March 3, 2004
Hi,
As a competitive cyclist in Canada, I am in awe of Geneviève Jeanson's talent (see "Jeanson gets U.S. license"). The level of racing in Canada can't compare to U.S. or international racing. Yet Geneviève Jeanson is at the very top of the sport at the international level. Clearly she has the talent as well as the necessary ambition and support to compete at that level. Over the past several seasons she has provided inspiration to aspiring young cyclists in Canada.
It is rare for such a talent to emerge from the Canadian scene, and because of this I am quite unhappy with the way in which the governing bodies of Canadian cycling have been unable to support our country's top cyclist. I would like to think that the Canadian Cycling Association would want to take a little more interest in seeing Jeanson receive a Canadian racing license.
To shun such a talent due to bureaucratic wrangling seems to be typical in this country. I understand that the associations involved are merely following their established rules, but one would like to think that more effort would be put forth to help our top ambassador in cycling. In my opinion, it's only fair that Jeanson now holds a U.S. license. If the CCA can't support its best athletes then those athletes are totally justified in going elsewhere.
Jason Picard,
London Ontario
Dear VeloNews,
How long will it be before we see the New York Times headline :
USA Cycling joins the ranks of Major League Baseball.
What are we doing by helping athletes circumvent drug controls and giving out American international racing licenses to those unable to obtain licenses in their own country?!? While we're at it, USAC might as well license Monsieur Sassone. As a matter of fact, we could become the UCI drug-test-failing cyclist's exile.
USAC racing licenses are for American citizens, with dreams of representing the USA at the international level, meaning world championships and Olympics, etc. At least Guido Trenti, whose mother is American, has dual citizenship and chooses to race for USA (granted, making the Italian team is nearly impossible).
Again, I'm very disappointed with USA Cycling management. Geneviève Jeanson's choice to run away from her Canadian Cycling troubles instead of facing them head on doesn't look so good, either.
Billy Hatcher
Memphis, Tennessee
According to Canadian Cycling Association officials, Jeanson was encouraged to apply for a U.S. license by her own national federation. She remains a Canadian citizen, eligible only for Canadian Olympic and world championship teams. Meanwhile, by licensing in the U.S. she is now subject to unannounced drug tests conducted under the auspices of the United States Anti-doping Agency and is, in fact, more likely to be tested than she was before. - Editor
Editors,
Every time I think the governing body of cycling in the USA is in a sad state, I just need to look at Canada to realize how bad things can be.
Geneviève Jeanson is certainly one of the best cyclists, male or female, in the world right now. She is the current Canadian champion, regularly wins World Cup events, and ranks in the top-20 worldwide. However, the governing body in Canada doesn't even have the ability to issue her a license because of some obscure power struggle between the provincial and national bodies. How sad. Their lame excuse of the high hematocrit level at world's is just that, a ridiculous excuse; Geneviève has passed every single drug test she's ever been given.
On top of that, Geneviève isn't listed on the official Canadian Olympic team roster. How can any country that doesn't automatically send their current national champion to the Olympics be taken seriously ?
Paul Spencer
Boston, Massachusetts
Dear editors,
Okay, so Geneviève Jeanson tests high, refuses to give up medical records to the Canadian officials, and then gets a license from USA Cycling.
No matter what tap dancing USA Cycling tries to do on this one they are wrong. Period. This is a slap in the face for cycling in general. It does nothing to defend our sport from the beating it has taken in the press since the Festina episode. The women have had relatively few problems in this arena as compared to the men. This should be nipped in the bud. Also, it does nothing for Miss Jeanson but surround her with further controversy.
There are certainly acceptable reasons for a positive test, let her show an acceptable medical reason why her hematocrit was elevated. Are we really supposed to believe that they (USA Cycling) has some kind of "get tough" policy on doping, especially in an Olympic year when they allow the world's top female road cyclist what appears to be a free pass.
Until she releases her medical records this is just another black eye for USA Cycling.
Dave Tingley
Panama City Florida
VeloNews,
Geneviève Jeanson's successful application to get a U.S. license is typical of Canadian's bureaucracy and road blocks thrown at great people that push themselves to their limits to get where they want to go.
Why can't they support and work with one of their elite athletes? That beats me. But now she has far much better opportunities in the U.S. to go on and reach her goals. That's why, as a Canadian, I, too, have been living in the U.S. for many years.
Jean Gareau
San Diego, California
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