The Blog Page

Earlier this morning, the International Cycling Union stripped Lance Armstrong of all seven of his Tour de France victories from 1999 to 2005.

An excerpt from the VeloNews story about UCI actions says it all:

“We will not appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and we will recognize the sanction that USADA has imposed,” (UCI President Pat) McQuaid told a news conference in Geneva, saying he had been “sickened” by the revelations. “The UCI will strip him of his seven Tour de France wins. Lance Armstrong has no place in cycling. … He deserves to be forgotten in cycling.”

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency report released two weeks ago said Armstrong and his U.S. Postal Service and Discovery Channel teams used steroids, the blood booster EPO and blood transfusions. The report included statements from 11 former teammates who testified against Armstrong.

UCI’s statement about its decision also speaks volumes. Here’s part of that statement:

The USADA decision explains how riders on the USPS team showed no inclination to share the full extent of what they knew until they were subpoenaed or called by federal investigators and that their only reason for telling the truth is because the law required them to do so.

These riders have confronted their past and told their stories. Their accounts of their past provide a shocking insight into the USPS team where the expression to ‘win at all costs’ was redefined in terms of deceit, intimidation, coercion and evasion.

Their testimony confirms that the anti-doping infrastructure that existed at that time was, by itself, insufficient and inadequate to detect the practices taking place within the team. The UCI has always been the first international sporting federation to embrace new developments in the fight against doping and it regrets that the anti-doping infrastructure that exists today was not available at that time so as to render such evasion impossible.

I’m not so sure evasion is impossible, but it certainly is more difficult than it was during the Armstrong era.

Given the widespread doping during that era, I most certainly would support a decision by the Tour de France not to name an official winner of the event from 1999 to 2005. It’s an era that should be forgotten.

Share and Enjoy

Lance Armstrong has stepped down as the chairman of Livestrong, the charity he founded to fight cancer, The Associated Press and other media sources have reported.

The reason, not surprisingly, is because of the negative publicity he’s received because of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s investigation of Armstrong’s doping during his seven-year run as Tour de France champion.

“I have had the great honor of serving as this foundation’s chairman for the last five years and its mission and success are my top priorities,” Armstrong said in a statement posted today on the Livestrong blog. “Today therefore, to spare the foundation any negative effects as a result of controversy surrounding my cycling career, I will conclude my chairmanship.”

Shortly after Armstrong’s announcement, AP also reported that Nike would end its relationship with him “due to the seemingly insurmountable evidence that Lance Armstrong participated in doping and misled Nike for more than a decade.” Nike, however, will support Livestrong.

In 1996, as Armstrong’s treatment for testicular cancer was ending, I created the foundation to serve people affected by cancer.

“It has been a great privilege to help grow it from a dream into an organization that today has served 2.5 million people and helped spur a cultural shift in how the world views cancer survivors,” Armstrong said on the Livestrong blog. ” This organization, its mission and its supporters are incredibly dear to my heart.”

Jeff Garvey, Livestrong’s vice chairman, will become the organization’s new chairman.

The news comes as no surprise in wake of USADA’s devastating “Reasoned Decision” last week detailing the doping allegations against Armstrong and his U.S. Postal Service team.

In case you were hiding under a rock — or in my case, working on a bunch of projects — the report details a systematic doping program led by Armstrong. Here’s a good summary of it from Bicycling magazine.:

USADA detailed the depth of doping during Armstrong’s run of seven Tour de France wins (20 of 21 podium finishers from the 1999 to 2005 Tours have been convincingly tied to doping); the drugs Armstrong did (EPO, testosterone, cortisone, blood transfusions) and the cost (over $1 million to Michele Ferrari, who numerous witnesses say was a doping expert); how he eluded testers; and finally his efforts to suppress the truth, including witness intimidation, false affidavits, and perjury.

When Armstrong started his string of Tour de France victories in 199, I believed in him despite the finger-pointing by his critics. I started having doubts, though, when he withdrew from the 2004 Athens Olympics shortly after winning his 6th Tour de France.

But I must acknowledge Armstrong’s role in the increased popularity in bicycling in the United States, and there is no doubt that Livestrong has given hope to many, many cancer patients. I hope that can continue despite the major taint on Armstrong’s carerr.

Share and Enjoy