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.
Re the article, I agree. Whatever happened all that time back, Mr. Armstrong is in a position to walk away, and I don't blame him.
For all the years he was winning he was contiually tested and the authorities found nothing. Now after all these years they find something and strip him of his titles. Well, you can bet your bottom dollar had he been French he would have have been a modern day hero. Screw the French, Armstrong is a sports hero.
Not sure about the conservative part..., just having read through the posts that he’s a Dem, but I still believe it’s BS
Not many follow all the details of competitive cycling. Why don't those in this thread making definite statements about evidence against Armstrong post links to provide some support for your claims?
Bud.. You have no idea who you are talking to.
Harry, Harry Reid, is that you?
I am primarily a recreational, fitness, greenway kind of rider, but I try to wear brightly colored shirts, especially bright yellow, when I will be around cars. Visibility matters. That may not be the primary reason for some, but it is a valid one.
You can tell I'm not a wannabe pro because I call them "shirts." :)
EXACTLY what I was thinking!!! All these folks who decided to “open up” after forever just gave this government wonk work to do!!!!!!!
I’ve met Lance and worked for a guy who knew him well. I’m not going to partake on the drug issue as I don’t know what is and what is not permitted. But, this I do know, he’s an honorable man with his foundation and what he has done to brighten days of cancer patients is something not many “famous” people take time to do. Yes, I do wish he’d see the light and go a bit right but he lives here in Austin! Maybe this will cause him to see the right!!
My question is, is he also under a current or had a recent IRS audit?
It looks like destroying American Exceptionalism has no bounds.
He is "Going Galt" in his own way, Kudos to him in telling a Federal Agency politely up yours, I am not playing your game anymore,
He is not surrendering his power to them anymore, who do they go after now? They at least have to cease and desist on Lance...
As someone who dabbed in owning some sweet bikes and riding and used to follow the sport, I am not sure all the detractors here know that he is literally a mutant.
They have done test on his lungs and heart and he has a 30% advantage if not more the rest of us because both organ systems are bigger and not in a bad way. Maybe they just can't get over that sometimes you are born with it.
Good points.
Road safety. For the rider, and vehicles is a good reason to be seen.
In addition cycling clothing helps wick perspiration, keep muscles warmer, and if you have ever ridden, protect you with the padding in the bib shorts.
It’s not all about looking like a peacock.... ;) ;) ;)
IMHO inocent people don’t give up the battle....he has more than enough resources to fight this and has chosen not to do so. Just saying!!!
Giving up the fight! At some point it becomes mind numbing to try to prove what has already been proven. 500 tests and no positives, WHAT MORE HAS TO BE PROVEN TO THESE BEAURUCRATIC IMBECILES. Their point is to prove they are right and anyone that disagrees with them is to be destroyed. This is the same type of decision making we will have under Obamacare.
“You’re in denial. Ask your questions to post 10”.
I’m not asking 10, I’m asking you. Ten has zero credibility.
Where is the proof that Lance Armstrong has broken any rules?
Long after the fact, witnesses and blood test years after the fact. Looks like a railroad job to anyone with a lick of sense. Is “Le Tour” coming after him. Not a chance. In fact, the tour ought to have the guts, to kick all the doping agencies out of their race. If blood doping is such a winner, why aren’t we all blood doping for crying out loud? This manufactured scandal is sure making professional cycling look bad, as well as destroying the careers of quite a few pro cyclists.
I DONT know Lance Armstrong, and I have NEVER raced next to him. However...
Some people tend to forget the role genetics played in Lance Armstrong’s success.
Armstrong’s heart is 33% bigger than the average man’s. This isn’t the sole reason for his performance, of course, as other racers have this condition.
He also has the low lactic acid levels, some of the lowest, if not the lowest, ever seen. Basically half the level of most people.
What does this mean, it means, he can sprint ahead and have people try and keep up, then slow down, recover in a shorter period of time than his competitors and sprint again. He does this over and over and eventually, lactic acid prevents his opponents from keeping up with him.
I don’t think doping explains 7 years of winning with so many negative tests.
When I go for a predawn run I wear a roadworker’s reflective vest. They’re cheap and weigh nothing.
There is a statute of limitations - USADA’s own. IIRC, it is seven years. The charges go back 17.
Kind of telling, to me.
Glad I wasn’t drinking my coffee when I read that....
Glad I wasn’t drinking my coffee when I read that....
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