Bradley Wiggins mulls releasing blood data to bolster clean-racing argument

LE CAP D’AGDE, France (VN) — Bradley Wiggins said he’s considering releasing his blood data in order to check skepticism surrounding his performance at this year’s Tour de France.

Wiggins infamously blasted skeptics last week when he was asked if a Tour de France winner had to be “doped to the gills.” He said cynics only questioned athletes due to their own “bone idleness” and shoveled in a couple of profanities for good measure.

Since then, Wiggins has charted a different course in the doping discussion. Many thought he missed an opportunity to have an honest conversation about the elephant in pelotons past but instead dirtied the window with cursing and brevity. Riders, meanwhile, responded favorably.

Wiggins has since penned a piece in the Guardian, in which he wrote “Doping would simply be not worth it. This is only sport we are talking about. Sport does not mean more to me than all those other things I have. Winning the Tour de France at any cost is not worth the possibility of losing all that.”

On Saturday after stage 13, Wiggins said he was considering releasing his blood data for viewing, but also noted the move could generate additional skepticism at the same time.

“I always thought about it,” Wiggins said. “I did it in 2009, and people said I was doped, certain people. So I think whatever you do with the [biological] passport thing, I think it’s a no-win situation.”

Doctors, he said, have told him the program doesn’t give a “clear-cut doping-or-not-doping result,” making the Briton uneasy.

“There’s so many variables in it. So if I was to do that, certain people would scrutinize that, and say, well, ‘it’s too stable,’ or, ‘it’s too up and down.’ Or, ‘it’s too this’ or ‘it’s too that.’”

“It’s something I’m looking into doing. I’ve been advised against it. Strongly advised against it. But it’s something I would like to do, because I’ve got nothing to hide, so I don’t see why it shouldn’t be out there,” Wiggins said.

Wiggins has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, but is taking his lumps from a media that’s been jaded by multiple revisions in race standings for years.

“Sometimes, I feel like, for certain people, whatever you do will never be enough. Unless they came and lived with me for 12 months, which I’m not prepared to do,” Wiggins said.

“I guess, the test of time is more important really, and the continuation of the job the UCI are doing. A fantastic job as well. I’ve lost count how many times I’ve been tested this week. Blood and urine. And I guess the more we do with that, the better our sport is becoming.”