Of course he's guucking filthy, how would any buddy come to another answer without being closely related to Malter Witty!!
Donna - 12 years ago
I think that regardless, the man won seven titles and if you think doping was the sole reason you are as dumb as a mud fence. why does our government feel it has the right to waste all this time and money on these proceedings? will you feel more secure when the next person wins the tour de france? does destroying our american legacy fix all the imperfections that exist in sports today? I am sorry but guilty or innocent it was a witch hunt nevertheless. hope this doesn't come back to bite us on our ass!
misterdoggy - 12 years ago
Its OBVIOUS to everyone that he passed 500 tests. But in the tour de France they don ot test you between 10pm and 6am. If you plan it well and take what ever you are doing at 10 you wont show anything at 6am. The tests find only 1% and are completely unreliable, except when someone makes a mistake in how they dope. The truth is that he DID NOT PASS 500 tests, because if you read what the USADA has, it DOES HAVE POSITIVE RESULTS. The tests of the time period didn't work, but the tests they have today work and they retested the same samples and came up positive. There's no way those types of substances show up without taking them. Also 12 witnesses ? most who do not have anything against them nor an axe to grind. I love bicycling and have biked all my life and live in the French Alpes where biking is a way of life. I am glad to see it come out in the open and that no one else should fall to testicular cancer like Lance did, because winning is all that matters. The fact that he did it, had cancer, and then did it some more shows some real drive to win at any expense. The same drive to lie and will cover it up. The evidence will be coming our shortly and all you doubters will switch sides.
Andrew Donald - 12 years ago
The entire attack on Lance Armstrong is ridiculous. There is absolutely NO evidence, and he was tested to high heaven in each respective year that he won the title, and passed every time.
Nobody should be voting "Yes" here because there is NO EVIDENCE of anything.
He is a 7-time Tour De France winner. Period.
tad - 12 years ago
Sorry louis cyfer you are the idiot. Read a bit if you can and you can educate yourself past your current level of ignorance. There is plenty of data that proves testicular cancer is one of the top side effects with doping along with testicular shrinkage. I thought these things were common knowledge by now, but I guess not for morons like you. Some real health data instead of name calling:
"Steroids have been closely associated with testicular cancer along with many other health risks."
For those who don't know how the timeline actually went like the above name calling idiot. He doped before cancer too, it is what gave him cancer. I never said they were accusing him of doping before cancer? I guess louis cyfer just said it being a stupid idiot to have something to say? I just stated how it went. It would help if louis cyfer could comprehend what was written before commenting like an ignorant moron.
Why did I mention pre-cancer? Lance was NEVER going to win a Tour with his body type pre-cancer. He was a big sprinter in the beginning and it was again, common knowledge, for those who actually watched and kept up with and knew the slightest bit about bike racing. He could (and did) win some sprint stages but would never contend for the overall title as everyone with a clue knew! Even the commentators mentioned it multiple times and press. That all changed after cancer! He had a body that was suited for the mountains and he proved it 7 times!
Quote:
"louis cyfer - to the idiot who says the top sign of doping is testicular cancer, you are a moron. he is also not accused of doping before his cancer."
charlie - 12 years ago
There has been a lot of money spent on a 2 year investigation. There is no credible evidence that
lance has failed a test. If he had failed a test he should have been disqualified on the spot.
it might be that there might have been a drug test limit range that he was under and passed the test while indicating a small amount. Or that a test lab made a mistake and botched the test.
if lance did take a miniscule amount of drugs but had passed the tests it is of no concern. perhaps the test parameters should be the focus of the investigation and not the athelete.
what lance is guilty of is being exceptional and a hero to a lot of folks. Buercrats hate exceptional people. this is a witch hunt. the person in charge of this investigation should be fired for abuse of his authority abd return his salary for the past year. if he had anything credible he should have used it immediately. Lance's rights for due process has been violated.
Jules - 12 years ago
7 tour de france titles and countless other races/titles and not one positive drug test...um....and the proof is?? eye witness accounts from proven drug cheats??...yeah right...shame on the real cheaters.
KIA KAHA Lance!!
chris - 12 years ago
So now Leta go after Greg Lemons he had to have cheated too. Also what about INDURAIN go back and test him if you are going to take away Lances wins. This will so hurt bike racing. He was a hero and role model to millions!!
M - General Sport Fan - 12 years ago
Amazing how the US authorities would fund such investigations. USADA stop being so egotistical, get on with it and look forward at educating future generations/riders - prevention! Everyone in their heart of hearts believes LA probably doped but that was back when it was part of the norm. Testing back then cleared him so move on and spend your money and resources on prevention. USADA has wasted a lot of money and their reputation has gone backwards.
Please authorities i.e. USADA, add value with US citizens' money - be accountable!
derek - 12 years ago
Lance Armstrong came back from the brink of death to become the greatest athlete the world has ever seen, inspired millions, and spent his time and influence helping others overcome cancer. I have fond high school memories of bike riding, and he was the one who inspired us
On the other hand, Travis Tygart of the USADA is someone who, lacking any talent of his own, makes his career tearing down our heroes and dragging their names through the mud. People like that are invariably up to their neck in whatever they are crusading against. Lance Armstrong was wise in not letting himself get sucked into his viscous games.
Jason - 12 years ago
The delusion here is staggering. 1o other riders (many American) were prepared to testify he systematically doped. And USADA say they've test evidence of doping in 2009/10 - flying in the face of his claims he never filed a test. How can you ignore that evidence?
Neil Sade - 12 years ago
Lance is a physical machine that has proved his innocence over and over again. Nobody cares what the USADA has to say, they dont run the Tour. Where is the proof and what has Travis Tygart done for his community? Lance will forever be a hero, Travis *Tyrant* will be forgotten within a month or so.
Tad B - 12 years ago
Lance Armstrong was the most tested athlete on the planet, not just in cycling. He has never failed a single test. Bitter cheats and rotten former teammates Floyd Landis and Tyler Hamilton have zero credibility, having both cheated and having been caught, pleaded in a public forum for their innocence and finally recanted from overwhelming physical evidence. Lance Armstrong is not just a great cyclist, second only to Eddy, but a great leader in raising awarness and money for cancer research & treatment. He's a flawed human, as we all are (look at his personal life), but innocent of doping charges. Just look at what he's doing today, at his age, in triathalons, mountain biking and distance running. Witch hunt, I just don't know why. That's my opinion
Kurt Campbell - 12 years ago
Well looks like he USADA finally got there man, although it seems that they really have no proof except for personal accounts. 7 Titles without one peep or physical proof that he was truly positive for any drugs or enhanced drugs. Did he do it...probably but enough to stay under the radar for the testing. Trouble is most likely every other top 25 cyclist (or more) did the same thing. Some just took more. It is a shame that such a good cyclist should fall to the wayside. I still support Lance 110% and always will. The USADA should be the ones that are banned...maybe we should look into some of after hour activities of some of these yayhoots and see what kind of dirt they have been involved in. I have no more respect for them, nor will I ever after this.
Mr Nice - 12 years ago
As science and doping tests become more sophisticated..retrospective dope testing will always pick up a lot of old positive samples...it always will. The labs keep samples and these are tested years later when new drugs/tests are introduced..hence the delay. If you know anything about top level cycling then you will know that doping has always been a major part of top level sport....its HARD...and very competitive...so...Is Lance guilty of doping...of course he is...but so was nearly everybody else...you cant race for 2 weeks riding over 100 miles a day like they used too...this years tour was a breath of fresh air....i hope this continues. Why not focus on all the good he has done...his foundation has raised over $500 million...now that is a legacy worth shouting about....
Stuart Dacre - 12 years ago
If people want to percieve Lance as a doper, let them, there will always be a scapegoat for 'skill' over 'ability' unfortnately jealousy is a shit bridge to cross and Tygart is the biggest advocate of this. Lance you will always be the best, doubters can attempt the etape, with stress on the 'attempt' part. Legend is a term that can only be associated with Lance Armstrong.
Ruben Asuncion - 12 years ago
Lance made the right decision, he knows that million of dollars from taxpayers money will be spent just to crucify him.....NONSENSE
cycle girl - 12 years ago
Unfortunately this is the world we live in. People will waste resources in proving they are right. Sooner or later they will weigh their priorities and give up mediocre fights over others. Who is coming up the winner here - no one. So let's leave Lance and his family alone. For me - he is still the 7x winner!
Hoss - 12 years ago
It's a fact these days that in most cases, a person is guilty until they prove their innocence at their own expense and even when found innocent their reputation has usually been slaughtered by the media. - I have followed this story intensely and I personally believe it is a witch hunt. I am a former national champion motorcycle racer and I respect his decision to withdraw from contesting a biased system that has from the beginning pronounced him guilty in the world press. - I personally think that after hundreds of clean tests for drugs, a person has the right to be left alone. We cannot re-write all of the sport history books based on hearsay. Let the records stand and move forward into the future. This goes for baseball, football, boxing, bicycling.
jcp - 12 years ago
What does the Tour De France have to say? It's their title, shouldn't they determine who won it? I'm sure it is not that simple, but it should be.
In other stupid ideas, I think they should have two races, dopes and dope-free. Let's see what these guys can do when there are no holds barred, sure men will be dropping dead in the middle of the race along the side of a moutain, but of their own free will and at least they won't be breaking the doping rules since there won't be any....push the limits, what do I care....rich, famous and filled with steroids....worked for our Governor (Shwarzenegger) and half the athletes out there these days....I'd watch.
Paul Moreno - 12 years ago
The hell with Travis Tygart.
Carlos - 12 years ago
When the axiomatic "Inocent until proven guilty" was changed, and by whom?
In cases like these, the investigators should themselves be investigated by an independent authority, for often they have been the ones caught cheating or breaking the law in their own private life. And among those, history shows religious figures, priests, politicians, prosecutors...and, particularly, members of the Police Force. Lets the Court and a Jury decide.
louis cyfer - 12 years ago
to the idiot who says the top sign of doping is testicular cancer, you are a moron. he is also not accused of doping before his cancer.
philaclectic - 12 years ago
On the record I see, no objective information has been provided that would prove he used performance enhancing drugs. All previous testing was negative. Why should he go on using his own money trying to prove a negative? The USADA sounds like a perverted agency to me, one that once they decide something they ignore facts (such as all of the negative tests) and even worse, start playing "I've got a secret" with their "case", refusing to divulge the information which led to their decision, which to me totally undermines their credibility on this or any other issue. If they have a good case why won't they share it with the public which apparently pays for this outfit with its tax dollars? If they have witnesses who are they and where are their statements - what did they say? It's not even a US government agency and apparently acts without much if any oversight, yet continues to receive US government funding grants. Looks like an excellent candidate for the "waste, fraud and abuse" chopping block!
tad - 12 years ago
Of course he doped. One of the top side effects of doping is testicular cancer. Duh. But, they all doped in one way or another for decades. As mentioned, EPO etc. provide great benefits without failing any test if timed correctly. EVERY pro in EVERY sport is guilty of doping at some level these days as it is no longer about eating/sleeping/training right, it is about supplementing right. Yet they say since a Dr. prescribed it or they stayed close to 'average' levels of natural bodily chemicals it is OK and not doping. That is just semantics. Of course in this day and age a Dr. can prescribe you lab grade heroin (Oxycontin) for pain so you have to take into account the present world we live in and how far gone their contrived thinking is compared to truth.
The same government hunting him down is the same government hypocrisy that allows a Dr to prescribe heroin for pain. The same government that watches 6 billion prescriptions a year be given to approx. 330 million people. It is just a big name witch hunt for nothing other than those in government seeking their own power, glory, and money. It is clear the government has many other motivations and incentives than the truth and their goal is not to stop doping in sports, but to control sports by whom they target. To actually stop doping, they would have to outlaw all pro sports.
Liston - 12 years ago
Even if they find Lance guilty of doping after all these years, the cycling sport and cycling industry has greatly benefited from his participation!! I am sure Lance has had all the tests just like all the other athletes during these high profile events and passed them at the time. This is just stupid, are we going to go back in time and check every athlete that has won a major title and strip them of their titles just because of new technology today?
ED - 12 years ago
I find it hard to believe Lance did such a thing. What I find it hard to understand how his awards can be taken from him. The focus is directed on Lance to discredit his achievement; but like most other sports it just wasn't Lance who worked hard to win but a team effort; he just happened to be the one picked to be first. stripping him of the awards also takes away from his team mates who also worked very very hard to get him there. You take away thier achievements as well. Some time back an individual was stripped of all his Olimpic medals and after a time people realized that was not fair. Jim Thorpe earned his medals and so did Lance and his team. Leave them alone.
Ed - 12 years ago
If Lance Armstrong is guilty then O.J. Simpson is innocent.
Ty - 12 years ago
He has to say he's innocent. Otherwise he'd have all sorts of sponsors asking for millions back. If he was 100% innocent, he'd fight this till his dying breath.
I still admire the guy though. Almost everyone was doping back then, so he still won in many regards.
Hansel - 12 years ago
He was tested about 500 times during his active career and not once were any of the tests shown positive.
If he is now judged guilty, the entire group of Cyclists ought to be disqualified, since they have
found ways to get away with new substance abuse methods.
It is hypocritical to pick on him. He has overcome Cancer, has done so much to help others with his foundation.
Dandy Willikers - 12 years ago
For all you people saying that giving up is a sign of being guilty; no. They have been hounding him over this and he has been fighting this crap since 1999. 13 years sounds like a breaking point to me. He did it, and whether this committee likes it or not, they can never take his achievements away from him. Lance won those races, period.
elenne - 12 years ago
I doubt Lance is any less guilty than Landis was, just smart enough to not spend a year defending himself only to later have to admit he was doping. If he were innocent, I don't think there's any way he'd drop things now.
Yes, Lance was cleared in his tests at that time. But Lance also had more resources to hide his doping. He has certainly been proven to have worked with "doctors" who helped others with doping, he just never got caught. Why would he have worked with them unless he was in on the doping as well?
Diane - 12 years ago
The problem with stripping Armstrong of his medals is that he raced in an era in which I would bet all the top racers were doping. If you were ambitious and wanted to win, you had to do it. I don't fault Mr. Armstrong and feel sorry for Mr. Landis. The testing is more sophisticated today so I would assume that the saved samples have been retested and the results are not in dispute. However, what is the point of this retroactive punishment? Cyclists know the score today. Move forward toward a future in which drugs are less of a factor. It is a great sport. I'm not a cyclist but I love watching and photographing the races and look forward to the next Tour de France and the Tour of California. May Mr. Armstrong have a long, happy, productive life ahead.
bhburlington - 12 years ago
Travis Tygart and USADA are moronic. If they and other anti-doping entities had done their jobs when they were supposed to, this would not be an issue, so they now want to re-write history. And if Lance Armstrong's victories are taken away, who's to say the subsequent honorees who inherit those titles weren't doping? Tygart's personal vendetta against Lance Armstrong is totally misguided, well after-the-fact, and accomplishes nothing except throwing more taxpayer funds down the hole that is abusive government.
william lacroix - 12 years ago
It simply does not matter. Amazing athlete and human being !!!!
Bikeracer - 12 years ago
Lance is indeed guilty. Giving up is admitting the evidence is too much to overcome. He was about to face his accusers and decided that winning was no longer an option. Lance has done great things for cancer and is to be applauded for his efforts.
Cycling is a dirty sport and to compete is to dope.
Ken - 12 years ago
I think that every once in a while a gifted athelete comes along with more talent, skill and ability than the rest of the field. Through extreme dedication and hard work they excell at their sport to such a degree that others can't believe it or compete. Some of these less gifted atheletes naturally use any method to try to even the playing field including accusations against the best. I believe that Lance is one of those unusually gifted athletes and if he is stripped of the titles he honestly won then the sport looses. Beyond that all sports loose by the actions taken against him since these gifted atheletes will be less likely to compete knowing they are likely to be dragged through hell in the same manner simply for being the best at what they do.
They are going after Lance because he is a Texan. They went after Roger and failed so they want to get a Texan no mather what.
The Doting Agency should be abolished and no government money should we waster on these jerks.
Resident1728 - 12 years ago
How idiotic is this whole thing? Why would anyone say " yes he used a doping technique" - when they have no real idea at all. He was tested EACH AND EVERY TIME he won a race, and often two or three times. No chemical/blood work, etc. ever showed such a use. How can a sporting group ever even legally retest, some years later? Are they testing every other rider the same way? Of course not! If they take his awards away, then we as sports fans should insist that whomever is announced the winner, also have the same testing done, to insure they also did not use enhancement drugs. This international cycling group itself needs to be disbanded for stupid, idiotic, imbecilic decisions.
Ray - 12 years ago
If he had doped throughout his career as the USADA claims they'd have caught him a long time ago. Their evidence is weak but it's their process & jurisdiction so yeah, I can see why he'd stop throwing good money away trying to fight them.
vb - 12 years ago
I do not think he did because of all the tests he took that were negative. I think someone is out to discredit him.
Danny - 12 years ago
Many cyclist were and is still using enhancing drugs. They just learned how to hide it better. Lance should still be able to keep his medals. I believe it does not matter how much of the drugs you use, if you do not posses the talent, then it does not matter. Lance undoubtedly has the talent. Let him keep the medals.
John Nash - 12 years ago
EPO and blood transfusions are widely used to gain a competitive advantage - so Lance is probably guilty and so are many others. Usually, dopers are far ahead of the testing procedures.
John McClain - 12 years ago
If he is guilty of doping, why was it not caught in any of the tests that he took? I believe it is a witch hunt!
Of course he's guucking filthy, how would any buddy come to another answer without being closely related to Malter Witty!!
I think that regardless, the man won seven titles and if you think doping was the sole reason you are as dumb as a mud fence. why does our government feel it has the right to waste all this time and money on these proceedings? will you feel more secure when the next person wins the tour de france? does destroying our american legacy fix all the imperfections that exist in sports today? I am sorry but guilty or innocent it was a witch hunt nevertheless. hope this doesn't come back to bite us on our ass!
Its OBVIOUS to everyone that he passed 500 tests. But in the tour de France they don ot test you between 10pm and 6am. If you plan it well and take what ever you are doing at 10 you wont show anything at 6am. The tests find only 1% and are completely unreliable, except when someone makes a mistake in how they dope. The truth is that he DID NOT PASS 500 tests, because if you read what the USADA has, it DOES HAVE POSITIVE RESULTS. The tests of the time period didn't work, but the tests they have today work and they retested the same samples and came up positive. There's no way those types of substances show up without taking them. Also 12 witnesses ? most who do not have anything against them nor an axe to grind. I love bicycling and have biked all my life and live in the French Alpes where biking is a way of life. I am glad to see it come out in the open and that no one else should fall to testicular cancer like Lance did, because winning is all that matters. The fact that he did it, had cancer, and then did it some more shows some real drive to win at any expense. The same drive to lie and will cover it up. The evidence will be coming our shortly and all you doubters will switch sides.
The entire attack on Lance Armstrong is ridiculous. There is absolutely NO evidence, and he was tested to high heaven in each respective year that he won the title, and passed every time.
Nobody should be voting "Yes" here because there is NO EVIDENCE of anything.
He is a 7-time Tour De France winner. Period.
Sorry louis cyfer you are the idiot. Read a bit if you can and you can educate yourself past your current level of ignorance. There is plenty of data that proves testicular cancer is one of the top side effects with doping along with testicular shrinkage. I thought these things were common knowledge by now, but I guess not for morons like you. Some real health data instead of name calling:
"Steroids have been closely associated with testicular cancer along with many other health risks."
For those who don't know how the timeline actually went like the above name calling idiot. He doped before cancer too, it is what gave him cancer. I never said they were accusing him of doping before cancer? I guess louis cyfer just said it being a stupid idiot to have something to say? I just stated how it went. It would help if louis cyfer could comprehend what was written before commenting like an ignorant moron.
Why did I mention pre-cancer? Lance was NEVER going to win a Tour with his body type pre-cancer. He was a big sprinter in the beginning and it was again, common knowledge, for those who actually watched and kept up with and knew the slightest bit about bike racing. He could (and did) win some sprint stages but would never contend for the overall title as everyone with a clue knew! Even the commentators mentioned it multiple times and press. That all changed after cancer! He had a body that was suited for the mountains and he proved it 7 times!
Quote:
"louis cyfer - to the idiot who says the top sign of doping is testicular cancer, you are a moron. he is also not accused of doping before his cancer."
There has been a lot of money spent on a 2 year investigation. There is no credible evidence that
lance has failed a test. If he had failed a test he should have been disqualified on the spot.
it might be that there might have been a drug test limit range that he was under and passed the test while indicating a small amount. Or that a test lab made a mistake and botched the test.
if lance did take a miniscule amount of drugs but had passed the tests it is of no concern. perhaps the test parameters should be the focus of the investigation and not the athelete.
what lance is guilty of is being exceptional and a hero to a lot of folks. Buercrats hate exceptional people. this is a witch hunt. the person in charge of this investigation should be fired for abuse of his authority abd return his salary for the past year. if he had anything credible he should have used it immediately. Lance's rights for due process has been violated.
7 tour de france titles and countless other races/titles and not one positive drug test...um....and the proof is?? eye witness accounts from proven drug cheats??...yeah right...shame on the real cheaters.
KIA KAHA Lance!!
So now Leta go after Greg Lemons he had to have cheated too. Also what about INDURAIN go back and test him if you are going to take away Lances wins. This will so hurt bike racing. He was a hero and role model to millions!!
Amazing how the US authorities would fund such investigations. USADA stop being so egotistical, get on with it and look forward at educating future generations/riders - prevention! Everyone in their heart of hearts believes LA probably doped but that was back when it was part of the norm. Testing back then cleared him so move on and spend your money and resources on prevention. USADA has wasted a lot of money and their reputation has gone backwards.
Please authorities i.e. USADA, add value with US citizens' money - be accountable!
Lance Armstrong came back from the brink of death to become the greatest athlete the world has ever seen, inspired millions, and spent his time and influence helping others overcome cancer. I have fond high school memories of bike riding, and he was the one who inspired us
On the other hand, Travis Tygart of the USADA is someone who, lacking any talent of his own, makes his career tearing down our heroes and dragging their names through the mud. People like that are invariably up to their neck in whatever they are crusading against. Lance Armstrong was wise in not letting himself get sucked into his viscous games.
The delusion here is staggering. 1o other riders (many American) were prepared to testify he systematically doped. And USADA say they've test evidence of doping in 2009/10 - flying in the face of his claims he never filed a test. How can you ignore that evidence?
Lance is a physical machine that has proved his innocence over and over again. Nobody cares what the USADA has to say, they dont run the Tour. Where is the proof and what has Travis Tygart done for his community? Lance will forever be a hero, Travis *Tyrant* will be forgotten within a month or so.
Lance Armstrong was the most tested athlete on the planet, not just in cycling. He has never failed a single test. Bitter cheats and rotten former teammates Floyd Landis and Tyler Hamilton have zero credibility, having both cheated and having been caught, pleaded in a public forum for their innocence and finally recanted from overwhelming physical evidence. Lance Armstrong is not just a great cyclist, second only to Eddy, but a great leader in raising awarness and money for cancer research & treatment. He's a flawed human, as we all are (look at his personal life), but innocent of doping charges. Just look at what he's doing today, at his age, in triathalons, mountain biking and distance running. Witch hunt, I just don't know why. That's my opinion
Well looks like he USADA finally got there man, although it seems that they really have no proof except for personal accounts. 7 Titles without one peep or physical proof that he was truly positive for any drugs or enhanced drugs. Did he do it...probably but enough to stay under the radar for the testing. Trouble is most likely every other top 25 cyclist (or more) did the same thing. Some just took more. It is a shame that such a good cyclist should fall to the wayside. I still support Lance 110% and always will. The USADA should be the ones that are banned...maybe we should look into some of after hour activities of some of these yayhoots and see what kind of dirt they have been involved in. I have no more respect for them, nor will I ever after this.
As science and doping tests become more sophisticated..retrospective dope testing will always pick up a lot of old positive samples...it always will. The labs keep samples and these are tested years later when new drugs/tests are introduced..hence the delay. If you know anything about top level cycling then you will know that doping has always been a major part of top level sport....its HARD...and very competitive...so...Is Lance guilty of doping...of course he is...but so was nearly everybody else...you cant race for 2 weeks riding over 100 miles a day like they used too...this years tour was a breath of fresh air....i hope this continues. Why not focus on all the good he has done...his foundation has raised over $500 million...now that is a legacy worth shouting about....
If people want to percieve Lance as a doper, let them, there will always be a scapegoat for 'skill' over 'ability' unfortnately jealousy is a shit bridge to cross and Tygart is the biggest advocate of this. Lance you will always be the best, doubters can attempt the etape, with stress on the 'attempt' part. Legend is a term that can only be associated with Lance Armstrong.
Lance made the right decision, he knows that million of dollars from taxpayers money will be spent just to crucify him.....NONSENSE
Unfortunately this is the world we live in. People will waste resources in proving they are right. Sooner or later they will weigh their priorities and give up mediocre fights over others. Who is coming up the winner here - no one. So let's leave Lance and his family alone. For me - he is still the 7x winner!
It's a fact these days that in most cases, a person is guilty until they prove their innocence at their own expense and even when found innocent their reputation has usually been slaughtered by the media. - I have followed this story intensely and I personally believe it is a witch hunt. I am a former national champion motorcycle racer and I respect his decision to withdraw from contesting a biased system that has from the beginning pronounced him guilty in the world press. - I personally think that after hundreds of clean tests for drugs, a person has the right to be left alone. We cannot re-write all of the sport history books based on hearsay. Let the records stand and move forward into the future. This goes for baseball, football, boxing, bicycling.
What does the Tour De France have to say? It's their title, shouldn't they determine who won it? I'm sure it is not that simple, but it should be.
In other stupid ideas, I think they should have two races, dopes and dope-free. Let's see what these guys can do when there are no holds barred, sure men will be dropping dead in the middle of the race along the side of a moutain, but of their own free will and at least they won't be breaking the doping rules since there won't be any....push the limits, what do I care....rich, famous and filled with steroids....worked for our Governor (Shwarzenegger) and half the athletes out there these days....I'd watch.
The hell with Travis Tygart.
When the axiomatic "Inocent until proven guilty" was changed, and by whom?
In cases like these, the investigators should themselves be investigated by an independent authority, for often they have been the ones caught cheating or breaking the law in their own private life. And among those, history shows religious figures, priests, politicians, prosecutors...and, particularly, members of the Police Force. Lets the Court and a Jury decide.
to the idiot who says the top sign of doping is testicular cancer, you are a moron. he is also not accused of doping before his cancer.
On the record I see, no objective information has been provided that would prove he used performance enhancing drugs. All previous testing was negative. Why should he go on using his own money trying to prove a negative? The USADA sounds like a perverted agency to me, one that once they decide something they ignore facts (such as all of the negative tests) and even worse, start playing "I've got a secret" with their "case", refusing to divulge the information which led to their decision, which to me totally undermines their credibility on this or any other issue. If they have a good case why won't they share it with the public which apparently pays for this outfit with its tax dollars? If they have witnesses who are they and where are their statements - what did they say? It's not even a US government agency and apparently acts without much if any oversight, yet continues to receive US government funding grants. Looks like an excellent candidate for the "waste, fraud and abuse" chopping block!
Of course he doped. One of the top side effects of doping is testicular cancer. Duh. But, they all doped in one way or another for decades. As mentioned, EPO etc. provide great benefits without failing any test if timed correctly. EVERY pro in EVERY sport is guilty of doping at some level these days as it is no longer about eating/sleeping/training right, it is about supplementing right. Yet they say since a Dr. prescribed it or they stayed close to 'average' levels of natural bodily chemicals it is OK and not doping. That is just semantics. Of course in this day and age a Dr. can prescribe you lab grade heroin (Oxycontin) for pain so you have to take into account the present world we live in and how far gone their contrived thinking is compared to truth.
The same government hunting him down is the same government hypocrisy that allows a Dr to prescribe heroin for pain. The same government that watches 6 billion prescriptions a year be given to approx. 330 million people. It is just a big name witch hunt for nothing other than those in government seeking their own power, glory, and money. It is clear the government has many other motivations and incentives than the truth and their goal is not to stop doping in sports, but to control sports by whom they target. To actually stop doping, they would have to outlaw all pro sports.
Even if they find Lance guilty of doping after all these years, the cycling sport and cycling industry has greatly benefited from his participation!! I am sure Lance has had all the tests just like all the other athletes during these high profile events and passed them at the time. This is just stupid, are we going to go back in time and check every athlete that has won a major title and strip them of their titles just because of new technology today?
I find it hard to believe Lance did such a thing. What I find it hard to understand how his awards can be taken from him. The focus is directed on Lance to discredit his achievement; but like most other sports it just wasn't Lance who worked hard to win but a team effort; he just happened to be the one picked to be first. stripping him of the awards also takes away from his team mates who also worked very very hard to get him there. You take away thier achievements as well. Some time back an individual was stripped of all his Olimpic medals and after a time people realized that was not fair. Jim Thorpe earned his medals and so did Lance and his team. Leave them alone.
If Lance Armstrong is guilty then O.J. Simpson is innocent.
He has to say he's innocent. Otherwise he'd have all sorts of sponsors asking for millions back. If he was 100% innocent, he'd fight this till his dying breath.
I still admire the guy though. Almost everyone was doping back then, so he still won in many regards.
He was tested about 500 times during his active career and not once were any of the tests shown positive.
If he is now judged guilty, the entire group of Cyclists ought to be disqualified, since they have
found ways to get away with new substance abuse methods.
It is hypocritical to pick on him. He has overcome Cancer, has done so much to help others with his foundation.
For all you people saying that giving up is a sign of being guilty; no. They have been hounding him over this and he has been fighting this crap since 1999. 13 years sounds like a breaking point to me. He did it, and whether this committee likes it or not, they can never take his achievements away from him. Lance won those races, period.
I doubt Lance is any less guilty than Landis was, just smart enough to not spend a year defending himself only to later have to admit he was doping. If he were innocent, I don't think there's any way he'd drop things now.
Yes, Lance was cleared in his tests at that time. But Lance also had more resources to hide his doping. He has certainly been proven to have worked with "doctors" who helped others with doping, he just never got caught. Why would he have worked with them unless he was in on the doping as well?
The problem with stripping Armstrong of his medals is that he raced in an era in which I would bet all the top racers were doping. If you were ambitious and wanted to win, you had to do it. I don't fault Mr. Armstrong and feel sorry for Mr. Landis. The testing is more sophisticated today so I would assume that the saved samples have been retested and the results are not in dispute. However, what is the point of this retroactive punishment? Cyclists know the score today. Move forward toward a future in which drugs are less of a factor. It is a great sport. I'm not a cyclist but I love watching and photographing the races and look forward to the next Tour de France and the Tour of California. May Mr. Armstrong have a long, happy, productive life ahead.
Travis Tygart and USADA are moronic. If they and other anti-doping entities had done their jobs when they were supposed to, this would not be an issue, so they now want to re-write history. And if Lance Armstrong's victories are taken away, who's to say the subsequent honorees who inherit those titles weren't doping? Tygart's personal vendetta against Lance Armstrong is totally misguided, well after-the-fact, and accomplishes nothing except throwing more taxpayer funds down the hole that is abusive government.
It simply does not matter. Amazing athlete and human being !!!!
Lance is indeed guilty. Giving up is admitting the evidence is too much to overcome. He was about to face his accusers and decided that winning was no longer an option. Lance has done great things for cancer and is to be applauded for his efforts.
Cycling is a dirty sport and to compete is to dope.
I think that every once in a while a gifted athelete comes along with more talent, skill and ability than the rest of the field. Through extreme dedication and hard work they excell at their sport to such a degree that others can't believe it or compete. Some of these less gifted atheletes naturally use any method to try to even the playing field including accusations against the best. I believe that Lance is one of those unusually gifted athletes and if he is stripped of the titles he honestly won then the sport looses. Beyond that all sports loose by the actions taken against him since these gifted atheletes will be less likely to compete knowing they are likely to be dragged through hell in the same manner simply for being the best at what they do.
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/sports/other-sports/usada-s-travis-tygart-plays-prosecutor-jury-and-judge-lance-armstrong-case
They are going after Lance because he is a Texan. They went after Roger and failed so they want to get a Texan no mather what.
The Doting Agency should be abolished and no government money should we waster on these jerks.
How idiotic is this whole thing? Why would anyone say " yes he used a doping technique" - when they have no real idea at all. He was tested EACH AND EVERY TIME he won a race, and often two or three times. No chemical/blood work, etc. ever showed such a use. How can a sporting group ever even legally retest, some years later? Are they testing every other rider the same way? Of course not! If they take his awards away, then we as sports fans should insist that whomever is announced the winner, also have the same testing done, to insure they also did not use enhancement drugs. This international cycling group itself needs to be disbanded for stupid, idiotic, imbecilic decisions.
If he had doped throughout his career as the USADA claims they'd have caught him a long time ago. Their evidence is weak but it's their process & jurisdiction so yeah, I can see why he'd stop throwing good money away trying to fight them.
I do not think he did because of all the tests he took that were negative. I think someone is out to discredit him.
Many cyclist were and is still using enhancing drugs. They just learned how to hide it better. Lance should still be able to keep his medals. I believe it does not matter how much of the drugs you use, if you do not posses the talent, then it does not matter. Lance undoubtedly has the talent. Let him keep the medals.
EPO and blood transfusions are widely used to gain a competitive advantage - so Lance is probably guilty and so are many others. Usually, dopers are far ahead of the testing procedures.
If he is guilty of doping, why was it not caught in any of the tests that he took? I believe it is a witch hunt!
I think those queer frenchies are gay