Posted on 08/23/2012 10:18:32 PM PDT by Domandred
AUSTIN, Texas - August 23rd, 2012 - There comes a point in every man's life when he has to say, "Enough is enough." For me, that time is now. I have been dealing with claims that I cheated and had an unfair advantage in winning my seven Tours since 1999. Over the past three years, I have been subjected to a two-year federal criminal investigation followed by Travis Tygart's unconstitutional witch hunt. 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.
I had hoped that a federal court would stop USADA’s charade. Although the court was sympathetic to my concerns and recognized the many improprieties and deficiencies in USADA’s motives, its conduct, and its process, the court ultimately decided that it could not intervene.
If I thought for one moment that by participating in USADA’s process, I could confront these allegations in a fair setting and – once and for all – put these charges to rest, I would jump at the chance. But I refuse to participate in a process that is so one-sided and unfair. Regardless of what Travis Tygart says, there is zero physical evidence to support his outlandish and heinous claims. The only physical evidence here is the hundreds of controls I have passed with flying colors. 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?
From the beginning, however, this investigation has not been about learning the truth or cleaning up cycling, but about punishing me at all costs. I am a retired cyclist, yet USADA has lodged charges over 17 years old despite its own 8-year limitation. As respected organizations such as UCI and USA Cycling have made clear, USADA lacks jurisdiction even to bring these charges. The international bodies governing cycling have ordered USADA to stop, have given notice that no one should participate in USADA’s improper proceedings, and have made it clear the pronouncements by USADA that it has banned people for life or stripped them of their accomplishments are made without authority. And as many others, including USADA’s own arbitrators, have found, there is nothing even remotely fair about its process.
USADA has broken the law, turned its back on its own rules, and stiff-armed those who have tried to persuade USADA to honor its obligations. At every turn, USADA has played the role of a bully, threatening everyone in its way and challenging the good faith of anyone who questions its motives or its methods, all at U.S. taxpayers’ expense. For the last two months, USADA has endlessly repeated the mantra that there should be a single set of rules, applicable to all, but they have arrogantly refused to practice what they preach. On top of all that, USADA has allegedly made deals with other riders that circumvent their own rules as long as they said I cheated. Many of those riders continue to race today.
The bottom line is I played by the rules that were put in place by the UCI, WADA and USADA when I raced. The idea that athletes can be convicted today without positive A and B samples, under the same rules and procedures that apply to athletes with positive tests, perverts the system and creates a process where any begrudged ex-teammate can open a USADA case out of spite or for personal gain or a cheating cyclist can cut a sweetheart deal for themselves. It’s an unfair approach, applied selectively, in opposition to all the rules. It’s just not right.
USADA cannot assert control of a professional international sport and attempt to strip my seven Tour de France titles. I know who won those seven Tours, my teammates know who won those seven Tours, and everyone I competed against knows who won those seven Tours. We all raced together. For three weeks over the same roads, the same mountains, and against all the weather and elements that we had to confront. There were no shortcuts, there was no special treatment. The same courses, the same rules. The toughest event in the world where the strongest man wins. Nobody can ever change that. Especially not Travis Tygart.
Today I turn the page. I will no longer address this issue, regardless of the circumstances. I will commit myself to the work I began before ever winning a single Tour de France title: serving people and families affected by cancer, especially those in underserved communities. This October, my Foundation will celebrate 15 years of service to cancer survivors and the milestone of raising nearly $500 million. We have a lot of work to do and I'm looking forward to an end to this pointless distraction. I have a responsibility to all those who have stepped forward to devote their time and energy to the cancer cause. I will not stop fighting for that mission. Going forward, I am going to devote myself to raising my five beautiful (and energetic) kids, fighting cancer, and attempting to be the fittest 40-year old on the planet.
There is a statute of limitations - 8 years if I am not mistaken - but USADA decided to go with 2 year old blood tests, that had not resulted in LA's suspension (ie "clean"), and witness statements (as far as we know) relating to (purported) incidents +10 years back. I can understand why LA used the epithet "star chamber" to characterize the USADA.
All top cyclists do drugs, and they all know it. That’s why they don’t condemn each other. I had a friend who was in the game, minor player, who told me about it.they all know and they don’t really care, it’s part of the business. Other than bodybuilders, they are the most juiced sport out there.
Yes....and almost without exception all professional & olympic athletes do PEDs.
Bud.. You have no idea who you are talking to. I KNOW Lance Armstrong! I’ve ridden alongside of him in the peloton! I can tell you with 100% certainty, he’s a cheater.
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How do you propose to prove that you a) rode alongside him and b) he’s a cheater?
You can’t just fling accusations around and then not respond to any posts asking for further information.
Why is the government involved in the regulation of sports at all? It is the responsibility of the private organization organizing the sport to set, administer and enforce the rules. if they do a poor job the public will over time lose confidence in the sport and move on to something else. This is a huge waste of taxpayer money.
“Bud.. You have no idea who you are talking to. I KNOW Lance Armstrong!”
Well then, the two of you can do all of us who drive cars and trucks a huge favor by advising the Lance Armstrong wannabes out there to get the hell off the main roads.
I am quite sure that because of their penchant for the rest of us to share the road with them, auto insurance is more expensive.
If I am ever faced with having to choose between a car-car collision and a car-bike collision, guess who loses?...That’s right, bike and rider go down and it’s not about the money, either.
That’s not true. They have 10 witnesses, including teammates and blood samples.
That’s not true.
If it isn’t true, what’s the problem?
Why do they all wear TdF leader jerseys every time they ride? it would be as if every time I went to play a pickup football game I told my buddies: "Wait up a sec - I have to put on my imitation Superbowl ring first!"
No it is more expensive because of people like you who can’t wait the extra minute to get where ever you are going. Judging by your attitude bikers have more right to be on the road than you.
Bud.. You have no idea who you are talking to. I KNOW Lance Armstrong! I’ve ridden alongside of him in the peloton! I can tell you with 100% certainty, he’s a cheater.
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Because you were cheating too?
How else could you stay beside him?
Finding someone guilty because he is tired of defending himself year after year is BS.
The Force is very weak with this one, Obi Wan.
Zero evidence... But what does it matter? The man is a conservative so he must be destroyed by the machine
You’re in denial. Ask your questions to post 10.
See post 10.
Floyd, is that you?
This has the whole, “When did you stop beating your wife?” Type stink to it. Because he is tired of the issue he is guilty?
“I do know I respect the man greatly and believe Lance in this issue over some sore loser whining to the USADA.”
Agree completely.
Prove it.
While the USADA polices sports, who polices the USADA???
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