Lance Friggin Armstrong

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j_wilson2012
j_wilson2012 Posts: 293
in Chit-Chat
So....it is out. Lance quit the never ending fight against doping. But it is still very debatable, and from 2 very different perspectives.
Do you think he doped, and was finally admitting guilt, without admitting it? The USADA says it is just a cop out, and that he is a fraud.
On the other hand, he has a family, and various charities, and probably a business to run. Maybe he was tired of pouring thousands of dollars into lawyers, and spending hours and hours going to court. Maybe running the other things in his life were more important than his recognition.
I dont have all the facts firsthand. I will read more into it. But the world may never know unless he admits it. Another Clemens, or Bonds. I think he may have, part time, when he came out of his cancer, but I dont think he did it 7 years in a row.
He has been the face of fitness and cycling for a long time now. So.......what do you think?

<http://espn.go.com/olympics/cycling/story/_/id/8298135/usada-ban-lance-armstrong-life-strip-seven-tour-de-france-titles-charges-used-performance-enhancing-drugs-cycling-career&gt;
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  • midschool22
    midschool22 Posts: 1,267 Member
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    I think it was his only option. If there is hard evidence it will come out when his buddy Johan Bruyneel goes to arbitration. Just for kicks, here is a list of the second place finishers during Lance's reign...

    1999 : Alex Zulle took second. He has admitted to taking EPO in the past.
    2000 : Jan Ulrich. Suspended and banned for doping.
    2001 : Jan Ulrich. Yet more doping.
    2002 : Joseba Beloki. Implicated in Operation Puerto.
    2003 : Jan Ulrich. Yet more doping.
    2004 : Andréas Kloden. Accused of blood transfusions in 2006.
    2005 : Ivan Basso. More blood doping
  • j_wilson2012
    j_wilson2012 Posts: 293
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    bump
  • corn63
    corn63 Posts: 1,580 Member
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    What do I think?


    That I'm over the posting about it. He didn't say he cheated. Nobody can prove that he can. Therefore, I do not care.
  • drmerc
    drmerc Posts: 2,603 Member
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    I'd put all my money on he was doping
  • Suzy_in_DE
    Suzy_in_DE Posts: 191 Member
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    From my understanding he has never tested positive.
  • Mustangsally1000
    Mustangsally1000 Posts: 860 Member
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    I find the entire thing really sad. He took hundreds of tests..you would think if he was guilty..there would be irrefutable evidence there. But..there's not.

    A long drawn out court case would eat up everything he owns, and he has a family to support, and a job to do. I agree..It was likely his only option. And that sucks!
  • dmpizza
    dmpizza Posts: 3,321 Member
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    I would like to believe it isn't true, but how else could they get the ten other competitors to rat him out?
  • wbgolden
    wbgolden Posts: 2,071 Member
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    Headline from the Onion:

    Lance Armstrong: Cyclist, Survivor, Liar, Hero

    I dunno what the truth is. I just know I'm super disappointed.
  • ket_the_jet
    ket_the_jet Posts: 1,257 Member
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    "You're quitting? I thought about quitting once, after I found out that I had lung, testicular and brain cancer... all at the same time. How are you dying?"
    -Lance Armstrong
  • hoskibn
    hoskibn Posts: 86
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    Here is the one thing that makes me suspect(since we may never know) he was doping. This isn't like previous allegations, the USADA, United States Anti Doping Agency, is making them. It's not like it is an organization that benefits from proving his guilt. It's not like this is a European ADA who is upset about a Yank winning their race. This is our ADA. If this is a witchhunt, where is the benefit?
  • KyleB65
    KyleB65 Posts: 1,196 Member
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    I read about this earlier today. Perhaps I am naive or I have a soft spot for Lance? But, I want someone to prove something. All I have ever heard on this has been innuendo at best. As an American winning the Tour De France I am certain that the Europeans did absolutely every thing they could to find a smoking gun on him and found nothing provable. In addition he has already been cleared by the US Congressional committee investigation. This sounds like Floyd Landis trying to sell out his past team mates to take the pressure off of his conviction and the USADA jumping on the band wagon to get a high profile win.
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
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    he is the most tested athlete ever and has never popped positive. nuff said.
  • sillygoose1977
    sillygoose1977 Posts: 2,151 Member
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    Newsflash! Cycling (and most other sports) are dirty.
  • Im_NotPerfect
    Im_NotPerfect Posts: 2,181 Member
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    I think the media and the international cycling organization had it out for him and was looking for an excuse to crucify him. He finally said the hell with them and gave up. There was never any evidence against him. He tested clean again and again. Sometimes you get so worn down, you just give up.

    I think it's sad....
  • Mamasota
    Mamasota Posts: 144
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    Great post!
  • BackTatJIM
    BackTatJIM Posts: 1,140 Member
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    "Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever"
    ... need i say more?
  • chrissyh
    chrissyh Posts: 8,235 Member
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    Totally agree with 35!
  • dlashawn5
    dlashawn5 Posts: 28 Member
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    I understand that he NEVER tested positive for doping during his whole career, so I am not understand how they can strip him of his accomplishments when the record does not reflect any positive proof of that! I do understand, when you have been fighting for years about the same ole thing that is not supported by proof, one gets a little tired. I don't think it is admitting to guilt at all. He is just tired of the BS! Besides, the truth will come out eventually. If he was dopping and they can prove it, well.....pay the piper. But, if he was not, without a shadow of a doubt, dopping ....then LEAVE HIM ALONE! He earned and deserves those rewards.
  • sing4me4you
    sing4me4you Posts: 88 Member
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    I think the only "evidence" besides winning repeatedly, was eyewitness testimony and we all know how reliable that can be. I personally think he is telling the truth but doesn't want to keep up the fight. No blood/urine testing ever has proven he doped even though it has with other participants. Sad day for the sports world that someone is persecuted simply because he was better than others over and over again..
  • 2012asv
    2012asv Posts: 702 Member
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    whether or not he did is one thing, but I don't think letting it cast a shadow on all the good that came from him (charities and such) is unfair. He is still a survivor- by whatever means. He still inspired and motivated so many people to change their lives for the better. He is human, if he did make a mistake oh well. IMO everything else he's brought about has made up for it.
    There are so many real problems going on in the world right now that could use all this attention and effort...

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