Looks as if Lance Armstrong will lose it all

[Route 66]

Lance Armstrong effectively surrendered his seven Tour de France titles Thursday, announcing he was giving up his years-long fight against accusations that he cheated to repeatedly win cycling's greatest race.

U.S. Anti-Doping Agency Chief Executive Travis Tygart said late Thursday he was still waiting to hear directly from Armstrong but added that the cyclist's decision not to proceed in an arbitration process will leave Armstrong stripped of all of his Tour titles and 2000 Olympic bronze medal and result in a lifetime competition ban.

[Dan2010]

Witchhunt comes to mind on this one but who knows for sure.

[MonBK]

Thank God BM, WR and GM aren't considered doping preps.

[MoBe]

The UCI may have a hand in the final outcome of whatever game is being played out on the cycling world stage,there`s no way to know what`s really going on here.This whole situation is certainly the biggest can of worms I`ve ever seen opened anywhere with the possible exception of Watergate.

[Lol-x]

Lance has repeatedly said he had undergone hundreds of doping tests over the years. I don't know if that is so, but for sure he would have been tested many many times.

If Lance did have drugs or engage in blood doping then it would have had to have been an exceedingly well calculated exercise not to have been caught.

Rumour has it that Lance's team mates from US Postal have made statements of inappropriate activities implicating Lance during the relevant years. I understand that there are approximately 5 or more such team mates including George Hancapie who have so made statements to the relevant Drug Investigation Agency. Such team mates have entered into a plea bargain arrangement whereby they will each receive a 6 month ban from the sport of cycling starting in October 2012.

It is a very unfortunate situation for all, no one comes out the winner except for maybe those who may be tempted to engage in illegal activity in the future....

The problem is it is impossible to prove someone innocent. Courts, Tribunals and investigatory authorities only determine what the evidence tends to suggest. Sometimes that is said to be overwhelming, but sometimes we know for a fact that people get wrongly convicted.

Lance has been the most successful cyclist in the past decade and perhaps some resent that, or perhaps the success was due to external factors. It is something in which we may never know the full story.

On a different note, Lance has been the vehicle for a great deal of good especially for those suffering from Cancer and we should not forget the wonderful work Lance has done for those suffering from that dreaded disease. That is an undeniable fact.

[masterserg]

One word: Ludicrous

[subtona]

floyd landis they say has worn a wire and has video of the doping.... although lance has done a lot of good and considering that perhaps doping is a systemic problem throughout cyclings elite, but there have got to be athletes that are competing with only hard work...the injustice to them is heinous.

[wantonebad]

Anyone who has heard Lance respond to allegations over the last 10 years knows that he would never, under any circumstances fold because he's sick of fighting. If he has indeed given up trying to clear his name then that means something other than "he's just moving on". Lance would never stop fighting, it's not in his nature to acquiesce, ever! They have something on him, clearly.

This from Yahoo's Les Carpenter:

"In the end, Lance Armstrong quit. And no matter how fiercely he writes his statements or fires rockets on Twitter or demands we continue to buy into the fantasy that in a world of doping cyclists he alone was clean and rode faster and stronger, he still quit on Thursday night.


By quitting, he let the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency say he was guilty, say his seven Tour de France championships were as fake as everything else in a dirty sport. Because if he was innocent, if there was some means to battle the organization with no legal power the way he had the U.S. Department of Justice, he would not be letting USADA try to yank the yellow jerseys from his closet.

No way if there’s even a hint of hope does Lance Armstrong let this happen to his name. He was always too proud, too defiant, too stubborn to give up. He beat cancer. He beat the federal government. He beat everything that came his way. He didn’t relent.

If there was a fight to still fight, he would have fought it.

Now we're burned by another fraud masquerading as a hero."

I have to say I find it very hard not to agree, even with all the good he's done JMHO

[Launch Mini]

Saying you've undergone hundreds of tests is different than saying I never took drugs. Maybe they just didn't check for the ones he was using.
I'm just saying the devil is in the details.
Do you remember " I never had sexual relations with...:?

Marion Jones denied denied denied, until she was caught.

[datejust24]

Very unfortunate indeed, even if it is true. A lot of work and dedication to a sport for ultimately, nothing. As was stated, he did devote a lot of effort to cancer research and people suffering from it that shouldn't be overlooked. Just an awful situation all around...

[Passionata]

I think all-yes ALL- professional star using dopes these days ,if you looking for real sportsmen those are only among the amateurs.
Too much money involved .

[Lol-x]

Originally Posted by Launch Mini

Saying you've undergone hundreds of tests is different than saying I never took drugs.

That's very true, always a very worrying circumstance when a response does not directly respond to the allegation.

[kilyung]

I guess he can kiss all his endorsement deals bye-bye.

[GradyPhilpott]

It would seem to me that the doping agency would have to have solid evidence that Armstrong broke the rules and not just allegations by others.

They have had stringent testing for years and nothing has been proven against Armstrong.

Since there is nothing at stake except the records, then I can understand that even an innocent man would just throw in the towel and let the chips fall where they may.

It seems as though some are saying that because cycling is a dirty sport, anyone who beats all the dopers seven times must be the biggest doper.

There may be some logic in that, but it is a fallacious argument nonetheless.

[JasoninDenver]

The USADA does not have authority to strip the title - their opinion or action has no effect other than being an advisory opinion.

Stripping the title is in the hands of the UCI and the Tour itself. I do not know what action will be taken. Especially in light of the fact that the second place finishers in 4 of the 7 races Lance won also later faced doping suspensions themselves.

Lance doped. It just so happened that he managed to stay one step ahead of the available detection methods at the time. So did a large percentage of his competitors, I hate to say. And I am a cycling fan.

The evidence is overwhelming at this point. From the fact that Lance employed the leading Doctor in doping technology in the late 1990's and early 2000's to the long line of witnesses who would have been testifying against him. The testing techniques that are now used are so much more sophisticated and can even pick up traces of the plastic bags that transfused blood was stored in.

As far as Lance's legacy, it is troubling for me on a personal level. I deplore doping and cheats. I think all of them should be banned for life. Otherwise, how can the 12 year old kid who likes to ride his bike and is really good at it hope to succeed without playing the game.

However, because I was aware of what Lance went through with the testicular cancer, I got something suspicious checked out immediately and got a very early diagnosis of testicular cancer that made all the difference in my treatment and recovery. So, I have benefited from Lance's work.

All in all, I hope he can put these years behind him and take some solace in the opportunity to do good works from here on out. Whether his ego lets him do this is another matter. I do wish him the best.

[Dan Pierce]

Just plain sad all the way around.
dP

[Lisa]

Will be watching closely to see what the UCI will do. Apparently they want more information from the anti-doping agency.

I remember several years ago Lance had been called something of a physiological anomaly - he had low lactic acid production, high oxygen efficiency, and even the unheard of ability to convert his muscle fibers to work more efficiently. Here's the National Geographic article - http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...armstrong.html

I agree with Dan - very sad, no matter where the truth lies.

[wantonebad]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

It would seem to me that the doping agency would have to have solid evidence that Armstrong broke the rules and not just allegations by others.

They have had stringent testing for years and nothing has been proven against Armstrong.

Since there is nothing at stake except the records, then I can understand that even an innocent man would just throw in the towel and let the chips fall where they may.

It seems as though some are saying that because cycling is a dirty sport, anyone who beats all the dopers seven times must be the biggest doper.

There may be some logic in that, but it is a fallacious argument nonetheless.

Couldn't disagree more Grady, but then again that seems to be what we have in common isn't it.

[AzPaul]

Moral of the story: Never invest too much faith in your heroes. We're all human.

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by wantonebad

Couldn't disagree more Grady, but then again that seems to be what we have in common isn't it.

Seems to be!

[Al1988]

Just out of interest do the USADA have the authority to strip him of his Tour De France titles or would ability lie with the authority behind the Tour de France?

I ask more out of curiosity as I know little about professional cycling

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by Al1988

Just out of interest do the USADA have the authority to strip him of his Tour De France titles or would ability lie with the authority behind the Tour de France?

I ask more out of curiosity as I know little about professional cycling

Not exactly sure of the legal ramifications between those entities.

But the other elephant in the room is the reaction from former endorsers who spent millions and just might want their investment back. What a mess that could be.
dP

[wantonebad]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

Not exactly sure of the legal ramifications between those entities.

But the other elephant in the room is the reaction from former endorsors who spent millions and just might want their investment back. What a mess that could be.
dP

Prize money too! Which does pale in comparison to endorsers

[TheVTCGuy]

I am on the fence... Did he cheat? Then how did he pass so many tests? If he didn't, then I don't think he should EVER give up a fight to clear his name. I really don't know...

As someone already pointed out.... It's a sad story all around.

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by wantonebad

Prize money too! Which does pale in comparison to endorsers

And on and on it goes..........

Now does the second place finisher on each of the 7 Tours become the winner by default?
dP

[93 Turbo]

His is (or soon to be, was) the greatest cyclist of modern times. I am a big fan of Armstrong's.

I'm waiting for the scientific evidence. The media coverage is either very poor or I am affected by the opiate based pain killers for recent surgery, I haven't seen scientific evidence that he doped or used performance enhancing drugs?

With the continual improvement in testing perhaps Armstrong knows it's only time before his yet to be proved doping rumours are scientifically revealed.

[snowbird]

I hope USADA has more on him than testimony from teammates, some of whom have themselves been stripped of titles due doping. If they can't find one positive test result it seems wrong to me to take his wins away.

[dysondiver]

as a man who has shown so much courage when faced with cancer ,,, i personally would give him a medal for that alone.

[dsio]

Refusing to defend himself makes no sense, if he'd gone down fighting and it was merely allegations and stink from guys that had cut a deal his fans would stick by him. It would make more sense not defending himself if it meant avoiding unpleasant truths coming out and evidence being presented, in the hopes that his reputation would stand up to scrutiny if that evidence stayed under the rug, and he played the victim of persecution.

[lavaman]

The evidence is secret. The informants are all people who got their bans reduced, aka criminal informants. None of the agencies investigating him are government agencies, eg subject to the rules if evidence and procedure and presumptions in a court of law. Nothing has been proven im open court, in an adversarial proceeding, in public. The only agency that did investigate him dropped their case. The mere fact that he was indicted by a grand jury means only that a secret jury found enough evidence, presented only by a prosecutor with NO defense council present, to hold him over for charges to be filed. The USADA and the like are organizations. It is their rules, their system, their procedure and punishment, and theirs to presume guilt.

Very very little has been proven and nothing in a court of law. Nearly all the so called evidence us heresay at best and very likely would not even be admissible in a court outside the investigating body, eg an independent body.

I am not saying he did or did not dope. But this is grossly short of any conventional notions of conviction.