It amazes me how the media are feigning shock and horror this morning as news breaks of the latest doping saga to hit the Tour De France. This time around the race leader Michael Rasmussen had to pull out after his team, Rabobank, suspected he lied to them on his whereabouts earlier this year when he missed doping tests.

The brouhaha is apparently because this is the first time that the wearer of the esteemed yellow jersey has been sacked by his team for alleged doping offences.

I will say this once (and am well aware that there may be some cycling die-hards out there somewhere who cling to the delusion that the sport will somehow climb out of the gutter): NOBODY WITH HALF A BRAIN WILL EVER TAKE CYCLING SERIOUSLY EVER AGAIN!

The Tour de France is a joke. I would rather stick hot needles in my eyes than take cycling for anything more than an opportunity to see what the wonders of modern doping can do...

Having spent the best part of my life playing sport, watching sport and writing about sport, I am angered at all the lost years spent watching cycling. Who knows what was coursing through the veins of all those successful competitors over the years, before doping controls became more advanced?

I have a proposition though: why doesn't the Tour de France abandon ALL doping regulations. They could allow ANY drugs to be taken. That would make the race really exciting... Sure, some cyclists may drop dead along the way, but hey, at least we will not have to act surprised anymore...