[Lance] Armstrong throws in the towel [on doping charges]

[Apple OC]

the bottom line is ... those 7 tours cannot be re-raced or all the cyclists re-tested. Lance won them and passed all the tests he was given.

IMO ... I don't blame Lance if he tells them to #$&@off ... who wouldn't be fed up if the witch hunt was focussed on themselves? ... and for this long.

[rhett7660]

If he was guilty and they have the evidence, present it now. Why wait?

[niuniu]

Originally Posted by rhett7660

If he was guilty and they have the evidence, present it now. Why wait?

Other organisations may be requesting or using the same evidence (I know WADA had definitely requested it, watched an interview with their president today). To make it public while any investigation is ongoing could prejudice any case they're putting against him.

I don't think anything is irregular with this aspect.

[rhett7660]

Originally Posted by niuniu

Other organisations may be requesting or using the same evidence (I know WADA had definitely requested it, watched an interview with their president today). To make it public while any investigation is ongoing could prejudice any case they're putting against him.

I don't think anything is irregular with this aspect.

Ahh ok, that makes sense. Just seems all full fishy that they would wait this long after all has been said and done. I thought they tested before and after the race. But that may not be the case.

[Don't panic]

Originally Posted by .Andy

Didn't see this posted yet

Armstrong is giving up the fight against what he claims are unfair and one-sided doping charges. Will likely have all tour titles stripped and receive a lifetime ban.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/cycli...ges/57258616/1

it was unavoidable that eventually his cheating would catch up with him.

He is "giving the fight" because he has a losing hand and he knows it. This is no witch hunt. it has been known for years he was a cheat.
I admire him for his foundation, but still all his empire was built on lies

[Orange Crane]

Doping should be allowed if not even mandatory in professional sports across the board.

[CorvusCamenarum]

Originally Posted by rhett7660

If he was guilty and they have the evidence, present it now. Why wait?

It's the lack of evidence that proves he's doubleplusguilty, because he's so good at doping that he was able to stay one step ahead of the testing procedures. Repeatedly. For years.

Heard on the radio this afternoon that Nike was sticking by him.

[mankar4]

what does the USADA's "banning from competitive events" even mean? What is their authority? Can't he still complete all he wants if its OK with the body that presides over a specific event?

[Rodimus Prime]

Originally Posted by mankar4

what does the USADA's "banning from competitive events" even mean? What is their authority? Can't he still complete all he wants if its OK with the body that presides over a specific event?

USADA is the body that over see most of the event or the events follow USADA rules which again means that a USADA ban mean no go for most major events.

[BigPrince]

Isn't there a concept of statue of limitations?

[.Andy]

Originally Posted by BigPrince

Isn't there a concept of statue of limitations?

Carved from the finest italian marble .

[killerrobot]

This is a good article that explains this whole mess with a bit more detail.

It appears as though the Judge thought USADA's evidence was worthless but he had to rule in their favor because as a professional US athlete, Lance signed a contract that all decisions would be handled via arbitration.

As far as the statute of limitations, this article points out it was 8 years, but Tygart decided to change the rules to make it 14 and apply it retroactively. Someone on his legal times says that the arbitration would probably last another 4-5 years if Lance decided to fight it.


Anti-doping authorities don't play fair against athletes
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-f...2080853.column

[malman89]

I don't know how I really feel about this. Everyone knows that Lance Armstrong the man (and probably competitor) is a total asshat. Yeah he raised money for cancer, but he's a complete Richard.

On the flip side, the USADA has no jurisdiction on most of their charges and has no power to strip such victories.

Originally Posted by Peterkro

38 suspect samples and 10 ex team mates prepared to give evidence against him, I think even Armstrong sees that as a no win situation.

I see these people as Jose Cansecos - total no-name losers who wanted their 15 minutes of glory by raking Lance's identity through the mud. If it went to a hearing, they would be guaranteed book deals and what not. I wonder how pissed they are Lance quit. I guess we'll see how it plays out.

Now the thing about Canseco is that he was pretty much mostly right, so you can't completely write off all this new evidence without giving it a shot. It's really an all around lose-lose. A sport with little credibility just lost any of it to the potentially interested/casual fan.