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Lance Armstrong part of cycling's 'most successful doping program,' USADA says
The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency says it will release Wednesday more than 1,000 pages of evidence detailing the involvement of cyclist Lance Armstrong in what the agency calls "the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen."
Armstrong, who won an unprecedented seven Tour de France titles, announced in August that he would no longer fight doping charges that the USADA brought against him earlier in the year. The famed cyclist's decision prompted the USADA to ban the 40-year-old athlete from competition and strip him of his wins dating to 1998, though there were questions of whether the organization had the authority to take such action.
The USADA filed doping charges against Armstrong in June. Armstrong retired from professional cycling in February 2011, though he continued to compete in triathlon events.
The USADA, a quasi-government agency recognized as the official anti-doping agency for Olympic, Pan American and Paralympic sports in the United States, accused Armstrong of using, possessing, trafficking and giving to others performance-enhancing drugs, as well as covering up doping violations.
Armstrong's attorney blasted the accusations as "wrong" and "baseless," much like Armstrong has vehemently denied other such claims in the past.
Armstrong, when he announced in August that he wouldn't fight the charges, said there was "zero physical evidence" to support the USADA's claims, and that he was "finished with this nonsense" of fighting charges after fighting against such allegations for years.
"The only physical evidence there is the hundreds of controls I have passed with flying colors," Armstrong said in August. "I made myself available around the clock and around the world. In-competition. Out of competition. Blood. Urine. Whatever they asked for I provided. What is the point of all this testing if, in the end, USADA will not stand by it?"
On Wednesday, Armstrong's teammate George Hincape admitted he used banned substances.
"It is extremely difficult today to acknowledge that during a part of my career I used banned substances," Hincape said in a statement. "Early in my professional career, it became clear to me that, given the widespread use of performance enhancing drugs by cyclists at the top of the profession, it was not possible to compete at the highest level without them. I deeply regret that choice and sincerely apologize to my family, teammates and fans."
August 26, 2012: Armstrong: 'I'm more at ease now than I have been in 10 years'
August 24, 2012: Armstrong's statement about ending fight against charges
August 24, 2012: Armstrong's cancer foundation still strong
Does this accusation by the The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency change your feelings about Armstrong? Share your reaction in the comments below.
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USADA is pathetic. Even if he did use illegal performance enhancing drugs, not only did he overcome cancer, do you know how many men, women, and children across the globe he's inspired?
The whole company should be disbanded and deported.
When they put these hormones in your cattle, pigs, or chicken to grow faster so too big to fails being subsidized on our dime can make larger profits it's capitalism at it's finest. When a professional athlete uses these hormones to compete with other cyclists who are using them as well it's no bueno because you didn't follow the rules. You're bad! Very very bad! Now take away his medals and trophies and smear him like the rule breaker that he is.
Big brother is a joke...
The paper works says absolutely NOTHING, It is called a fluff report, no one ever reads it or publishes anything.
But the false information is out there and people are left with a lingering feeling of doubt about another great American.
Nice work asking wholes in the paperwork!
So, you've read this report that isn't online yet?? Oh, and you support cheating as well?
Give me a break.. how about setting up contests specifically for all the juicers out there in the field? At the minimum, we should have two categories for each sport item – one for those who use performance enhancers and the other for the rest. When things become complicated, we can think of adding some more categories.. for example democrats and republicans etc.
The "juice" that gets banned is the stuff that's also been shown to have long term detrimental affects. There are many practices, such as eating fruits, vegetables, protein, exercising, sleeping, etc. that have been proven to improve athletic performance and also do not seem to have have long term detrimental affects. Those practices are not banned.
What if a drug, let's call it "Cheetah," came out that allowed a person to run a mile in under 90 seconds but he or she will die 15 to 45 seconds after the race? Would you encourage contests using this drug to see if someone can run a sub-50 second mile?
Who, besides the USADA, cares about this? Armstrong is a hero for the hope he has given cancer patients, not to mention the money and awareness he has raised. Shame on those who don't take this into consideration. I don't care if they take his medals away, but is it really necessary to take down a positive role model because of this? Wake up, most cyclists dope!
I enjoyed watching him compete all those years whether he was juicing or not. If the tests he took back then were inaccurate, but sworn to be at the time, why should we believe "these" tests are accurate? Football players juice up, too and I enjoy watching them play. Take Super Bowl rings from all teams who had dopers? All rings will be returned! Do something important that our country desperately needs now.......Vote Romney for President!!!!!
I find it impossible to take the findings of the report seriously when they start off using made-up words like "professionalized".
From Merriam-Webster:
Definition of PROFESSIONALIZE
: to give a professional character to
— pro·fes·sion·al·i·za·tion noun
Examples of PROFESSIONALIZE
The country is professionalizing the military.
pro·fes·sion·al·ized pro·fes·sion·al·iz·ing
Can you take it seriously now?
This mockery to justice will shut down the USADA.
I don't know if Armstrong cheated or not. He says he took tests constantly and nothing. We'll see what these 1,000 pages reveal. And, by the way, George Hincape, you have no fans. I don't think anyone has ever heard of you.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but George Hincapie is one of the more recognizable names in cycling. He has over 51,000 Facebook "likes." If you say he has "no fans" then you have "no credibility."
Make ALL bikers take drugs, and it will be even! Case closed! Then, they can ban the clean ones!
"The USADA, a quasi-government agency"- I seriously hope tax money isn't used to funds these fools. Almost as bad as Congress wasting time on MLB steroid hearings.
Wish I'd said that. Good post...
The lesson is clear . To be a winner you have to cheat.
Why didn't the USADA simply say "We have no physical evidence, just hear say".
As Armstrong said, he complied with ALL the doping search requests over the years and NOW all the usada's can say is "trust us", he cheated!"
because they have proof the USPS team bought the drugs, receipts, payments tha sort of paper evidence
To be a cheater, you have to win. As smart a comment as above one.
Gotta think there is more to this if he gives up his fight. Can't argue with his logic, but if there is not reasonable doubt I just don't see the reasonable expectation that you can prove a negative.
I can think of many reasons why he might give it up. A top lawyer probably cost him anywhere from $500-$1000 an hour. You are rich, you know in your mind what happened. You don't compete anymore. Why bother? They will never stop.
And so, they will release 1000 pages of convaluted nonsense so no one can or will understand out. Just like the 9/11 commission and the warren commission. I smell bs.
The Doping process is a lot different than the 9/11 commission. In every case that I have read the evidence, it is very clear and very conclusive. And everything that has been released so far is pretty damning evidence.
Mickey1313 – I know it's hard to accept this, but Armstrong was a good cyclist but a world class cheater. Almost all the principals he rode with have admitted doping, but he didn't nothwithstanding all the testimony to the contrary?. I assume that you think that was all to set Armstrong up? Who? Why? Everyone?
Then again, I suspect you need to get back to the Birther Proof meetings and the Unicorn Sighting Club soiree.
You're right. Unless they release a thousand pages of certified valid test results, what else is there? Hearsay evidence?
Could this agency have any less credibility? Time for someone else to take the reins...
Just another example of the gestapo running the show. Next thing you know the Supreme Gestapo (Court) will allow affirmative action to remain, and allow our nations kids to take a backseat to foreigners, and the less deserving WEAKER educated minorities. The BEST students should be treated as such, and not reverse discriminated against!