The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #149100   Message #3468420
Posted By: Newport Boy
19-Jan-13 - 06:33 AM
Thread Name: Turd De France
Subject: RE: Turd De France
I don't know how many of those posting to this thread are keen followers of cycling. Presumably those who are will have read USADA's media statement
here of 10 October and the Reasoned Decision issued later the same day.

I find it difficult to understand how many of the comments above could be made after reading those documents. To quote a couple of short paragraphs:

It took tremendous courage for the riders on the USPS Team and others to come forward and speak truthfully. It is not easy to admit your mistakes and accept your punishment. But that is what these riders have done for the good of the sport, and for the young riders who hope to one day reach their dreams without using dangerous drugs or methods.

These eleven (11) teammates of Lance Armstrong, in alphabetical order, are Frankie Andreu, Michael Barry, Tom Danielson, Tyler Hamilton, George Hincapie, Floyd Landis, Levi Leipheimer, Stephen Swart, Christian Vande Velde, Jonathan Vaughters and David Zabriskie.
...
I have personally talked with and heard these athletes' stories and firmly believe that, collectively, these athletes, if forgiven and embraced, have a chance to leave a legacy far greater for the good of the sport than anything they ever did on a bike.

Lance Armstrong was given the same opportunity to come forward and be part of the solution. He rejected it.

Instead he exercised his legal right not to contest the evidence and knowingly accepted the imposition of a ban from recognized competition for life and disqualification of his competitive results from 1998 forward.


Armstrong has refused point-blank to involve himself in any meaningful enquiry. It's not surprising that he chose to talk to an entertainer, rather than an informed interviewer.

Phil