Armstrong drops fight against doping charges

[pushing_wins]

he has the will power to ride the tour the france, fight cancer

why is he giving up without a fight this time? what happened to that will power? its uncharacteristic of a 7 time tour de france winner. it makes no sense.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/cycling/sto...ng-agency.html

[fundrazer]

The 200 page summary from USADA is now out. I took a quick glance at it, but haven't looked it over in depth.

Earlier in the morning, George Hincapie also confessed to doping during his time with the USPS team.

[FastFreddy]

Originally Posted by jonnythan

I'm pretty good at Google, and the USADA has never claimed to have samples from Lance that have tested positive for anything. If you have some insider knowledge that they do have this, let the rest of us in on it.

USADA details key role Ferrari played in Tour success

The US Anti-Doping Agency's reasoned decision gives evidence of doping by Lance Armstrong dating from his first Grand Tour after his return from cancer - the 1998 Vuelta a Espana - through to his seven Tour de France wins and even his more recent comeback years.

The timeline reveals that a brush with near death did not deter Armstrong from doping with dangerous and illegal substances, but that he paid millions to rebuild himself into a rider who was, like the fictional television hero, The Six Million Dollar Man, "better, faster, stronger".

USADA reveals an intimate role played by Dr. Michele Ferrari in masterminding Armstrong's Tour de France success, a relationship that ran from before his diagnosis with cancer in 1996 through to his comeback in 2009. USADA was able to trace more than a million dollars in payments to the Italian doctor, with payments ranging from 1996 to 2006.

"The evidence in this case includes banking and accounting records from a Swiss company controlled by Dr. Ferrari reflecting more than one million dollars in payments by Mr. Armstrong, extensive email communications between Dr. Ferrari and his son and Mr. Armstrong during a time period in which Mr. Armstrong claimed to not have a professional relationship with Dr. Ferrari," USADA revealed.

The evidence is counter to statements from Armstrong, in which he claims to have severed his professional relationship with Ferrari in 2004.

The report includes numerous eyewitness accounts from Armstrong's teammates which were detailed in affidavits: [Tyler] Hamilton confirmed that, "Dr. Ferrari injected [him] with EPO on a number of occasions." Hamilton's first injection of EPO from Dr. Ferrari came in Dr. Ferrari's camper while training at Sestriéres in 1999).

"Tyler Hamilton's testimony that Dr. Ferrari's training plan for him included EPO is perfectly consistent with the testimony of each of the other five U.S. Postal Service riders who have testified to working with Dr. Ferrari. In addition, all three of the Italian cyclists who worked with Dr. Ferrari, and whose witness statements are part of the evidence in this case, also confirm Dr. Ferrari's program involves EPO use," USADA wrote. Those riders include Leonardo Bertagnolli and Filippo Simeoni.

USADA's report states that Ferrari was closely involved with Armstrong's team, advising key domestiques such as Hamilton, Hincapie, Christian Vande Velde, Floyd Landis, Tom Danielson and Kevin Livingston -who was not listed as a witness in this case.

"Multiple handwritten training plans for Kevin Livingston were found in Dr. Ferrari’s files during a search of his residence in the first investigation of Dr. Ferrari. The cyclists who have worked with Dr. Ferrari describe handwritten training plans prepared by Dr. Ferrari, and have testified that he placed notations on their plans to indicate the dates on which they were supposed to use performance enhancing drugs. Multiple asterisks are an evident feature on all of the training plans in the file for Kevin Livingston," USADA states.

George Hincapie, who has admitted to doping in a statement released ahead of USADA's document, said that Lance Armstrong introduced him at his behest in 2000. He was told the annual fee for Ferrari's services was $15,000.

"Dr. Ferrari told me that the team doctors would assist me with the blood doping program and they did," Hincapie testified. He worked with Ferrari from 2000 through 2006 while helping Armstrong win his record number of Tours de France, including a stage win on the Pla d'Adet in 2005.

Ferrari was banned for life by USADA in July after refusing to take his case to arbitration.

Transactions between Armstrong and Ferrari:

2/21/1996: $14,089.65 CREDITO SWIFT NATIONSBANK NA 1, NATIONS HEADQUA O-LANCE ARMSTRONG AC- XXXXXXX RE F. XXXXXXXX USD 13615 – LESS CO USD 14'089.65 (bank record)
5/9/1996: $28,582.33 CREDITO SWIFT LANCE ARMSTRONG AC/XXXXXXX ./.SPESEN/SKA US 7.32 USD 28'582.33 (bank record)
7/24/1996: $42,082.33 CREDITO SWIFT LANCE ARMSTRONG . LINDA WALLING/RFB/XXXXXXXX/ CABLE ADV AT NOC USD 42'082.33 (bank record)
5/6/2002: $75,000.00 Armstrong L. – US$ 75’000. - (Journal entry)
8/29/2002: $75,000.00 Armstrong L. – US$ 75’000. - (Journal entry)
6/5/2003: $100,000.00 Lance Armstrong US$ 100’000. - (Journal entry)
9/10/2003: $75,000.00 Lance Armstrong US$ 75’000. - (Journal entry)
10/6/2003: $300,000.00 Lance Armstrong US$ 300’000. - (Journal entry)
7/2/2004: $110,000.00 AVIS DE CREDIT DONNEUR D’ORDRE: /LANCE ARMSTRONG XXXXXXXXX AUSTIN TEXAS 78703 USD 110,000.00 (bank record)
3/29/2005: $100,000.00 Avviso di accredito D’ORDINE DI LANCE ARMSTRONG USD 100 000.00 (bank record)
12/31/2006: $110,000.00 Lance Armstrong US$ 110’000. - (Journal entry)
Total $1,029,754.31


The US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) will release to the public its "reasoned decision" document today, detailing the evidence it has amassed against Lance Armstrong and his US Postal Service team associates who engaged in what USADA calls "the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen".



But in a press release issued this morning, USADA states that its 1000 page dossier not only includes testimony from 26 individuals, including 15 riders "with knowledge of the US Postal Service Team (USPS Team) and its participants' doping activities", but also "direct documentary evidence including financial payments, emails, scientific data and laboratory test results that further prove the use, possession and distribution of performance enhancing drugs by Lance Armstrong!!

So what now 26 people have an axe to grind with Lance. Even big George spilled the beans.

[drewski711]

I was one of the biggest Lance fans- watched the tour every year he won, rooted like crazy for the Postal guys and even made a trip to Austin to ride in one of the first Ride for the Roses events he did in the early years of Livestrong. I distinctly remember crying on an airplane while reading "It's not about the bike" and being so moved by the story. Having said that, in the last 2-3 years, it's become more clear that Lance, like all the other cyclists in his generation, used PEDs. I don't think this makes him a bad guy by default; I still really admire Andreu, Hincapie, Landis, DZ and many of the other cyclists on the team and I'm glad to see the came clean (albeit it under duress). The recent essays from Jonathan Vaughters and Levi in the NY times and Wall Street Journal respectively really put into perspective the pressure cyclists were under to cheat the system. I love the attacks they are now under for in essence testifying to a plea bargain. If we decide to get rid of that system, our whole judicial system is going to grind to a halt

I am getting tired of the Lance Fan Boys saying USADA was on a "witch hunt." Their job is to investigate and go after athletes suspected of using PEDs. If they don't do it, who will? At least right now, the current rules ban PEDs and we get all ****ed off when one of OUR athletes loses to someone who has used PEDs (e.g. Beckie Scott in Olympic XC skiing). USADA has the same role with athletes that the SEC has with Wall Street or the FBI has with criminals; they are there to police things and try to ensure a level playing field. It's likely not a fun job but we, as fans, still want them to do it, right?

[JoelDali]

I don't think it matters if Rafa or others eat Winstrol. I do think that 4.5 players that eat it and dominate 3.5 players should be investigated.

[vive le beau jeu !]

i think this organigram needs some update...





maybe such a template would fit better ?

[drewski711]

Watching ESPN 30 for 30 tonight, 9.79 which focuses on the 1988 Olympics. Fascinating to watch in light of the events in the last few months.

[Mustard]

Originally Posted by drewski711

I am getting tired of the Lance Fan Boys saying USADA was on a "witch hunt." Their job is to investigate and go after athletes suspected of using PEDs. If they don't do it, who will?

Armstrong is a retired cyclist who has never failed a drugs test. Why are the USADA after him in the first place? A witch hunt. They have zero objective, physical evidence of Armstrong doping.

[Bartelby]

The old zero evidence - there are none so blind as those ...

[Mustard]

Originally Posted by Bartelby

The old zero evidence - there are none so blind as those ...

Well you tell me what this USADA report tells us that we didn't know before? You tell me where the objective, physical evidence is of Armstrong taking PEDs?

[Bartelby]

I've already refuted these arguments earlier on, but what is new is the fact that Armstrong was not just a drug cheat, but the head of a doping ring.

[Bartelby]

USADA:

The evidence of the US Postal Service Pro Cycling Team-run scheme is overwhelming and is in excess of 1000 pages, and includes sworn testimony from 26 people, including 15 riders with knowledge of the US Postal Service Team (USPS Team) and its participants’ doping activities. The evidence also includes direct documentary evidence including financial payments, emails, scientific data and laboratory test results that further prove the use, possession and distribution of performance enhancing drugs by Lance Armstrong and confirm the disappointing truth about the deceptive activities of the USPS Team, a team that received tens of millions of American taxpayer dollars in funding.

Together these different categories of eyewitness, documentary, first-hand, scientific, direct and circumstantial evidence reveal conclusive and undeniable proof that brings to the light of day for the first time this systemic, sustained and highly professionalized team-run doping conspiracy.

[Mustard]

Originally Posted by Bartelby

I've already refuted these arguments earlier on, but what is new is the fact that Armstrong was not just a drug cheat, but the head of a doping ring.

So, no objective, physical evidence, just more smears against a cyclist who has never failed a drugs test. Joseph McCarthy would be so proud of the ruthlessness of this witch hunting.

[Mustard]

Originally Posted by Bartelby

USADA:

The evidence of the US Postal Service Pro Cycling Team-run scheme is overwhelming and is in excess of 1000 pages, and includes sworn testimony from 26 people, including 15 riders with knowledge of the US Postal Service Team (USPS Team) and its participants’ doping activities. The evidence also includes direct documentary evidence including financial payments, emails, scientific data and laboratory test results that further prove the use, possession and distribution of performance enhancing drugs by Lance Armstrong and confirm the disappointing truth about the deceptive activities of the USPS Team, a team that received tens of millions of American taxpayer dollars in funding.

Together these different categories of eyewitness, documentary, first-hand, scientific, direct and circumstantial evidence reveal conclusive and undeniable proof that brings to the light of day for the first time this systemic, sustained and highly professionalized team-run doping conspiracy.

What does this "scientific data and laboratory test results" consist of?

[Bartelby]

McCarthy is still alive with the persecution of Assange, but he was a creature of the American political system and USADA is not.

And they do have scientific data and laboratory test results.

Theyre releasing more documents later today so this will be clearer tomorrow.

[Avles]

Originally Posted by Mustard

So, no objective, physical evidence, just more smears against a cyclist who has never failed a drugs test. Joseph McCarthy would be so proud of the ruthlessness of this witch hunting.

It is not a "witch hunt" because there appears to be very substantial evidence against Armstrong.

I'm pretty sure that the sworn testimony of 15 other riders would be considered pretty strong evidence in any court of law.

You really think all those riders are perjuring themselves just to get Armstrong? That makes very little sense.

[Bartelby]

NYT:


While Armstrong has long protested his innocence, retroactive testing found EPO in six of Armstrong’s urine samples from the 1999 race, according to the report.

[pushing_wins]

Originally Posted by Mustard

Armstrong is a retired cyclist who has never failed a drugs test. Why are the USADA after him in the first place? A witch hunt. They have zero objective, physical evidence of Armstrong doping.

"how to stop slander"

http://www.ehow.com/how_5147767_stop-slander.html

[pushing_wins]

Originally Posted by Bartelby

McCarthy is still alive with the persecution of Assange, but he was a creature of the American political system and USADA is not.

And they do have scientific data and laboratory test results.

Theyre releasing more documents later today so this will be clearer tomorrow.

"scientific" is still only inductive reasoning

lance could argue

[Underhand]

Armstrong should get Marion Jones' cell. I'm sure he would feel honoured.