Jason Sager is perhaps best known for a positive pee test for not showing up to a pee test to pee.  Over here at TheBikeGame dot Com we are pretty much sick of doping stories and dopers.  BUT there seemed to be something a bit funny about this whole thing so we caught up with JSager and got his words which form his side of the story.  Here it is.....you decide.

Jason, thanks for chatting with us!

Oh no, you are one of those vegan bikers huh? What the crap?!  Meat allergy?
 Back in 1992 I had this thing for the McRib. I probably crammed 15 years of meat eating into one weekend that summer. They're still holding me over.

 
But you are at least pro-beer, right?
Heck yes, even Utah's 3.2% special.


So seriously man, are you a doper?  Yeah of course you are going to say no, but why would anyone believe you?  You skipped out on a dope test.  What is the story?  As a pro biker don't you know you likely might have to pee in a cup...and not just for fun?
Those guys/girls are always bringing me cups to fill and I have to say my aim is getting pretty good. The problem with the Deer Valley race they wanted me to fill a cup, but didn't tell me, and didn't put a sign up. Even if I'd carried a cup of urine in my pocket all day, no one was there to take it. 

 
So you are a non-doper?  What do you say to the folks that say "Well, he might have been positive and just skipped out on the test thinking it better to have a no show than a positive"?
First off, if you think there's doping in the current NORBA system, you're crazy. Second of all, I'm on the Out of Competition testing program. I was racing in my home town when I missed the test at Deer Valley, which was one of the things that blew me away about the testing officials - my cell phone and my back up contact were at the race, but no one called me. They didn't even call me on the PA system. The OOC testers did come to the house 2 days later, however. The short of the story is I didn't know I was on the medical control list, and USADA didn't attempt to catch/contact me in anyway. Out of 4 guys scheduled for randoms, they only tested one, and that's because they followed protocol with that guy and physically met him at the finish line.


What are you going to do about this doping cloud/label?
Have I been labeled a doper? One of my sponsors and an organization I support is Organicathlete.org.  Are P.E.D's organic/free range?
 
I think the label I'm more worried about is being an idiot for missing a secret test. The gaming officials have tested me 8 times this year, and like Lance always said "I've never failed a test"...at least none that I showed up for, and I technically didn't fail that one, either.

 
Using Lance quotes may or may not be to your advantage.  There are plenty of skeptics.  But in your case you missed the test, informed or not.  Seems there was kinda a problem with that last year. 
Damn straight. Would you keep your job if you had a 75% failure rate at doing it? That's where USADA was at Deer Valley. And Brian Head, UT, and Snowmass, CO.




Are you going to fight this?
I did, with two attorneys. You can fight, but you can't win. The System's rules are written by The System, governed by The System, judged against itself by System appointed and approved members, and the sanctions are handed out by The System, which also is The System that also wrote them.

Let's start with the Lance quote. You can't have your cake and it, too, in this case. Meaning - a thousand negative tests "proving" you're clean seem to be met with disbelief. We're still skeptical, no?

Yet, the same test, who's negative result we disparage and doubt, is the law and final word should it say "positive". Explain that to me? I've taken those tests  dozens of times. And, yes, they've always been returned negative. I have a USADA scrapbook of my results, for the memories, you know?

 
How has this accusation affected your life?
There wasn't an accusation. Just a sentencing for "failure to appear, with "no substantial fault".
By this point I'm far more infamous for what I've done off the bike than on the bike. Focus on your strengths, I say. Its actually a very effect platform for change. My mountain bike team is returning for its 3rd year and it continues to grow in terms of number of riders and the strength of our sponsorships.

 
Who is the best looking female out there on the NORBA Circuit?
Todd Wells has the best chick legs on the circuit, by far. You have to be really careful in photos when you see them. Christian Leask has fallen for that trick several times.

 
Did you lose your sponsors as a result of this "scandal"?
Did Paris Hilton skip a beat during her sex scandals? This stuff is part of my overall career strategy. Hugh Grant started getting great scripts like Bridget Jones' Diary after his scandal a few years ago. This could be the key to really breaking through to the upper echelon of pro mountain biker salaries.

 
Well, sad to say, but you may have a point there.  Seems there are quite a few convicted bikers out there getting good jobs and salaries. 
Honestly I think my case, along with others like Bart Gillespie's Failure to Appear, will do more to polarize the need for clean racing, hopefully by making aware the need for USADA to better perform and execute their testing protocol, not to mention how they actually handle cases in their system. Bart's on the team for next year. Banned riders need to stick together. Basso, are you hearing me?



 
So you have some wrist bands huh?  Tell us a bit about those.
The timing of the USADA sanction really couldn't have been better, considering all of the bike gamers this winter will be in the gym working out and playing racket ball, etc. So we came up with the strategy of "FREE SAGER" 1980's style sweat bands...maybe they'll help people remember to look for the secret post race tests. Danielson said he'll wear 'em in the Giro, and half of the field at CX nats and next year's NORBA races will have them too. Its humbling.

 
Is there a link where folks can get those?
Surf over to jasonsager.com and I'll make sure anyone who wants a pair doesn't go without.

 
You have been bikin for a number of years.  Over those years J. Bishop has really risen his game.  Do people still call him "Bitch-op"?
JB always does his part in helping us add to his list of names. Currently Tyrone Lefort is my favorite.
 



Some of these mountain bike gamers, most notably R. Trebon, do some road bike games.  What about you? Do you go out there and do any road games?
Is he the most notable? What about Floyd? Trebon has no business road bike gaming. He's far too cocky and tall, besides, doesn't he remember Toona 2005? These mountain bikers trying to road game, they keep crashing! In Puerto Rico earlier in 2006, Wells and I were gaming on borrowed road bikes. I won, and Wells somehow managed to fold the frame and both wheels of the bike he was riding - his biggest fan's primary race bike. The guy who loaned him the bike would come over to our Puerto Rican condo and cry at least  3 or 4 times a week over the bike Wells destroyed. He told us he used to sleep with the bike. At least now it would fit in his bed more easily.


There is a rumor out there on the inter-web that you used to spend some time in Athens, GA. Is this true?
 I'm a dirty southerner, yes, and back in the days of Micah Rice racing mountain bikes, we're talking late 90's here, Athens couch surfer Eric Murphy and I made plans to move to Athens, knowing it was going to be the next big thing. That didn't work out, and now look at Athens.

 
Yeah there are more pseudo pros in Athens than anywhere else in the world.  We hear Winston Salem is the real new hot spot for bikin.  Heard any word on that?
Did Saunders import them? Everything I've heard about North Carolina was something along the lines of "yeah, its great, but you're still in North Carolina."


Did you know that Micah Rice is a Pro Level Dungeons and Dragons gamer?
I didn't, but he looks like one.

 
Has Stolen Underground come after you....ya know since they are anti-doping and all?
The crazies start coming out of the woodwork, for sure. I just hope the SU doesn't get any of my sweat bands, they'd clash with his upside down "13".

 
Crazy or not, do you agree with the stance or mission of sites like SU and Race Clean dot Org?
Their mission? Yes, of course, but I often find their tactics disagreeable and would prefer more constructive methods towards unifying the anti-doping movement. What I want to accomplish by publicising my case and its sanction is the problem with the lack of accountability on USADA's part and their inability to adjust sanctions based on circumstances relative to the wide range of testing procedure inadequacies that you find at some events.

(the LA Times has a fantastic article about USADA and its problems here
: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-sp-doping10dec10,0,3464145.story?coll=la-headlines-california)

 
Are you currently practicing?
Yes. I've found different games to game. Utah CX and XC/MTB games are USADA free, as are many of the endurance bike games like TransRockies and The Seven multi day games, so its not too bad. The USADA sanction has allowed me to focus on my mortgage broker game, which gives better prizes than bike gaming.



 
When will you be able to game again?
07/07/07. Watch out. I'll return for the national mountain bike game in Vermont.

 
Have you been in any bar or street fights lately?
My dog head-butted me and gave me a black eye last week. I remember Dollar Bill Hurley, the Canadian, doing some damage in the South years ago, and Paul Rowney getting in a bar fight in WVA a few years ago. Who says bike gamers don't brawl? Those were good guys to have with you on winter training rides out in the sticks. They didn't muck about.

 
If you could fight one person in a no holds barred anything goes cage match who would it be and why?
Travis Tygart Esquire, Senior Managing Director, General Counsel of the United States Anti-Doping Agency.

 
Pick One, and why:
 
Zoolander or Dodgeball - Zoolander. Blue steel.
 
Short Track or Marathon - Tough one. No one watches marathon, but no one actually enjoys short track until its over.
 
NASCAR or F1 - NASCAR, better cook outs.
 
Letterman or Leno - Letterman, but Leno's easier to find.
 
Maudite or Chimay - Chimay, easier to find.
 
PayPal or Money Order - Paypal. Would you mail a money order to some guy in Ohio for an Audi part?
 
WWE or UFC - 1980's WWE. Hogan, Andre', Macho Man...
 
Dogs or Cats - Dogs. What are cats for?
 
Hamburger or Hot Dog - Veggie patty?
 
Eastern Standard Time or Western Standard Time - Mountain daylight savings time? Doesn't get dark until almost 10pm.
 
Top Model or American Idol - Hotter chicks on Top Model, but they are disgustingly annoying. American Idol annoys across the board without the eye candy, so we'll have to give it to Top Model by a rib.

What is the last thing you watched on TV
My girlfriend wields the remote control in this family, so you're better not knowing.