprits have been identified, but nothing has been done to fundamentally change things !!!
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