Lance Armstrong Stripped of 7 Tour De France Titles

[VT Skier]

If you're a cycling fan, this is one of the better essays:

Travis Tygart : Red Kite Prayer

[JohnK]

I'm not sure how I feel about this news; Lance has done so much for cancer awareness and care for people and families with cancer - I've ridden in several Livestrong fundraisers here in Philadelphia. While that is separate from the pro races, clearly the name and the connection to Lance are important to its success.

So if the titles are stripped, will whomever get elevated be investigated for doping? And if they are found guilty of doping, what then? I realize this case with Lance is US specific and perhaps other governing agencies will have to be involved but this could go on a long time then perhaps someone who finished out of the top 5 "wins" ?

[JohnK]

Originally Posted by 1KW

Lance passed all his blood tests. What they are accusing him of now is taking drugs that boost his blood count and transfusing himself with blood. Anyone who has ever had chemotherapy know's this is done as part of the cancer chemotherapy treatment. If it had the side effect of making him a better cyclist I say great . I think it is moronic to ban someone who is already retired.

David, isn't that technique similar to what Tiger was accused of doing? I think it was called "blood spinning?"

[thesaint519]

Originally Posted by randerson3024

Does rampant cheating make it any less wrong or fraudulent? I don't understand why these baseball dickheads who get busted for steriods don't have thier records stripped. It is either wrong, or it ain't - period.

Unfortunately, it's more about the money than anything else. Spectators require more of a spectacle and greater performance drama, while the organizers and team owners rake in the dough.

[djwhog]

ugly thread, should be locked....

[Volks]

Lance who?....."Yawn"...... I would rather go listen to music

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by VT Skier

If you're a cycling fan, this is one of the better essays:

Travis Tygart : Red Kite Prayer

Tygart's has always runs his mouth like a wobbly wheel.

[Haurock]

Using enhancing performing drugs is prevalent in the world of Cycling.. as was mentioned, they ALL do it...

While there is no 'hard' evidence, I personally, believe that Lance Armstrong like all the other strong cyclist have used these drugs.

The fact that he defeated cancer is side-bar. The fact that he overcame cancer and did as well as he did in the Tour is testament to his perseverance, drugs or no drugs....

What I always find so distasteful time and time again is how they just lie, and lie.. and lie.. All of those who have been disgraced, have lied. In my view the denial in these cases is actually worse than the deed.

[Rmac]

Originally Posted by Haurock

In my view the denial in these cases is actually worse than the deed.

Just ask Dick Nixon.

[ehoove]

Originally Posted by Still-One

Isn't it great that the USADA thinks it has the power to strip him of his titles even though they have no proof that he cheated.

Jim

To me after he had the French drop their charges, then the US Government does the same, for the USDA to offer immunity to those who testify against him, then bring new charges is a witch hunt and job/agency justification. How much $$ is a person expected to waste protecting his innocence? The idea that over the course of 500 tests there would not be one slip up is hard to believe. The sport is rife with professional jealousy, which is why I no longer follow it, which is a shame since I rode bike cross country in 1974. I've watched many a tour but never even tuned in this year. The guilty parties here are the tour officials and sponsors that incubated the win at all costs attitude over the years by looking the other way. To those who have never raced a bicycle over long distance it is an amazingly tough and grueling endeavor that few even attempt. what a pitiful mess, may the man be measured by the good he has done, not what he has been accused of.

I now return you to your scheduled program,

Jim