Stripping Lance Armstrong of His Titles

[Deleted]

msn.foxsports.com/cycling/story/us-anti-doping-agency-will-ban-lance-armstrong-for-life-strip-tour-de-france-titles-082312

What say you?

[Deleted]

I disagree with this stripping of titles and wiping out records. Sorry, the record is the record. Pretending it didn't happen is childish and stupid. He won. Period.

[Deleted]

Armstrong clearly knew his legacy would be blemished by his decision. He said he has grown tired of defending himself in a seemingly never-ending fight against charges that he doped while piling up more Tour victories than anyone ever. He has consistently pointed to the hundreds of drug tests that he passed as proof of his innocence during his extraordinary run of Tour titles from 1999 to 2005.

''There comes a point in every man's life when he has to say, `Enough is enough.' For me, that time is now,'' Armstrong said Thursday night, hours before the deadline to enter arbitration. He called the USADA investigation an ''unconstitutional witch hunt.''

''I have been dealing with claims that I cheated and had an unfair advantage in winning my seven Tours since 1999,'' he said. ''The toll this has taken on my family and my work for our foundation and on me leads me to where I am today - finished with this nonsense.''

Not fighting any longer does look suspicious, but I also see his point that he passed all of his drug tests while he was competing.

He's a brand unto himself now, so he doesn't really "need" those wins to get anything accomplished these days.

[Deleted]

If he passed all his tests while competing, he is legit. This is nothing but a witch hunt. They had YEARS of him competing to address this. That is their fault if they didn't do so. The records should stand.

[Waffle]

What I can't figure out is IF he really was clean and there is no evidence to the contrary, why has the USADA put so much time and effort into the investigation and charges?

[Deleted]

They had YEARS of him competing to address this while he was competing and test him. He passed his tests while he was competing. It is over. Done deal. They could have ramped up their testing and tested him more. If they are concerned with that in the sport then they could have increased their testing. This is nothing but a witch hunt.

[Deleted]

And, he brought attention to the sport of cycling. People watched to see him. They are hurting the sport by this nonsense. It is leaving a bad taste in my mouth and i just won't watch in the future.

[Deleted]

The records are the records. They are history. Done deal. Over and done with.

[wvugurl26]

He passed every test they gave him while he was competing. It seems like a witch hunt for them to continue to chase him even after he retired from the sport.

I can also see at a certain point, he'd be tired of it all. He knows what he did. Maybe he's just tired of wasting money on lawyers fighting an agency who has never been able to prove he cheated. The agency seems to have a personal vendetta that keeps them from admitting maybe he was just that damn good. They can't prove he cheated so I think they are the ones in the wrong not him.

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

...our taxpayer dollars at work!

[Deleted]

Why didn't they address this years ago? They have no right to resurrect this crap and try to smear his name. Even if he was guilty, they didn't catch him in any wrong doing. It would be like your employer coming after you years later and accusing you of something that they had no proof of.

[Deleted]

And, even if he was doping, you don't win in a vacuum. It isn't like you inject some steroids and become superman. You still have to train, train, train like there is no tomorrow. And, if was doing it so was everyone else he beat most likely.

[Deleted]

Also the guy only has one nut... give him a break.

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

Aug 24, 2012 7:48:14 GMT -5 @shooby said:

Why didn't they address this years ago? They have no right to resurrect this crap and try to smear his name. Even if he was guilty, they didn't catch him in any wrong doing. It would be like your employer coming after you years later and accusing you of something that they had no proof of.

...I've seen it said that he just doesn't have the money to defend himself from the USADA... this rings true... kind of like that mantra, "a government big enough to give you everything is a government big enough to take everything from you"

[Deleted]

Well, if they are attacking a guy with only one nut, then that has to be some sort of illegal discrimination.

[Deleted]

Aug 24, 2012 7:51:52 GMT -5 BeenThere...DoneThat... said:

Aug 24, 2012 7:48:14 GMT -5 @shooby said:

Why didn't they address this years ago? They have no right to resurrect this crap and try to smear his name. Even if he was guilty, they didn't catch him in any wrong doing. It would be like your employer coming after you years later and accusing you of something that they had no proof of.

...I've seen it said that he just doesn't have the money to defend himself from the USADA... this rings true... kind of like that mantra, "a government big enough to give you everything is a government big enough to take everything from you"

Yes. Why should he have to spend money to defend himself? It is ridiculous.

[Deleted]

I hope people rise up is his defense and give that organization a good smack. Maybe the US should boycott it.

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

Aug 24, 2012 7:53:30 GMT -5 @shooby said:

I hope people rise up is his defense and give that organization a good smack. Maybe the US should boycott it.

...the US instituted it and helps to fund it with our taxdollars...

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

...what might be interesting is if the CUI snubs their nose at us and says, he's keeping his titles and you're not the boss of me...

[Deleted]

I am really tired of this in sports. Let it be over. The records are done. I don't want this kind of crap in sports. I simply want to enjoy watching the athletes without all the drama. And, the onus is on them to make sure anyone competing is clean or whatever. If they slip through, so be it. Sports has become nothing but gossip, inneundo and reality TV. I don't care who A Rod is dating. If you read the sports page now, it is like reading Hollywood gossip. Pathetic.

[Deleted]

Athletes should be allowed to take anything they want to enhance their game. If they want to shoot up horse steroids and exchange blood with a cheeta, no skin off my back. I don't mind watching super human freaks compete.

[Deleted]

Yeah, it doesn't bother me. And, why shouldn't we allow them to do so under a doctor's supervision if they choose too?

[Deleted]

Aug 24, 2012 7:58:58 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

Athletes should be allowed to take anything they want to enhance their game. If they want to shoot up horse steroids and exchange blood with a cheeta, no skin off my back. I don't mind watching super human freaks compete.

Toddlers and Tiaras, you will like that show.
The "natural" competitors are so...boring. ;D

[thyme4change]

Athletes should be allowed to take anything they want to enhance their game. If they want to shoot up horse steroids and exchange blood with a cheeta, no skin off my back. I don't mind watching super human freaks compete.

The only reason I disagree with the statement is that I think it would lead to a lot of high school kids doing the same, but under way less controlled and monitored circumstances. As the mother of a future potential high school jock - it appears dangerous. But, if there wasn't that consequence - believe me, I am all in for it. Bring on the super-freaks!

[Deleted]

Message deleted by gdgyva.

[Deleted]

Lance took over 500 tests, both blood and urine during this time period

Not one came back as positive

But....they have 10 eyewitnesses willing to swear that Lance was doping, and somehow circumventing the testing process

There is no physical evidence....but there is eyewitness evidence, and a phone call that was recorded in 2004 not with Lance, but someone in his team

But i dont understand why after all these years, they are still trying to nullify his record....what does it matter at this point?

When was the last time he raced? 2007? 2008? maybe before that.....

It is a personal vendetta....and Lance does not want to pull a Clemens, or Bonds and testify to something that they "may" be able to use later for perjury issues

He is smart to drop it....save on lawyer fees.....he lost his case to have it thrown out of court....so this is his answer to the charges

[Deleted]

Aug 24, 2012 11:46:24 GMT -5 @missmargarita said:

Aug 24, 2012 8:00:03 GMT -5 @shooby said:

Yeah, it doesn't bother me. And, why shouldn't we allow them to do so under a doctor's supervision if they choose too?

Because it creates an unlevel playing field if some athletes are using steroids and other perfromance enhancing substances.

Athletics is already an uneven playing field. You think I could play professional sports? Not on your life. Is that fair?

[thyme4change]

When was the last time he raced? 2007? 2008? maybe before that.....

He was in the 2010 Tour de France on Team RadioShack.

[Colleenz]

Can we just strip Lance Armstrong?

[thyme4change]

But if everyone had access to the same cheetah's blood, then we are back to 'fair.'

And, if sports were fair - wouldn't we limit the Yankee's payroll?