Tyler’s Anti-Doping Case
September 2004 - September 2006
On September 16, 2004 Tyler’s life and career changed forever when he was informed he would be charged with an anti-doping violation; the use of homologous blood transfusing. Authorities alleged he used blood from another person to gain a competitive advantage. Tyler spent many hundreds of thousands of dollars and 16 months vehemently fighting this charge.
Some of the world’s most respected scientists from Harvard Medical School, MIT, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Institute and the Puget Sound Blood Bank (to name only a few) testified the test was under researched, the results were unreliable and the allegation of transfusing one unit of someone else’s blood in late May of 2004 would have had absolutely no bearing on his performances in April, May, the Tour de France, Olympic Games or the Vuelta. DNA testing done on leftover blood from the samples used to charge Tyler rendered only one strand of DNA. Still, Tyler was still found guilty of having two types of blood in his system in 2004 by the anti doping arbitration process. As a result he was stripped of his Vuelta Espana stage victory and suspended from competition for two years.
Tyler’s only consolation after all was said and done, was that he fought the charge against him with every bit of grit and determination he used when racing his bike. The lesson being – sometimes you give your all, but that doesn’t always mean you will always win. He had hoped by fighting his case he would shed light on some of the poor standards applied throughout the anti doping process and the lack of transparency that exists in the “closed loop” process of adjudication. It would seem unlikely that any other entity would allow the same agency to fund research for a test, develop a test, approve a test, regulate the application of the test, apply the test and adjudicate the test’s results – without independent scrutiny or input. Since Tyler’s arbitration, other anti doping cases have also shed light on these issues. It is Tyler’s hope the more people learn about this process the more they will demand a better system. He realizes he was one of the first to fight the system so publicly and so vehemently. He can only hope that effort started a tremor of change for the better.
During his case and after, Tyler was told by one journalist after the next that no one cared about the evidence from his side of the case. They lamented the details were too complicated to share with “average readers”. So try as he might, Tyler never felt he was able to share what really happened to him and what the experience was like.
At this point, he has chalked the experience up as a difficult personal journey. He has chosen to leave this painful period behind him and focus on the future – He is returning to the basics; riding for enjoyment. He continues to share his passion for cycling with others, helping folks empower themselves through their own accomplishments on the bike.
Afterall, it was cycling and the MS community who helped Tyler endure such a difficult period in his life. By riding alongside so many who faced enormous health challenges every day, Tyler learned his battle was small by comparison. Their gift of perspective and their examples of such overwhelming strength proved to be the perfect combination to inspire and see him through the darkest period of his life. Tyler will always be grateful for the exchange of support and friendship he shares with this community of true champions.
Allegations pertaining to Operation Puerto have been in the hands of authorities for more than 18 months and have never been shared, acknowledged or dismissed as far as Tyler knows.