new allegations about Lance Armstrong

[carlos]

Or rather, new data supporting old allegations:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...toryId=5508863

According to sworn testimony reviewed by NPR, two witnesses heard Armstrong openly acknowldege in 1996 that had used several performance enhancing drugs. What you are about to hear are the details from that testimony and from one witnesses who says she was there when Lance Armstrong said he used "growth hormone, cortisone, EPO, steroids and testosterone." Armstrong is angrily denying that the incident happened.

I really hope that Lance didn't dope. What do you think?

Unlike lots of vain, wastrel athletes, L.A. has cultivated an image of hard work, high ethical standards, altruism, and general coolness. I really hope he didn't do this. I would be disillusioned.

[KD5MDK]

It doesn't seem incredibly convincing. Some people say it happened, others say it didn't. Given the really ugly report the independent investigator put out on the last doping accusation, it certainly looks like there are some people out to get Lance. Which doesn't, of course, have much to do with the truth one way or another.

[Philistine]

The story seems odd to me--two doctors come into his hospital room after his brain surgery and then ask him if he's ever taken performance-enhancing drugs. But they don't follow up or ask him when or how much....

--Philistine

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Lots of people say Lance was on the juice, but thats preposterous.

He passed all those drug tests during his 7 Tour De Lance races, how much more proof do you need that he's clean?

[carlos]

The accusation is also weird because Lance supposedly said this in reply to two unidentified doctors while several friends were in the room. Even though he hadn't won a Tour yet, he was still a big-time cyclist. Wouldn't he at least have talked about it in private if he thought he needed to answer honestly because of his health?

[sreckiki]

He passed all those drug tests during his 7 Tour De Lance races, how much more proof do you need that he's clean?

And many others did pass drug tests without any problem BUT a few years later, many also acknowledged that they indeed took drugs! (Take a look at "Festina affair" and Richard Virenque for example). That's does not proove anything for Armstrong but it seems to me that it is a little weird to see him win his first Tour when at least half of guys were using EPO...

[Inquartata]

Meh, such skepticism about hearsay reports is heartening. It would be even more heartening if it weren't so selectively applied.

Hands up for those who don't believe the people who insist Bush & Co. said they were intent on war in Iraq long before the invasion, as reported by the press, for instance. Oh, but those "witnesses" are so much more believable.

[Philistine]

Meh, such skepticism about hearsay reports is heartening. It would be even more heartening if it weren't so selectively applied.

Hands up for those who don't believe the people who insist Bush & Co. said they were intent on war in Iraq long before the invasion, as reported by the press, for instance. Oh, but those "witnesses" are so much more believable.

I find the Armstrong statements to be questionable because the circumstances seem inconsistant and don't make a whole lot of sense.

That Bush was intent on war in Iraq before the invasion is consistent with many things, supported by a number of sources who were within the administration and/or trusted by it.

Now what was "long" before the invasion may be debatable, but there seems to be a great deal of evidence that by the Summer of 2002 the Administration had its mind made up.

--Philistine

[Inquartata]

The defense rests.

[academe]

Tyler Hamilton, a former team mate of Armstrong, is still denying his own allegations of blood doping. New allegations and evidence are surfacing that is dragging down even more cyclists, possibly even Jan Ullrich...

http://www.velonews.com/news/fea/10110.0.html

[mrbiggs]

I really hope that Lance didn't dope.

Me, too.


It seems to me that these people are just trying to get a piece of his fame through these accusations. But maybe not, who knows. Let's hope he didn't though, that would be a real bummer.

[Mr Epee]

Every cyclist has/does use performance enhancing drugs.

It is simply impossible to compete/complete without doing so.

[Inquartata]

I'm sure the same is true for epee fencing.

[D'Art]

I'm sure the same is true for epee fencing.

While it's true that you would need to be on drugs to want to fence epee, I'm not sure performance enhancing drugs would be the ones I'd choose for it. Horse tranquilisers, maybe, but not EPO or steroids.

[Inquartata]

While it's true that you would need to be on drugs to want to fence epee, I'm not sure performance enhancing drugs would be the ones I'd choose for it. Horse tranquilisers, maybe

No, it's the spectators who need those.

[brutus]

Every cyclist has/does use performance enhancing drugs.

It is simply impossible to compete/complete without doing so.

One of the most closed minded, ill-informed statements I've ever seen typed!!!!

From wikipedia:
Rare athletic physical attributes

All top cyclists have excellent key physical attributes. Armstrong is no exception, although in one way, he may be unusually good even for an elite athlete. He is near the top but not at the top aerobically, having a VO₂ MaxMiguel Indurain (88.0, although reports exist that Indurain tested at 92-94) or Greg LeMondJan Ullrich — rely on their anaerobic capacity more, pushing a larger gear at a lower rate. Further improvements in Armstrong's physical attributes and performance have been attributed to training induced increases in his muscular efficiency indicating changes in muscle mysosin type of 83.8 mL/kg/min — much higher than the average person (40-50) but not as high as that of some other elite cyclists, such as (92.5). His heart is 30 percent larger than average, but an enlarged heart is common for athletes as well. He has a resting heart rate of 32-34 bpm with a max heart rate at 201 bpm. Armstrong's most unusual attribute may be his low lactate levels: even with intense training, while the levels of most other racers range from 12 μL/Kg to as much as 20 μL/Kg, Armstrong doesn't go above a 6 μL/Kg. The result is that less lactic acid accumulates in Armstrong's system, so he likely feels less physical fatigue from severe efforts and/or he is able to sustain the same effort as other elite racers with less fatigue and faster recovery times. Some theorize that his high pedaling cadence is designed to take advantage of this, while others — like Jan Ullrich — rely on their anaerobic capacity more, pushing a larger gear at a lower rate. Further improvements in Armstrong's physical attributes and performance have been attributed to training induced increases in his muscular efficiency indicating changes in muscle mysosin type.


So going by what you've said, all elite athletes must be on some sort of juice!!!

[KD5MDK]

The thing I find relatively telling is that even with the WADA happily breaking its code of ethics and assorted regulations in an attempt to prove Armstrong was using performance enhancing substances, they've been unable to prove anything.

[Gav]

You can only go on the information you have.

Ben Johnson made a very good point.

"To compete at the top I needed to use drugs. Without them I was merely a talented runner - with them I was a competitor. I made a mistake and I got caught, end of story. But that does not mean that those pointing the fingers weren't using as well and that hurt."

Major paraphrase, but that's the essence.

In his case he was coming back from injury and to be able to comete at the Olympics he had to use the drugs at the wrong time. It was a risk and, for him, it didn't pay off. If he hadn't been caught he wouldn't been remembered as anything other than being the "fastest man alive at that time" and probably one of the greatest runners of all time. As it is he is now considered a bit of a joke ...

Is there any evidence that LA is/was a user? No. Then all you can say is that there is no evidence and move on. I don't buy the work ethic argument (as anywhere near the level of 'proof') because to compete - even when on drugs - at the top level of cycling means working hard.

The cynic in me tends to be suspicious of those who appear to be "too good to be true".

I'm not saying that he has used drugs. What I am saying is that there is not a lot of evidence to the contrary and so it's pointless debating it.

[Morion]

I saw a write-up on some studies they did on Lance Armstrong once, and essentially he is a mutant. His heart pumps blood at a higher volume than most people and his body processes oxygen faster than normal folks. He is just a natural athelete and for some reason many people have a hard time accepting that.

[MikeHarm]

I think blatant doping on Lance's part.