I have lost all respect for bicycle racing-assumung I ever had any.

I guess I should start by saying I actually have a new best friend this summer, and it’s name is The New York Times website. Just when work begins to get dull, which is about every 15 minutes, I hop online to see the latest sports headlines.

Much to my chagrin, I am staring at yet another headline about a cyclist getting caught doping: “French police detained Spanish cyclist Moises Duenas Nevado after he tested positive for the banned blood-booster EPO following the fourth stage of the Tour de France.”

I know, it’s not the only sport where this kind of thing happens. These days, cheating is to be expected in every sport (I’m just waiting for the onslaught of media articles before and after the Olympics about how athletes can’t compete or are stripped of their medal).

But since it happens so often in the cycling realm, that tells me one of two things about riders: they are either more psychotic about winning than other athletes, or they’re really bad at cheating. I’m leaning towards the latter.

It’s not enough to just complain about an issue without presenting some kind of pausible solution, but in this case, the solution is all-too-simple: Don’t take illegal substances!

Cycling, especially at 100+ miles per day like the Tour de France requires, is one of the most grueling sports on the body, which may be one reason why riders think they need the extra (illegal) help. However, the fact that it is so difficult makes it that much more disappointing to find out you’ve been disqualified.

Luckily, it’s only cycling. Can you imagine the uproar if something like this were to happen with Michael Phelps? When it comes to somethone who’s actually important, then it’s all-of-a-sudden a huge deal.

At this point, I recognize that cheating in sports is going to happen, and I’m OK with that. I’m just sick reading about it in the news.

Daniel Hunninghake is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences