Doping cases in cycling often seem so far away. Dope is in Europe and off in that world of professional bike racing us weekend warriors just dream about, as we line up for an office park crit. In the media, Joe Parkin covered dope in his book about racing in the 70s and the notorious doper L’enfant terrible recently died.
Rumors surround the stars, of course, and Tyler never proved his unborn twin theory or Landis that it was the Jack Daniels. It seems drugs permeates our sport, but usually once removed from guys we just read about online. Most of my heros are dopers. I wrote in 06, “I don’t believe anyone. I just believe in the bike.”
Yesterday a local Seattle pro wrote an apology and confession to the WSBA list serve. I’m posting it here not with some insight into why Kenny Williams doped or judging him, but with some surprise that even the local pros dope.
Of the 20 years Kenny has raced, I’ve known him for about 15. We’re not team mates or even bros, we’ve just seen each other on the weekends year after year. For those that follow us on Twitter, I tweeted when he set a new world record at Track nationals.
DHEA
To my friends, clients, competitors and USA Cycling officials,
My name is Kenny Williams and I’ve been racing my bike for 20 years. In June 2009 I broke and had surgery on my left collarbone. In my haste to return to the top of my game I purchased DHEA at the local Drug Store, without consulting anyone. 6 weeks later at Masters Track Nationals in Colorado Springs I was tested positive for this illegal drug. I do not deny the results of the test.
I am ashamed that I’ve done something that hurts the sport of cycling and the community of people who have become the most important part of my life. I’m facing the very real possibility that I can try for the rest of my life to regain the confidence of the cycling community and my friends, but this cloud will be with me for the rest of my life. I am not asking for forgiveness, because I am admitting to my mistake and own all the horrible feelings that come with my bad decision. I am hoping for compassion and understanding. Compassion that I never intended to hurt anyone and understanding that if I could have one re-do in my life that this would be it. As I have done throughout my whole athletic life I will fight to re-gain my reputation as a fair man, tough competitor and drug-free cyclist. You can trust me when I say that I will never take a short-cut like this ever again.
Bike racing is one of the most important things in my life, second to my wife, whom I owe the biggest apology to for being so irresponsible. I am sorry Annette. I also feel horrible about the results I took away from the other athletes that I raced against. I am very sorry to have disappointed all of them. To my sponsors and my clients, I am sorry. To all in the cycling community and my friends, I am sorry.
Sincerely, Kenny Williams
I haven’t read a public apology about doping before. FixedGearFever also posted his apology.
Readers? Doping at Masters Nationals surprising to you? Happy that your placing at Seward park gets bumped up now that Kenny is out?
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