Lance Armstrong banned for life, stripped of 7 Tour wins
Lance Armstrong banned for life, stripped of 7 Tour wins
By Brent Schrotenboer, USA TODAY
Updated 1h 48m ago
The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency has banned Lance Armstrong for life and stripped him of all seven Tour de France victories that helped make him an American hero.
- http://i.usatoday.net/sports/_photos...J824S2FK-x.jpgBy Bryn Lennon, Getty Images
Lance Armstrong decided on Thursday not to go to arbitration to dispute charges brought by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which alleges the cyclist for years engaged in a blood-doping conspiracy.
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By Bryn Lennon, Getty Images
Lance Armstrong decided on Thursday not to go to arbitration to dispute charges brought by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which alleges the cyclist for years engaged in a blood-doping conspiracy.
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The agency's action came one day after Armstrong decided not to fight the doping charges, saying "enough is enough" and refusing to recognize USADA's authority to sanction him.
In a release, USADA said his decision to skip arbitration prompted the immediate sanctions. He also must forfeit all results from Aug. 1, 1998, through today, which include the seven conseuctive Tour titles won from 1999 through 2005.
The agency said Armstrong received a lifetime ban because of "his numerous anti-doping rule violations, including his involvement in trafficking and administering doping products to others."
"Nobody wins when an athlete decides to cheat with dangerous performance enhancing drugs, but clean athletes at every level expect those of us here on their behalf, to pursue the truth to ensure the win-at-all-cost culture does not permanently overtake fair, honest competition" USADA CEO Travis Tygart said in the release. "Any time we have overwhelming proof of doping, our mandate is to initiate the case through the process and see it to conclusion as was done in this case."
The sanctions against Armstrong mark the end of a long sporting saga that once captivated the world. A native of Austin, Texas, Armstrong successful fight against cancer and remarkable career inspired millions of other survivors and gave rise to Livestrong and its iconic yellow bracelets.
On Friday, both #livestrong and #cheatstrong were both popular on Twitter.
USADA said the doping evidence against Armstrong came from statements by more than a dozen witnesses.
The anti-doping agency accused Armstrong of using EPO, blood transfusions, testosterone, cortisone and HGH during his career, and that "scientific data" showed he manipulated his blood with EPO or blood transfusions during his comeback to cycling in the 2009 Tour.
It also said that witnesses alleged that Armstrong "encouraged them to use and administered doping products or methods, including EPO, blood transfusions, testosterone and cortisone during the period from 1999 through 2005."
On Thursday, Armstrong said his decision did not mean he would accept USADA's sanctions. His lawyers threatened a lawsuit if USADA proceeded, arguing the agency must first resolve a dispute with the International Cycling Union (UCI) over whether the case should be pursued.
"You are on notice," Armstrong attorney Tim Herman said in a letter, "that if USADA makes any public statement claiming, without jurisdiction, to sanction Mr. Armstrong, or to falsely characterize Mr. Armstrong's reasons for not requesting an arbitration as anything other than a recognition of (International Cycling Union) jurisdiction and authority, USADA and anyone involved in the making of the statement will be liable."
That didn't stop USADA, which quickly imposed the ban about 14 hours alter.
The Amaury Sport Organization, which runs the Tour, told The Associated Press that it would not comment until it had heard more from the International Cycling Union and USADA.
In walking away, the 40-year-old Armstrong cited a familiar defense: he has never tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. "I know who won those seven Tours," Armstrong said in his statement. "The toughest event in the world where the strongest man wins. Nobody can ever change that. Especially Travis Tygart."
Armstrong previously was the subject of a federal investigation into whether he committed fraud while on the U.S. Postal Service team, not whether he doped. That investigation was stopped earlier this year with no charges filed. USADA then brought its own non-criminal case against Armstrong, citing its authority to protect the integrity of sports as authorized by Congress.
Earlier Friday, Nike supported Armstrong.
"Lance has stated his innocence and has been unwavering on this position," the company said in a statement. "Nike plans to continue to support Lance and the Lance Armstrong Foundation, a foundation that Lance created to serve cancer survivors."
Team manager Johan Bruyneel, who led Armstrong to all seven tour titles and also faces doping sanctions, posted a statement on his website: "Today, I'm disappointed for Lance and for cycling in general that things have reached a stage where Lance feels that he has had enough and is no longer willing to participate in USADA's campaign against him. Lance has never withdrawn from a fair fight in his life so his decision today underlines what an unjust process this has been.
"I hope that it will soon be determined that the case that USADA initiated against me should never have gotten as far as it has. Due to the sensitive nature of legal proceedings, I have been advised that it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this stage."
Re: Lance Armstrong banned for life, stripped of 7 Tour wins
Long over due, and good riddance to scum. this day has been coming for a long time and im happy to see it. bitter sweet, USADA didnt air their case at CAS publicly, and the people Lance fucked over keeping his secrets didnt get the apology or vindication they deserve. hope the asshole takes a hard fall in the near future.
-Ev
Re: Lance Armstrong banned for life, stripped of 7 Tour wins
Funny... Seems to me that he completely cooperated with everyone when asked to do tests.
How does that make him a secret keeper? I'm just curious why they didn't do this many years ago when he first won if they "knew" back then?
/shrug
Re: Lance Armstrong banned for life, stripped of 7 Tour wins
How many doping tests do you need to take to prove yourself innocent?
Re: Lance Armstrong banned for life, stripped of 7 Tour wins
Re: Lance Armstrong banned for life, stripped of 7 Tour wins
Armstrong's former teammates banned
Five of Lance Armstrong's teammates have accepted six-month doping suspensions from USADA.
Updated Oct 11, 2012 3:39 PM ET
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP)
Five of Lance Armstrong's teammates have accepted six-month doping suspensions, reduced because they provided evidence that helped the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency make the case to strip Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles.
http://o.static.foxsports.com/conten...636_202_97.JPG LATEST ON LANCE
George Hincapie, Tom Danielson, Levi Leipheimer, Christian Vande Velde and David Zabriskie all would have received at least two-year sanctions had they not helped USADA with its case.
As part of their deals, all agreed not to participate in the Olympics this year. In June, all but Danielson announced they were withdrawing themselves from Olympic consideration but they did not give an explanation.
All the suspensions run through next February. Hincapie has said he's retiring at the end of 2012.
Also on Thursday, Leipheimer's team provisionally suspended the rider while it reviews the USADA report.
Re: Lance Armstrong banned for life, stripped of 7 Tour wins
Having raced in the peloton with lance stateside, knowing many of his former teammates and their wives, having spoken to greg and kathy lemond, and indirectly with paul kimmage, all im going to say about this is that its been a long time coming and i hope it gets far worse for lance. he has it coming, and more.
-ev
Re: Lance Armstrong banned for life, stripped of 7 Tour wins
/chuckles
I think he's already lost enough myself. Hell, all his records are erased. He has been dropped by all his sponsors (no more incoming money), Livestrong has dumped him. I'm sure it's cost him a lot of money. And it's cost him respect from almost everyone.
/shrug
Re: Lance Armstrong banned for life, stripped of 7 Tour wins
youd be surprised. cruise on over to his facebook page and see how many lemmings are still worshipping. cost him money? he owns 5 multi million dollar homes a gulfstream. how bad has it really hurt him? punished enough? Ask Emma O Reilly what she thinks is enough. Ask Betsy and Frankie Andreu. all are personal friends of mine. I dont know tyler all that well, but you should read his book. The Secret Race. it fills in a lot of details. Like the time lance got into it with a motorist and assaulted him and paid him to keep quiet. list goes on. Lance hasnt even started to get whats coming to him yet. And thats before i talk about the alleged underage girl he was caught with on RAGBRAI in 2011.
Ev
