Each team should be required to put up a huge deposit which would be forfeited in the event of any of its riders testing positive. And then test every cyclist every day, rigorously. So what if that takes a lot of effort and money? The entire thing turns on money, so that's the way to deal with it.

Hans Wellisch, new york, ny

I agree with the argument for a less demanding route to pemit riders to cope naturally. But the wailing and gnashing of teeth is overdone here: the tour will never die for its one of the world's greatest human events. If this is the pain that it has to go through after decades of the powers that be turning a blind eye then so be it.

N Magowna, London,

I can't wait to read all the fall out from Operation Puerto as it exposes systematic doping in tennis, football and many other sports, but somehow I think I'll be waiting a long time.

Cycling and Le Tour are more than this, they should be applauded for a rigourous testing programme that roots out the cheaters and names them.

I can't imagine the same happening for major league stars in other sports, where sticking your head in the sand seems to be the main approach.

MGB, Carmarthen, Wales

When what is left of the riders arrive in Paris they will be the cleanest and most tested in tour history. The future of the tour needed this mess. Well done to the organisers for cleaning up the race so effectively. The winner will be a clean rider.

Simon DP, london,

The commentator clearly isn't a true cycling enthusiast, nor does he follow the sport closely enough to justify the ink he was alloted for this tripe. The fact is that doping exists in every sport (even golf!) and that no sport is working harder to eradicate it and throw out cheaters than pro cycling. They're not sweeping anything under the carpet, or waiting until the off-season to clean house quietly, they're doing it in broad daylight and the glaring eyes of the world press. Instead of condeming everyone in the peloton for doping (which is just plain false), why not focus on the positive news: testing is getting better, more frauds are being found out, and this Tour, which has had its slowest pace in years, is one of the cleanest in a long time. Yes, there is work to be done to continue to clean up this beautiful sport, and they're doing it. The same cannot be said of be said of most other mainstream sports.

Leslie, Richmond,

The race should continue with everyone's head held high. Rasmussen has not been ejected for a positive test response but for arrogance in thinking he could ignore the Danish authorities, so I see no reason why his team mates should be withdrawn, they've done nothing wrong.

I agree with all those that have said that other sports should be as rigorous in their fight against doping, to know that sport is clean may cause young people to think twice about experimenting with drugs. Rather than denigrating Le Tour and cycling Mr Whittle should be thanking the officials concerned for their diligence.

J Richards, Southend,

The doping scandals of this Tour are in fact a tribute both to the determination of the Tour management to eliminate cheats from their sport and to the tremendous progress that has been made in the field of drug detection.
In effect they are a victim of their own success. Few other sports are so rigorous in their pursuit of dopers and I really feel that we could actually be seeing the death throes of the cheating fraternity.
The cheats should certainly not be allowed to end the Tour.
If the cycling authorities were now to introduce life bans for cyclists who use drugs and also punitive sanctions against those who supply them this could well eliminate the problem within a few years.
I have a lot of sympathy for Michael Rasmussen as he has not tested positive at any stage in any race and his 'offence' is really just a technical one, nowhere near as serious as those thrown out for doping.
Unless any more incriminating facts come to light I believe he has been badly treated all round.

paul burgon, eastleigh, uk

This article ignores that the organisers of cycling are trying hard to rid their sport from the illegal abuse of medical procedures. The Tour de France is the best known cycling race in the world, but where in his article does Mr Whittle attack the Vuelta, which was rocked by a drug scandalin 2005. His claims about people clamouring for the Tour to be stopped and his idea that the French are losing interest in the race are unsupported judging by the cheering hordes lining the roads of today's stage. Have we in Britain lost interest in Tennis because Fred Perry was our last male Wimbledon singles champion in the 1930's?. Cycling will survive these 'scandals', just as athletics has survived. Nobody was calling for the Olympics to be cancelled when Ben Johnson was disqualified in Seoul.
The one thing I would like to see is the end of the legal wrangling regarding the 2006 race. Landis tested positive and Oscar Pereiro Sio should be awarded the Malliot Jaune.

A. Morton, Cardiff, Wales

Legalize Doping ? That's the stupidest thing I have ever heard... Remember the 200lb. Russian "Women" swimmers of the 1970's ?

Should I just start my 10 year old son on steroids now so he can get huge for college ? Yea, that's the answer Texas…

Use science to keep the sport clean and get the race authorities to stop the witch hunts and just test everyone and keep up the ZERO tolerance for any infractions. Don't like it? fine, don't race.

Bike racing is one of the greatest sports in the world and it's for REAL athletes, not doped up wannabees.

Pablo Z., Albuquerque, USA / NM

It would be foolish to think that cycling is the only sport that is riddled with drugs and cheats. Similar practices are prevalent I'm sure in sports such as football and rugby but perhaps the economic interests of the various stakeholders involved mean that a blind eye is turned.

Sean O'Maille, Dublin, Ireland

My bet is that Rasmussen was guilty of doping, and his team feared it would become evident after the mandatory testing after his recent stage win. Pull him out and save face perhaps?

Paula, francestown, USA

Cyclists are the most tested sportsman and so may it spread and continue across all sports. The cheats are only cheating themselves. The penalties should be made stronger and criminal charges should be brought against people. In addition this concept of a "B" sample should be tested immediately at point of taking samples. This would rule out any issues with the process and issue around transporting blood around which cheats have used as loopholes to get off before. Drug testing for Rugby and Football players is not so prominent but nobody seems to highlight that at all. Rasmussen was never selected as team lead for Rabobank he continues to only performs in the tour which is raises further questions on his recent behaviour. Good sportmen can perform at multiple times during a season!!!..However the articles like the one above are poorly written and the sentiment misplaced! The tour and these great feats of climbing and endurance must continue! Hats off to the clean riders!

Jon O'Mahony, Bath, UK

The solution is simple. Have two classes, modified and super modified, If they're all doped-up, they run in super modified. This way, they're all equal and you have a great race and eliminate the hypocracy.

Michael Henderson, Dallas, Texas

Why single out cycling?

The reason so many cheats are discovered on Le Tour is that the checks are quite efficient and the will is there, although somewhat belatedly is has to be said. But other sports, especially those team events where excessive body-mass is seen as desireable, don't have such scandals merely because they have poor systems for checking. Nor is there the desire.

What responsible parent would encourage a child to take up professional sport? Injury used to be the fear but now it's the damage that doping can cause. The pressure on a youngster wanting to succeed in their chosen sport is phenominal. They sit in a changing room next to someone on steroids and are then relegated to the bench. The cynical might say that natural talent is secondary to the willingness to put health at risk by taking drugs given by coaches with short term targets.

Derek Smith, Brighton, UK

In response to the commentary above, the race committee did not have to take action. The dishonest claim that he was in Mexico, (whilst he was in Italy) is what catapulted his exit.

The Tour has now become a sort "Ibiza" for cyclists. It turn's out that these "sportsmen" are just garden variety City couriers, but who have imbibed in enhancements - or geared-up.

Dunson Kamau, Kiambu, Kenya

It seems almost to me that the French are resentful which makes the "code of ethics" and the "doping" scandals more of a manhunt. I think there is a point for testing, but if Rasmussen did not actually test positive during the race then it is irrelevent if he missed a test outside the race. Why would any spectator care what happens before or after the race. It is 3 weeks long. Just test them during the race. And how about a swift and speedy trial. It seems like all the officials do is accuse and then the athlete is immediately presumed guilty. Where is the fairness or legality of that? I think they should have to have done 2 tests prior to making any accusations public. In addition the athlete should have the chance to continue the tour in case they were proven innocent. I bet the long history of the le Man and others if we did the testing then that we do now would also have been tainted. Certainly I am upset that Rabbobank fired Rasmussen for something unrelated to the Tour

Sarah Oliver, Breckenridge, CO , USA

Give me a break,
What needs to be done is Legalize Doping. Bring it out in the open, and it can be introduced and tested like bicycle technology. This will make it safer and I'm sure the riders would agree to it since EVERYONE DOPES NOW ANYWAY. It isn't cheating because everyone has the same science, just like nobody gets and advantage from having a 15lb carbon fiber bike. These guys are just doing what they have to to compete. Doping dosn't make cycling easier, or their efforts "fradulent", they just go 2% faster. If it were that dangerous, wouldn't all pro cyclists be dropping dead by now since EPO has been around for over fifteen years?

Luke, Flower Mound, Tx

Rarely have I read such utter rot.
Le Tour will survive anything the dopers can throw at it.

Dave Middleton, Storton, UK

Get over it. There are cheaters and they are being caught. With this level of testing and enforcement, getting rid of all the cheaters is only a matter of time. Unlike virtually every other sport, cycling has stepped up to root out cheaters instead of turning a blind eye.

You seem to relish in your dour summary of this years tour, painting it as a giant black mark in sport. Articles like this just reinforce the decision all other sports have made regarding doping; that is, ignore it.

Why not write a column saying "The Tour steps up" showing how it gets rid of cheaters and cheers those clean riders that are participating in a very exciting race. How about a column asking why other sports don't take doping as seriously?

Chris, BC, Canada

What the hell, Astana weren't a wild card team, they hold a protour license, Agritubel and Barloworld were wild cards.

Orry, Coventry,

If Whittle was aware of the sport's dirty past for so long, why does he report and follow the sport? Seems strange to me.
What it does do is show that the nettle has been grasped and there's now no hiding place.

It's also a contradiction in terms that the race should be cancelled because then you are recognising the cheats can stop the race, but prevent the clean riders from winning. So, what's it to be? Why should they be penalised?

So, I agree with Abi Martin that the events of this Tour, far from being the dystopian 'World of Whittle' is in fact good news in the longterm, but then good news don't sell newspapers!

k blackwell, Dystopia,

All very poetically put by the Times' reporter, but the fact remains that the Tour leader has been banished without having failed a single doping test, in this or any other event. Ever. Would this have happened if his name were Michel D'Rasmusien?

T. Kehler, Vancouver, Canada

As a passionate amateur cyclist and committed Tour de France fan I am disappointed, in fact disgusted, at the recent imbroglio. However, it would be a mistake to stop this year's Tour and to diminish the it as the premiere world cycling--indeed endurance sports--event.

The Tour organizers, sponsors and managers, the vast majority of the riders and the complete fan base are now fully determined to reform not only the Tour but the sport of cycling. Given the longstanding tolerance for and deep seated culture of drugs in professional cycling it would be naive to think this process can be accomplished in only year or two.

For the love of the sport and out of respect to the majority of honest competitors the fans and media need to stay loyal to it and the Tour and reinforce the reform process by applauding those that are championing it, including the riders and teams. The question is not should the Tour be canceled but do other international sports have the courage to follow its lead.

Doug Hull, Ottawa, Canada

The author of this column needs to prove that the bulk of riders are cheating. He has not done this. Is Cadel Evans a cheat . . . Contador . . . Soler and so on through the ranks of all the riders? Regarding wildcards: no mention here of Barloworld. Why not? Instead we see yet again those 'crapulous eructations' that typify contemporary journalism, sports or anything else.

C. Paul Barreira, Crafers, Australia

It is disappointing that it was not the race committe that took action concerning Rasmussen, but rather his own team. The race committee stands condemned by their lack of action.
I sit up late into the early morning at Manly Australia to watch the event and feel cheated.

John O'Connor, Manly, Australia

Beautifully written and yeah - OK - up to a point.
True, le Tour is a giant commercial bandwagon rolling sans brakes down a giant hill. True, it is unlikely the tour has ever been truly clean, but come on! These last three days have seen labs catch up with blood doping, a testosterone patch (or similar) and reveal an out of competition testing 'administrative mistake' to be a web of evasion. True that's bad. But it has all happened within the tour and been dealt with by draconian methods within the race. Caught, convicted, punished in such a short time. That's a feat and it means business. No embarrassing pauses after a coronation, no grumbling rumours, no hiding.
By Paris, if the race gets to Paris, it won't be a coronation procession with an ethical worry, it will be a dog fight between 5 riders and 4 teams. Looking ahead - Next year may lack the kinda fake feeling drama of previous years, but it will be full(er) of clean young riders and contrite old hands ready to play fair.

abi martin, London,