I absolutely agree with Roche. A lifetime ban is the only way the present a real threat to the riders. It also should apply to all the other sports, but these days we see that many times national federations are keeping fighting for a sportsman who previously tested positive to have the penalties reduced. Which tells a lot: doping happens on national level in sports, so this proposal will never be accepted.

I agree a lifetime ban and banned from other sports, so no sloping off into another sport and doping that one up too. Cycling is leading the way into anti-doping , the athletes are having to be fitter as a result, None of this mamby pamby approach like our own(british) authorities. Compulsive testing for ALL sportsmen/women in all sports is the only way to clear out dopers , and set an example for youngsters

I agree with ray_mulrooney, in the 80's riders would collapse and need medical attention at the top of the climbs, and the 'transition' were notorious for long break aways with the main pack content to rest for the next set of mountains.
Each year since the speed has gone through the roof, riders climb off their bikes and less than 30 seconds later they can give interviews without even looking like they rode to the shops never mind 200+ Km

To compensate for Roche's draconian lifetime ban, I suggest a 4 yr ban. Agreeing with Roche that 2 yrs is surmountable by young pros, 4 yrs raises the big questions "do I continue training? how do I get motivated? will the teams have forgotten me? how do I earn a living in the meantime?"

The simple solution to solving the doping problem is to make the disincentives unequivocally outweigh the incentives to cheat.
A 4 yr ban would do that.

Actually Roche collapsed on top of La Plagne not Alpe D'Huez and I strongly feel he has never doped. He has expalined how his name has come up in the Italian doctor's files. His blood was taken and used for research purposes.
Its amazing how back then in the golden age of sport ('80s) when a rider finished a mountain stage he would just collapse on to the ground and have to sit there for a few mins to recover. These days they're just hopping off their bike and doing interviews hardly out of breath !

Show me a drug test that is 100% sure, a system that ensures that the labs do their work in a competent fashion and a trial system that starts with a presumption of innocence. If you can do that, then you may ban a rider for life.

mullb99 you fool roche won the three biggest races in the world that year look at that effort he put in up alp de huze pardon my spelling there he could not breathe un aided, hardly the the signs of some one supped up on drugs it was a marvelous feat after all that he was tested and never a hint that he done anything wrong he would have won another tour only for bad injuries, that year he was the best rider in the world so go eat your sour grapes you dipstick

life bans are the only way forward, its a shame because there will always be some who will be falsely convicted, similar to the problem with capital punishment but at this stage there is no other choice. a life ban will put off even the most adventurous rider, only the really stupid ones will take a chance to dope, and once cycling is cleared up it should be used as a role model to clear up many other sports which still have a vested interest in doping. i fear the spectator will have to get used to lesser performances but in the end it will be good for all sports. vamos sport without drugs.

mullb99 hear hear! I cried tears of joy en 1987 when Roche claimed the triple. Since then I have seen the sport I love torn to shreds by doping. Every good ride is now viewed with some suspicion. I almost feel ashamed telling people I love this sport. Cycling is trying harder than most sports to combat doping and it would help if former champions opened up on their careers. Carrera, Conconi, Grazzi, tell us what really happened, Stephen.

It's a bit rich for Roche to be saying this when he has been linked to doping himself through that Italian Doctor & then to discommunicate Paul Kimmage when he wrote an expose back in the late 80's . Get off your high horse Roche & do the honourable thing & admit that you doped , name the people who supplied you with the drugs & help clean up this race that we all love .