Armstrong to be banned for life
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- Bob Brogan
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Re: Re: Armstrong to be banned for life
12 years 7 months ago
bbc.com
Lance Armstrong has been stripped of his seven Tour de France titles by cycling's governing body.
The International Cycling Union (UCI) has accepted the findings of the United States Anti-Doping Agency's (Usada) investigation into Armstrong.
UCI president Pat McQuaid said: "Lance Armstrong has no place in cycling. He deserves to be forgotten."
McQuaid added Armstrong had been stripped of all results since 1 August, 1998 and banned for life for doping.
On what he called a "landmark day for cycling", the Irishman, who became president of UCI in 2005, said he would not be resigning.
"This is a crisis, the biggest crisis cycling has ever faced," he said. "I like to look at this crisis as an opportunity for our sport and everyone involved in it to realise it is in danger and to work together to go forward.
"Cycling has a future. This is not the first time cycling has reached a crossroads or that it has had to begin anew.
Armstrong report key claims
Lance Armstrong
Achievements of USPS/Discovery Channel pro cycling team accomplished through the most sophisticated, professional and successful doping programme that sport has ever seen
Armstrong's career at the team was fuelled from start to finish by doping
More than a dozen former team-mates, friends and former team employees confirm a fraudulent course of conduct
Armstrong acted with the help of a small army of enablers, including doping doctors, drug smugglers and others within and outside the sport and his team
He had ultimate control over not only his own personal drug use but over the doping culture of the team
Team staff were good at predicting when testers would turn up and seemed to have inside information
Evidence is beyond strong and as strong as any case ever brought by Usada
"When I took over [as president] in 2005 I made the fight against doping my priority. I acknowledged cycling had a culture of doping. Cycling has come a long way. I have no intention of resigning as president of the UCI," McQuaid said.
"I'm sorry that we couldn't catch every damn one of them red-handed and throw them out of the sport at the time."
Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme called the UCI's decision "totally logical" and repeated his wish that the results from the Armstrong years are not reallocated.
"We hope that there is no winner in these editions," he said. "A formal decision must be taken by the UCI but for us, very clearly, there must be a blank record."
The management committee of the UCI will meet on Friday to discuss the issue.
Armstrong, 41, received a life ban from Usada for what the organisation called "the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping programme that sport has ever seen".
The American, who overcame cancer to return to professional cycling, won the Tour de France in seven successive years from 1999 to 2005.
He has always denied doping but chose not to fight the charges filed against him.
Usada released a 1,000-page report earlier this month which included sworn testimony from 26 people, including 15 riders with knowledge of the US Postal Service Team and the doping activities of its members.
Usada praised the "courage" shown by the riders in coming forward and breaking the sport's "code of silence".
Armstrong, who retired in 2005 but returned in 2009 before retiring for good two years later, has not commented on the details of Usada's report. His lawyer Tim Herman, however, has described it as a "one-sided hatchet job".
McQuaid said he was "sickened" by what he read in the Usada report, singling out the testimony of Armstrong's former team-mate David Zabriskie.
"The story he told of how he was coerced and to some extent forced into doping is just mind-boggling," he said. "It is very difficult to accept and understand that that went on."
And referring to the fact that Armstrong was tested for doping more than 200 times and never caught, he said: "The cheats were better than the scientists and we can't be blamed for that, we're a sporting organisation.
"But cycling has changed a lot since then. What was available to the UCI then was much more limited compared to what is available now. If we had then what we have now, this sort of thing would not have gone on."
Usada chief executive Travis Tygart welcomed UCI's decision, but called for a new body to be set up to probe further into cycling's murky past.
"It is essential that an independent and meaningful Truth and Reconciliation Commission be established so that the sport can fully unshackle itself from the past," he said.
"There are many more details of doping that are hidden, many more doping doctors, and corrupt team directors and the omerta [code of silence] has not yet been fully broken."
McQuaid was quizzed over the $100,000 (£62,300) donation made by Armstrong to the UCI in 2002, one year after the American cyclist had had a suspicious test for EPO at the 2001 Tour of Switzerland.
Asked by BBC sports editor David Bond how he could justify the payment, McQuaid said: "We used the money against doping, it was done openly and put to good use."
Lance Armstrong has been stripped of his seven Tour de France titles by cycling's governing body.
The International Cycling Union (UCI) has accepted the findings of the United States Anti-Doping Agency's (Usada) investigation into Armstrong.
UCI president Pat McQuaid said: "Lance Armstrong has no place in cycling. He deserves to be forgotten."
McQuaid added Armstrong had been stripped of all results since 1 August, 1998 and banned for life for doping.
On what he called a "landmark day for cycling", the Irishman, who became president of UCI in 2005, said he would not be resigning.
"This is a crisis, the biggest crisis cycling has ever faced," he said. "I like to look at this crisis as an opportunity for our sport and everyone involved in it to realise it is in danger and to work together to go forward.
"Cycling has a future. This is not the first time cycling has reached a crossroads or that it has had to begin anew.
Armstrong report key claims
Lance Armstrong
Achievements of USPS/Discovery Channel pro cycling team accomplished through the most sophisticated, professional and successful doping programme that sport has ever seen
Armstrong's career at the team was fuelled from start to finish by doping
More than a dozen former team-mates, friends and former team employees confirm a fraudulent course of conduct
Armstrong acted with the help of a small army of enablers, including doping doctors, drug smugglers and others within and outside the sport and his team
He had ultimate control over not only his own personal drug use but over the doping culture of the team
Team staff were good at predicting when testers would turn up and seemed to have inside information
Evidence is beyond strong and as strong as any case ever brought by Usada
"When I took over [as president] in 2005 I made the fight against doping my priority. I acknowledged cycling had a culture of doping. Cycling has come a long way. I have no intention of resigning as president of the UCI," McQuaid said.
"I'm sorry that we couldn't catch every damn one of them red-handed and throw them out of the sport at the time."
Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme called the UCI's decision "totally logical" and repeated his wish that the results from the Armstrong years are not reallocated.
"We hope that there is no winner in these editions," he said. "A formal decision must be taken by the UCI but for us, very clearly, there must be a blank record."
The management committee of the UCI will meet on Friday to discuss the issue.
Armstrong, 41, received a life ban from Usada for what the organisation called "the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping programme that sport has ever seen".
The American, who overcame cancer to return to professional cycling, won the Tour de France in seven successive years from 1999 to 2005.
He has always denied doping but chose not to fight the charges filed against him.
Usada released a 1,000-page report earlier this month which included sworn testimony from 26 people, including 15 riders with knowledge of the US Postal Service Team and the doping activities of its members.
Usada praised the "courage" shown by the riders in coming forward and breaking the sport's "code of silence".
Armstrong, who retired in 2005 but returned in 2009 before retiring for good two years later, has not commented on the details of Usada's report. His lawyer Tim Herman, however, has described it as a "one-sided hatchet job".
McQuaid said he was "sickened" by what he read in the Usada report, singling out the testimony of Armstrong's former team-mate David Zabriskie.
"The story he told of how he was coerced and to some extent forced into doping is just mind-boggling," he said. "It is very difficult to accept and understand that that went on."
And referring to the fact that Armstrong was tested for doping more than 200 times and never caught, he said: "The cheats were better than the scientists and we can't be blamed for that, we're a sporting organisation.
"But cycling has changed a lot since then. What was available to the UCI then was much more limited compared to what is available now. If we had then what we have now, this sort of thing would not have gone on."
Usada chief executive Travis Tygart welcomed UCI's decision, but called for a new body to be set up to probe further into cycling's murky past.
"It is essential that an independent and meaningful Truth and Reconciliation Commission be established so that the sport can fully unshackle itself from the past," he said.
"There are many more details of doping that are hidden, many more doping doctors, and corrupt team directors and the omerta [code of silence] has not yet been fully broken."
McQuaid was quizzed over the $100,000 (£62,300) donation made by Armstrong to the UCI in 2002, one year after the American cyclist had had a suspicious test for EPO at the 2001 Tour of Switzerland.
Asked by BBC sports editor David Bond how he could justify the payment, McQuaid said: "We used the money against doping, it was done openly and put to good use."
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- Wouter
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Re: Re: Armstrong to be banned for life
12 years 7 months ago
Strange how they caught so many other cyclist using banned substances in his career, but his tests all came back clean,
Only now that he is retired that he gets caught out...
How do you cheat on your blood and urine tests?
Why was that Travis guy so quiet for so long?
So many questions...
Looks like all the cycling bodies had a hand in this saga, to draw in crowds / popularity - making of an icon etc...
Only now that he is retired that he gets caught out...
How do you cheat on your blood and urine tests?
Why was that Travis guy so quiet for so long?
So many questions...
Looks like all the cycling bodies had a hand in this saga, to draw in crowds / popularity - making of an icon etc...
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- Saksy
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Re: Re: Armstrong to be banned for life
12 years 7 months ago
Marion Jones never tested positive and has admitted she used PED's during all her wins. Many cyclists and athletes go for years without getting caught. For me not getting caught does not prove innocence, especially in cycling!
Who knows how he did it but I find it very hard to believe his whole team were on the juice and Lance wasn't, even more so that he beat all his team mates who were taking drugs!
We can all fantasise that there are freaks in this world ( a la Bolt, Frankel) who are just better than everyone else but that only stacks up if the playing fields are level. That simply wasn't the case when Lance was riding. If he didn't cheat, he wouldn't have contended, those were the rules that everybody played by.
Who knows how he did it but I find it very hard to believe his whole team were on the juice and Lance wasn't, even more so that he beat all his team mates who were taking drugs!
We can all fantasise that there are freaks in this world ( a la Bolt, Frankel) who are just better than everyone else but that only stacks up if the playing fields are level. That simply wasn't the case when Lance was riding. If he didn't cheat, he wouldn't have contended, those were the rules that everybody played by.
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- oscar
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Re: Re: Armstrong to be banned for life
12 years 7 months ago
A Best Seller coming on this one.
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- naresh
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Re: Re: Armstrong to be banned for life
12 years 5 months ago
Armstrong to break silence
Los Angeles - The disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong will discuss the doping scandal that dramatically brought down his cycling career during an interview with Oprah Winfrey next week, it was announced Tuesday.
The famed talk show host said that a 90-minute special show would address "years of accusations of cheating, and charges of lying about the use of performance-enhancing drugs" throughout Armstrong's "storied cycling career."
The interview will be Armstrong's first since being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles last year and will air on the Oprah Winfrey Network. It will also be streamed live on her website, a publicity statement said.
Last week The New York Times reported that Armstrong, 41, was considering publicly admitting that he used banned performance-enhancing drugs, in an apparent bid to return to competitive sport in marathons and triathlons.
"Looking forward to this conversation with @lancearmstrong," Winfrey posted on her Twitter site on Tuesday. Armstrong re-tweeted the comment 15 minutes later.
In the interview, to be shown in a primetime slot next Thursday, January 17, Winfrey will speak with Armstrong at his home in Austin, Texas.
Armstrong has vehemently denied doping. It is not known if he will admit to doping on Winfrey's show. The show used words like "no-holds-barred interview" but also "alleged doping scandal," "accusations of cheating" and "charges of lying" in its publicity statement.
The announcement came on the same day that "60 Minutes" said US Anti-Doping Agency chief executive Travis Tygart told them in an interview to be aired on Wednesday that Armstrong attempted to donate around $250,000 to the agency.
Tygart said he was bowled over by the "totally inappropriate" donation offer from one of Armstrong's representatives in 2004, which he immediately refused.
"I was stunned," Tygart said in the interview. "It was a clear conflict of interest for USADA. We had no hesitation in rejecting that offer."
Asked if the offer was in the range of $250 000, Tygart said: "It was in that ballpark."
Tygart declined to comment Tuesday on Armstrong's decision to go on Winfrey's show.
Tygart, who described Armstrong's heavy-handed tactics as being similar to the "Mafia", denounced a $100 000 donation Armstrong made previously to the International Cycling Union (UCI).
But Armstrong's lawyer, Tim Herman, told USA Today on Tuesday that there was never a donation attempt from the cyclist.
"No truth to that story," Herman told the newspaper. "First Lance heard of it was today. He never made any such contribution or suggestion."
USADA stripped Armstrong of his Tour de France titles and slapped him with a lifetime ban in October, after releasing a damning report that said he helped orchestrate the most sophisticated doping program in the history of the sport.
The UCI effectively erased Armstrong from the cycling history books when it decided not to appeal sanctions imposed on Armstrong by USADA.
The massive report by USADA included hundreds of pages of eyewitness testimony, emails, financial records and laboratory analysis of blood samples.
"We have an obligation to clean athletes and the future of the sport. This was a fight for the soul of the sport," Tygart said.
US federal officials investigated Armstrong and his cycling team for two years but failed to charge him.
The decision not to charge Armstrong stunned Tygart. He was also upset when the US Justice Department refused to share the results of their probe with him.
Asked why he thought the Justice Department refused to bring charges, Tygart said: "It's a good question, and one that if you finally answer, let me know."
Tygart said Armstrong and his secretive inner circle of doctors, coaches and cyclists acted like "mafia" the way they intimidated cyclists into using performance-enhancing drugs.
"It is our job... to protect clean athletes. There are victims of doping," Tygart said.
Late last year, cancer survivor Armstrong resigned as chairperson of the Livestrong foundation he created.
Los Angeles - The disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong will discuss the doping scandal that dramatically brought down his cycling career during an interview with Oprah Winfrey next week, it was announced Tuesday.
The famed talk show host said that a 90-minute special show would address "years of accusations of cheating, and charges of lying about the use of performance-enhancing drugs" throughout Armstrong's "storied cycling career."
The interview will be Armstrong's first since being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles last year and will air on the Oprah Winfrey Network. It will also be streamed live on her website, a publicity statement said.
Last week The New York Times reported that Armstrong, 41, was considering publicly admitting that he used banned performance-enhancing drugs, in an apparent bid to return to competitive sport in marathons and triathlons.
"Looking forward to this conversation with @lancearmstrong," Winfrey posted on her Twitter site on Tuesday. Armstrong re-tweeted the comment 15 minutes later.
In the interview, to be shown in a primetime slot next Thursday, January 17, Winfrey will speak with Armstrong at his home in Austin, Texas.
Armstrong has vehemently denied doping. It is not known if he will admit to doping on Winfrey's show. The show used words like "no-holds-barred interview" but also "alleged doping scandal," "accusations of cheating" and "charges of lying" in its publicity statement.
The announcement came on the same day that "60 Minutes" said US Anti-Doping Agency chief executive Travis Tygart told them in an interview to be aired on Wednesday that Armstrong attempted to donate around $250,000 to the agency.
Tygart said he was bowled over by the "totally inappropriate" donation offer from one of Armstrong's representatives in 2004, which he immediately refused.
"I was stunned," Tygart said in the interview. "It was a clear conflict of interest for USADA. We had no hesitation in rejecting that offer."
Asked if the offer was in the range of $250 000, Tygart said: "It was in that ballpark."
Tygart declined to comment Tuesday on Armstrong's decision to go on Winfrey's show.
Tygart, who described Armstrong's heavy-handed tactics as being similar to the "Mafia", denounced a $100 000 donation Armstrong made previously to the International Cycling Union (UCI).
But Armstrong's lawyer, Tim Herman, told USA Today on Tuesday that there was never a donation attempt from the cyclist.
"No truth to that story," Herman told the newspaper. "First Lance heard of it was today. He never made any such contribution or suggestion."
USADA stripped Armstrong of his Tour de France titles and slapped him with a lifetime ban in October, after releasing a damning report that said he helped orchestrate the most sophisticated doping program in the history of the sport.
The UCI effectively erased Armstrong from the cycling history books when it decided not to appeal sanctions imposed on Armstrong by USADA.
The massive report by USADA included hundreds of pages of eyewitness testimony, emails, financial records and laboratory analysis of blood samples.
"We have an obligation to clean athletes and the future of the sport. This was a fight for the soul of the sport," Tygart said.
US federal officials investigated Armstrong and his cycling team for two years but failed to charge him.
The decision not to charge Armstrong stunned Tygart. He was also upset when the US Justice Department refused to share the results of their probe with him.
Asked why he thought the Justice Department refused to bring charges, Tygart said: "It's a good question, and one that if you finally answer, let me know."
Tygart said Armstrong and his secretive inner circle of doctors, coaches and cyclists acted like "mafia" the way they intimidated cyclists into using performance-enhancing drugs.
"It is our job... to protect clean athletes. There are victims of doping," Tygart said.
Late last year, cancer survivor Armstrong resigned as chairperson of the Livestrong foundation he created.
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- Saksy
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Re: Re: Armstrong to be banned for life
12 years 5 months ago
Well guess what guys, Lance has come clean, or should I say dirty...
If he was a real man he would have been on the witness stand facing ruthless interogation and admitting to everything, having to look at all the people he ruined, stole from and lied to in the face and apologise. Instead he'll be crying to Oprah and playing the victim trying to win the hearts of all the gullible yanks so he can compete in triathlons. I have no sympathy for this fraud.
As for the charity, there are plenty better role models they can use.
If he was a real man he would have been on the witness stand facing ruthless interogation and admitting to everything, having to look at all the people he ruined, stole from and lied to in the face and apologise. Instead he'll be crying to Oprah and playing the victim trying to win the hearts of all the gullible yanks so he can compete in triathlons. I have no sympathy for this fraud.
As for the charity, there are plenty better role models they can use.
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- mr hawaii
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- Dave Scott
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Re: Re: Armstrong to be banned for life
12 years 5 months ago
I am guessing that the Ophra show will have record viewing on Thursday?
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- davetheflower
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Re: Re: Armstrong to be banned for life
12 years 5 months ago
scotia Wrote:
> I am guessing that the Ophra show will have record
> viewing on Thursday?
Can you imagine how easy this interview will be for the biggest cheat in sport.
She will probably hold he's hand.
Where's Jeremy Paxman when you need him,he would rip him to shreds
> I am guessing that the Ophra show will have record
> viewing on Thursday?
Can you imagine how easy this interview will be for the biggest cheat in sport.
She will probably hold he's hand.
Where's Jeremy Paxman when you need him,he would rip him to shreds
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- cliftonking
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Re: Re: Armstrong to be banned for life
12 years 4 months ago
Did anyone any see any remorse in the interview today.i felt like theres a bit of defiance and sure felt like he is forced to admit and hence no remorse.Is the Italian doctor not linked to Tiger Woods and I pray that Tiger is not involved in this m.atter
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- gregbucks
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Re: Re: Armstrong to be banned for life
12 years 4 months ago
How much he get payed for the interview....
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