Lance Armstrong admits to cheating.

he said:
In a statement sent to the AP, Armstrong said: “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.”

Did he cheat? I don't know. Did he ADMIT TO CHEATING? I've read nothing that suggests he has.

^^THIS! The USADA has said his decision to quit is an admission of guilt. Personally, I believe he just got tired of repeating himself. The only thing they have against him at this point is the word of ten of his teammates/competitors who he beat consistently. Hundreds of negative blood tests don't lie, sore losers do. If you can't prove he doped before, during, or immediately after, let it go. The man is officially retired for crying out loud! It's in the past and shouldn't even be an issue anymore. In my opinion, this whole thing has been an unfair, unfounded, and unnecessary witch hunt.

^^^ agreed!!

Here in the US, people are innocent until PROVEN guilty. Being tired of fighting the bs is not proof nor is it an admission of guilt.

Unless you are suspected of terrorism. Then the President can have you murdered without due process.

But that is probably not the case for Lance.

--P

LMAO!!! ok true there, but really the guy is what a terrorist against fat? His cycling career brought what was previously a virtually unknown sport into mainstream America. I live next to what Lance once tweeted was a really amazing bike trail and see the cycling groups all "play" tour de france it's cute, funny, annoying all at the same time but the one thing that I always think of is what an amazingly healthy thing he has done for our country.

Here in the US, people are innocent until PROVEN guilty. Being tired of fighting the bs is not proof nor is it an admission of guilt.

Unless you are suspected of terrorism. Then the President can have you murdered without due process.

But that is probably not the case for Lance.

--P

LMAO!!! ok true there, but really the guy is what a terrorist against fat? His cycling career brought what was previously a virtually unknown sport into mainstream America. I live next to what Lance once tweeted was a really amazing bike trail and see the cycling groups all "play" tour de france it's cute, funny, annoying all at the same time but the one thing that I always think of is what an amazingly healthy thing he has done for our country.

I've met him, he seemed like a great guy. He's done so much for cancer survivors. He's done so much for cycling in the US.

Still, if it turns out that he used illegal drugs, he owes it to everyone to come clean. I really have a hard time believing a guy who fought and defeated cancer (at least so far, fingers crossed he lives a long life) would give up a fight over his reputation - especially when it will hurt his charity - unless he had a very, very good reason (e.g., fear of perjury).

Still, I prefer to focus on the charity work he's done since becoming a celebrity. Nobody can take that away from him.

--P

I also have to say I support Lance in his decision to focus on his organization rather than the "witch hunt". His organization has helped me and countless others, and for that I am grateful.

I read a few years back how Greg LeMond was a big pusher in this alleged witch hunt. That, too disappoints me. Armstrong may be a cocky SOB ( I would be too if I could race like that), but I have looked at the big picture. USADA is obviously flawed in their drug testing if so many athletes can pass these drug tests. If they are so gung ho at outing people after the fact, why not "man up" and take care of it BEFORE the fact.

just my 2 cents.

^^ agreed!

.... what?!!?!? a celebrity cheated?!?!!?!

THIS IS FUNNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

.

Didnt read the thread.

he in no way admitted cheating. The accusations are rigged and the committee is rigged, there is no point in fighting.

It's worth noting that the possibility of the USADA exceeding their reach doesn't automatically mean that he is innocent. It's quite possible that he's guilty, and that the USADA isn't operating above board and Tygart is an obsessed loon. And maybe some of the folks accusing him stand to gain personally. Every single one of these possibilities might be true, all at once.

In an environment where the only way to level the playing field and have a chance of winning is to dope because everyone else is doing it, and the name of the game is to do it without getting caught, and you happen to acquaint yourself with a faciliator who's an expert at doing that, of course he never did it!

To the person saying that his wins while doping took wins away from someone who didn't dope: no, probably not. Just from someone else who was doping but not quite as good.

Also, in a culture where corporations guilty of malfeasance regularly settle or otherwise weasel their way out of going to court, is it any surprise at all that people will view Armstrong's decision with anything other than suspicion of guilt?

He surely must know how it makes him look, and he's decided that this has the lesser impact on him personally.

I love how the defenders automatically go to 'those guys accusing him are just mean and lying and trying to get ahead!' To that group ... you realize that some of these guys are admitting they did this stuff right alongside Armstrong, right? They are hitting themselves here. And hincapie is universally liked and respected in cycling. So now just because he tells the truth under oath, he's a lying liar? Come on, now. It comes off like if jesus christ himself were testifying, people would accuse him of being angry that lance was stealing too much of his spotlight or something.

No one likes to see a "hero" go down in flames is why. In other words people really want to believe that there are above average people who can beat the "cheaters".
You're only a "cheater" if you get caught. If you don't, you're winning. Sad to say that's how professional sports is played.

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