Shane Sutton says Sir Bradley Wiggins' use of TUEs was legitimate way of finding marginal gains

Whilst it is probably true that you cant win in cycling without cheating, that does not make it OK to cheat. Listening to BW explain that the difference between him and Millar was that BW took the drugs therapuetically made me wince.  Of course they had the same performance enhancing effects whatever the  claimed reason for taking them.

   I thought the programme was a bit of a non event. One or two riders didn't like the attitude of the coach. They were the only ones interviewed which seemed pretty biased.

 At least Sutton was honest in saying that you'd use a TUE to gain an advantage. But we knew that already didn't we !

Strange how that the BBC programme didn't include any interviews from riders with a positive view. Oh hold on its the BBC, very unbalanced and one sided.

Ok I don't think things were perfect, but no interviews with Hoy, Kenny, or any of the Sky riders?

Is that publicity shot supposed to show his warmer side? Think it's time for a new one.

I thought Brailsford was always quite open about doing anything and everything to win so long as it is within the rules . Not sure why people are so surprised. I don't think putting success before health is right but really a system that encourages teams to do this while following the rules clearly has bad rules and needs fixing. I see the UCI doctors signing off these TUIs as just as culpable as anyone else.

Sutton is a thin skinned wee man with a chip on his shoulder, he will say anything to be controversial.

I dont doubt this is true, but no one speaks of it, he is only speaking out because his failure to control one side of his personality lead to his demise.

If you have a doctor who is expert on the side effects of commonly prescribed medicines, a lawyer who has scrutinised the rules and the procedures, a manager who ruthlessly seeks victory and an athlete who has been convinced that it is within the rules to "level the playing field", you get Team Sky. If that doctor is then conveniently (or intentionally) incompetent in his record keeping you lessen the chance of getting found out about the true usage of the medicine. Those at Sky are content and sure that there has been no cheating. Their actions don't breach any rules. Is it morally correct? To most honest people, I doubt it. To people who want to win and not be accused of breaking the rules - you decide. The whole clean facade was just that , a front;  we don't use performance enhancing drugs but if there is a convenient side effect to a prescription drug we will use that following the guidelines. 

I think Millar falls into the 'caught cheating and never cheats again because they know that's the end of their career if caught again' category. 

Became an angel as otherwise he'd burn in hell. 

As for the EPO and whatever has come before, don't think of athletes as people just machines. They probably think that way, 5 years off your life for glory. I bet most would take it, they're already living something a lot different to what we do for life. 

You're assuming that someone lied and a doctor went against their oath, I assume you have proof?

Marginal gains goes everywhere. Into the kit, rider preparation and the rule book. You can be certain the Sky have not broken any rules, their lawyers and physicians are certain of that. Are they morally correct? Doesn't matter, they've not committed any transgressions so it's OK (according to them) Have they played within the rules? Yes. Did the rules permit that opportunity? Yes. 

On the one hand, bitterly dissapointing that Sky was never the clean the team many of us hoped for (and British to boot). On the other hand, there's a certain relief and restoration to the world's natural sense of order when we  hear the Dark Star was a relevant comparison after all and Rupert Murdoch is indeed Emperor Palaptine 

Cheating bunch of bastards!

At leat the likes of Pantani did it with panache rather than the boring Sky tactics. 

Nothing to admire about the Brailsford ‘Death Star’

amazing how many riders are 'asthmatic'....

Dear David

Fuck.off.

SKY...we’re 100% clean ... hmmm, well, we are not technically breaking the rules, and we don’t keep records, so that makes us innocent 

Bob, why are people who have acted as far as anyone can ascertain within the rules labelled as "disgraced" yet an athlete that blatantly cheated (regardless of remorse shown) seen as a guiding light?

Is it wrong to suggest this is hypocrisy?!

Getting bored of Shane now. Made into a scapegoat and now bitter about it.

I don't think Hitler was a big man either... what a bunch of bollocks Sutton comes out with...  

EPO wasn't illegal so therefore it was Ok to use up to the point is was illegal? That's the logical end point of Suttons argument. The reason this is so shit coming from Sky is that we thought they were about promoting the rider's health as number one priority not 'maximising to the limit of the rules'. Maximising to the limit of the rules is what tax professionals so for Amazon, Apple and, I suspect, Sky itself. There is a moral point here which Millar is making; he of all people should know the difference between maximising health and maximising performance and he's called it here - good job.

Disingenuous comments above: Don't let your passion blind you. I think you chaps are more aware of Millar's history, humility and subsequent consistent stance than you're pretending.

If not, then properly  do some homework and stop bothering the rest of us with the schoolboy prattle.

And if you still can't join the dots; go along and have a baby. Sorry Shane.

Presumably then bullying,  sexism and prejudice were also Sutton's way of accruing marginal gains...

Ha ha haDavid Millar ha ha ha