Sour Vino

Eerie silence descended upon the crowd on the Mall yesterday as it dawned upon them that home favourite, Mark Cavendish, would not be able to deliver the cherished first home gold, and perhaps worse, that Alexander Vinokourov of Kazakhstan was instead going to be on top of the podium. Vinokourov was banned for 2 years in 2007 for failing a drug test (blood doping) taken during the Tour de France. He was, of course, perfectly entitled to participate in these Games, having served his ban some time ago in much the same way that Team GB's David Millar was eligible. I have written elsewhere of my support for Millar http://gibbsbarrister.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/out-of-darkness-there-is-light.html and his journey towards redemption through admission of past crimes and his embracing of the anti doping culture. Had Team GB have triumphed through Cav, I would have been more than happy to salute the role of Millar. Drug bans should be proportionate and equal throughout the world. I am not against longer bans - 4 years would be more appropriate to me thereby guaranteeing the missing of at least one Olympic Games - but sanctions must be universal. WADA has thus far been unable to achieve consensus amongst signatory nations for stiffer penalties, although watch this space.
However the Gold for Vinokourov is quite hard to swallow - an emotional and moral reaction - rather than a legalistic one. Vinokourov has shown not the least repentance since being caught. He won the 2007 TdF time trial, but failed a test the next day. He was targeted by testers because he was closely linked with drug tainted Italian doctor Michele Ferrari. The outcome was no great surprise. Unfortunately in spite of numerous declarations of retirement the Kazakhstani rider returned aged 38 for one last swansong at these Olympics
 The crowd's understandable reaction meant that the early Olympic euphoria was dampened considerably.
On a brighter note, the glorious unified, but ultimately unsuccessful efforts of Team GB in support of Cavendish gladdened the heart.

Team GB Heroes