Lance Armstrong found guilty of doping

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by donKey jote

really?


why? so as not to spoil the fairy tale?


but the fact remain his blood was dodgy, as was that of many


so do I

---

Little to late to matter one way or the other.

for him yes, but it sends a pretty strong signal to the current lot, that even the untouchables aren't any more

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Robinho

But it is definatley wrong to say he has been found guilty, as no drug trial, arbitration, hearing or whatever has actually taken place.

---

He is found guilty. There was no arbitration because Armstrong refused that. He could have challenged the allegations by USADA, but he didn't. That is in effect an acceptance of guilt.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lousada

He is found guilty. There was no arbitration because Armstrong refused that. He could have challenged the allegations by USADA, but he didn't. That is in effect an acceptance of guilt.

---

I'm not here to defend Lance or sport of cycling and would agree with all, if this was done for the good of the sport. All these years of testing and spending money to defend allegations one have to stop spending money ,as next will be defence against usage of aspirin. I don't know the truth and we never will, but to me Lance won against competition that was doing same thing, therefore he will always be the champ. USADA needs to investigate whole field and a sport ,placing allegations on one to advance someone political career don't impress me much.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lousada

He is found guilty. There was no arbitration because Armstrong refused that. He could have challenged the allegations by USADA, but he didn't. That is in effect an acceptance of guilt.

---

It could simply be in effect simple disgust and resignation.. Nobody likes to get singled out and penalized for doing what every other person was doing.
And I emphasize I am not advocating or justifying the well know and obvious widespread doping, I am suggesting only what anybody would probably feel.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Robinho

i'm not sure the thread title is entirely fair, seeing as he hasn't been found guilty of anything, nor has he accpeted any guilt - he's just given up the fight against the USADA. what that actually means i don't know, and I'm unsure whether he perhaps was or wasn't doping, given the prevalence of it in that period and his dominance I am scpetical at least. we will probably never know, although it is likely that the evidence will still need to see the light of day for the international cycling body to be convinced to take the tour titles away from Lance, something the USADA has no remit over and the "trial" wll probably be between the 2 organisations instead. I hope he is/was innocent, as its an amazing story, but I think everyone has pretty healthy doubts.

But it is definatley wrong to say he has been found guilty, as no drug trial, arbitration, hearing or whatever has actually taken place.

---

Exactly.
Good summary of the facts up to this point. :up:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by donKey jote

for him yes, but it sends a pretty strong signal to the current lot, that even the untouchables aren't any more

---

As he said:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FIAT1

Little to late to matter one way or the other.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lousada

He is found guilty. There was no arbitration because Armstrong refused that. He could have challenged the allegations by USADA, but he didn't. That is in effect an acceptance of guilt.

---

Absolute rubbish.

I've found you guilty too, but won't show you, or anyone else entitled to, the proof unless you agree to go to court on my terms for years to come. Have fun.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FIAT1

I'm not here to defend Lance or sport of cycling and would agree with all, if this was done for the good of the sport. All these years of testing and spending money to defend allegations one have to stop spending money ,as next will be defence against usage of aspirin. I don't know the truth and we never will, but to me Lance won against competition that was doing same thing, therefore he will always be the champ. USADA needs to investigate whole field and a sport ,placing allegations on one to advance someone political career don't impress me much.

---

USADA can not investigate athletes that are not from the US, thus they just witch hunt for the big US names.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ioan

I've found you guilty too, but won't show you, or anyone else entitled to, the proof unless you agree to go to court on my terms for years to come. Have fun.

---

The nature of the evidence though was widely known no? Several witnesses who had seen Lance Armstrong take drugs or admit to it right? The only question was who those witnesses were.

I'm aware that many of Lance's competitors also took drugs and that several have already been penalised which would make the re-awarding of the TdF championships that Lance has been stripped of a ridiculous exercise, however current cyclists need to know that noone is either immune or above being disgraced if they use drugs. Lance was one of the greatest, if he had gotten away with widespread drug use merely because of his reputation then that destroys the sport's integrity and would not serve to discourage current competitors.

As with anyone else cyclists will look at the pros and cons of drug use before deciding whether to use them. Pros are obvious. The cons are increasing. The likelihood of being found out and the consequences of that are much greater than before. Lance's case merely reinforces the cons. As far as I am concerned that can only be a good thing.