UPDATED: Cyclist Kenny Williams did test positive for DHEA

Earlier this month, US masters cyclist Kenny Williams admitted to testing positive for DHEA...a la Tyler Hamilton (offering a public apology, even, just like Hamilton...that must be mandatory with a DHEA positive?). This is old news, but got so little coverage in the mainstream anti-doping blogosphere (lol) that it is worth republishing here. Below is Kenny's letter:

To my friends, clients, competitors and USA Cycling officials,
     My name is Kenny Williams [Editor's note: "And I am a Drug Cheat"] and I’ve been racing my bike for 20 years. In June 2009 I broke and had surgery on my left collarbone. In my haste to return to the top of my game I purchased DHEA at the local Drug Store, without consulting anyone. 6 weeks later at Masters Track Nationals in Colorado Springs I was tested positive for this illegal drug. I do not deny the results of the test.
     I am ashamed that I’ve done something that hurts the sport of cycling and the community of people who have become the most important part of my life. I’m facing the very real possibility that I can try for the rest of my life to regain the confidence of the cycling community and my friends, but this cloud will be with me for the rest of my life. I am not asking for forgiveness, because I am admitting to my mistake and own all the horrible feelings that come with my bad decision. I am hoping for compassion and understanding. Compassion that I never intended to hurt anyone and understanding that if I could have one re-do in my life that this would be it. As I have done throughout my whole athletic life I will fight to re-gain my reputation as a fair man, tough competitor and drug-free cyclist. You can trust me when I say that I will never take a short-cut like this ever again.
     Bike racing is one of the most important things in my life, second to my wife, whom I owe the biggest apology to for being so irresponsible. I am sorry Annette. I also feel horrible about the results I took away from the other athletes that I raced against. I am very sorry to have disappointed all of them. To my sponsors and my clients, I am sorry. To all in the cycling community and my friends, I am sorry. Sincerely, Kenny Williams"

Readers, is it any surprise that doping takes place at Masters Nationals? And if Kenny only was caught because he used DHEA, which he knew to be banned, what else might he have been taking, for which he escaped detection? And should masters, who don't even have the pros' economic incentive to dope, face more severe bans (like four years)? After all, they're virtual hobbyists and yet they tarnish the sport just as profoundly as people like Hamilton, Landis, or me. But without being able to claim that they needed to do so in order to avoid the dole. Regardless, there is at least one sanctimonious master who races out of SoCal but is from "The East" who I'm sure will endeavor to devise a way to deny the fact that his fellow "competitors" can be just as juiced as the pro's, in some cases.

Anyway, see you in two years, Kenny! Way to go, USADA! I'm sure that during the next nine months there will be other masters racers turning up in the forums to offer their apologies for doping. I'd like to invite them to post here, too!

Cyclingnews.com Clinic discussion of Kenny Williams' positive test, here.

UPDATE: It's official. "Williams handed two-year ban by USADA."

UPDATED: Looking for the Kenny Williams Doping Post, with Comments?

Are you looking for the Kenny Williams Doping Post, with Comments? I'm not going to make it a "sticky" yet, not unless Kenny himself wants to drop by and respond, but until then, just click here.

Some folks aren't waiting for Kenny to pop his head up again, like the blogger who wrote a letter TO Kenny Williams, opening with:

"Dear Kenny Williams, If you’re reading this, which I hope you are, I wanted to let you know that you are unequivocally the biggest bag of douche I have ever heard of. You have stooped to a all-time rock bottom low; you haved doped to compete not only in amateur cycling, but in masters racing. You have knowingly taken a banned performance enhancing supplement in order to best the likes of weekend warriors, guys who have full time jobs, who have mortgages and families. You’re a scumbag..."