NYT/AP: Lance Armstrong Denies Doping Allegations

[DeepModem Mom]

Lance Armstrong Denies Doping Allegations
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: August 23, 2005
Filed at 7:11 p.m. ET


PARIS (AP) -- Faced with yet another report that he cheated his way to a Tour de France victory, Lance Armstrong responded Tuesday the same way he has since the doping whispers began during the first of his seven straight wins: ''I never took performance enhancing drugs.''

In a four-page article headlined ''The Armstrong Lie,'' the French sports daily L'Equipe printed copies of documents suggesting six urine samples he provided during his first championship in 1999 tested positive for the red blood cell-booster erythropoietin, or EPO.

The drug was on the list of banned substances at the time but there was no effective test to detect it.

Tour de France director Jean-Marie Leblanc said the report published Tuesday appeared ''credible'' and meticulously researched, adding that Armstrong must have a chance to rebut the claims....

***

Armstrong, a frequent target of L'Equipe, vehemently denied the allegations....


http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/sports/AP-CYC-Armstrong-Doping.html

[chookie]

1. Evidence: He was seen with a dope recently

It seems that the French are just as touchy about Lance cycling with the Texas Prairie Monkey last week as many DUers. :-)

[FloridaPat]

2. Seems * is supporting a lot of illegal drug use lately. Maybe that's a

hint. Things are going to get so bad, we'll all need mind altering drugs

[DeepModem Mom]

3. LOL!

[lebkuchen]

5. You are so on the money

LOL!

[Cha]

6. Good one, chookie!

I know I touchy!

Edit~"Texas Prairie Monkey"!!

[Mr.Green93]

4. Enjoy your bike ride Lance?

Doper.

[Cha]

7. OMG!

This is so radically Ironic!

After a two hour bike ride with the chimp Lance is freshly accused of being a doper or was that with a doper? :silly:

[Lori Price CLG]

8. Bush's dope denies the dope. n/t

[HuckleB]

20. Thanks for the clueless comment.

:eyes:

[Justice]

9. Here is why I don't believe he took performance enhancing drugs...

The guy is diagnosed with testicular cancer that has spread to his brain and to his lung. His chances are slim to none. He was facing his death. A miracle happens, he beats it, works to build himself into shape -- and then he takes something that potentially could give him cancer or some other ailment - that is crazy. Just not buying it.

On edit: that is in addition to the fact the guy then won 6 more times. So he cheated the first time, then somehow went on to win 6 more times when there is no evidence of cheating... Hmm. That's a stretch.

[alarimer]

16. I don't believe it either

Mostly because this report is just unbelievable. Old samples of unknown provenance, no idea of the chain of custody. Plus the French reporters have always had a vendetta against Armstrong so I question whether this is unbiased reporting at all. Some reporters were actually caught in his hotel room once looking for (or perhaps planting??) evidence. And then there is the fact that he is the most tested athlete around and he has never failed a test. I think they need to test his biking companion (Bush). I think he is on something. Something that makes him delusional enough to think this war is just.

People on this site are mad at Lance because he doesn't fit their particular politics. For some, public figures can never be liberal enough.

[iverglas]

28. you what?

A miracle happens, he beats it, works to build himself into shape -- and then he takes something that potentially could give him cancer or some other ailment - that is crazy.

Do you have some knowledge that I can't replicate by googling, that suggests that erythropoietin "could give him cancer"?

I know nothing about it, so I googled erythropoietin cancer ... and found only that it is used to *treat* anemia in cancer patients.

Withholding judgment because the evidence of something appears inadequate or suspect is one thing ... but inventing bizarre reasons to actually reject the evidence is really quite another.

that is in addition to the fact the guy then won 6 more times. So he cheated the first time, then somehow went on to win 6 more times when there is no evidence of cheating.

I think we all know that absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. Has anyone re-tested samples from the later periods?


I know absolutely nothing about any aspect of this. I'm not even particularly interested in any of it. I just can never figure out why anyone wants to have opinions for which there is simply no basis at all.

[fleabert]

10. I firmly believe he doesn't and hasn't doped.

he's a medical marvel. just look at the results from the UT austin multi-year study of Lance, it's all there.

and...he may have taken the opportunity to have Bush's ear for a few hours, but he publicly states he's against the war, and was only riding with him to ask for cancer research funding. He puts his foundation before politics or policy.

I adore him, he is doing what is necessary to get the funding cancer needs.

[mosin]

27. I'm a fan too...

and I hope he sues L'Equipe's French knickers off.

[Horse with no Name]

11. It wouldn't be because epoeitin alfa is a drug commonly used

to boost red cells during cancer treatment.
I wouldn't think that MIGHT be a factor as to why he MAY have tested positive for it.:shrug:

[geek tragedy]

14. EPO doesn't stay in the system for three years.

If he tested positive for it, he took it within a few weeks.

[Blue_Tires]

12. isn't this the same paper that claimed to have proof

the second, third, and fourth years he won it?

[BiggJawn]

18. And the first, and the fifth, AND the sixth....

I say it's sour grapes. The French have a "PROBLEM" with non-Europeans winning "Their" bike race.

They trashed LeMond when he won, too.

They would never admit that there aren't any Frenchmen capable of winning Le Tour these days, oh, no, why, it MUST be the rest of the world CHEATS! A Frenchman would NEVER resort to such tactics!

2 words:

Jacques Anquentil:

"I do not wish to hear spoken the word 'Doping". Rather, one must say 'Treating Yourself', and speak of treatments that are not appropriate for ordinary mortals. You cannot compete in the Tour de France on mineral water alone."-JA, 1967

[Mika]

21. LeMond has accused Lance of doping in the past too.

Don't hear much mention of Greg LeM on Discovery Channel do ya? Persona non grata in US cycling ever since.

[BiggJawn]

22. Oh, come now, Mika...

He's been "persona non grata" ever since he retired. His accusations of Armstrong was the first time I'd seen his name anyplace else besides a headtube in years.

He did convince me to get my saddle up where it belongs, I thank him for that, at least.

[Mika]

23. Just sayin'..

.. that its not just the French.

Glad you got yer seat up where it belongs.


BTW, I'm getting a new bike built (to fit me) here.

[BiggJawn]

24. Cool stuff!

Good looking work.
I'm still holding out for a Rene Herse.....

Oh, I know it's not just the French, even in our own lounge there seems to be a sense of "It's Kewl to hate Lance".
Witness his recent ride with Dim Son....

[Mend]

13. I just finished the book "Lance's War" by Coyle

If the author is to believed, Lance does not fit a clean image. According to the book, his mechanic found human growth hormone in Lance's bathroom and he was fired shortly thereafter. His doctor was indicted for drugging other athletes. Interesting book.

[VegasWolf]

15. Bush's reverse midas touch!! Meet him once and your life and

reputation go straight down the toilet!

[NYC]

17. A man is judged by the company he keeps.

Isn't that the saying?

[Rex]

19. Dope no, coke with the Chimperor

maybe. I think he needs to give the French a rest, let someone else win for awhile. :evilgrin:

[HuckleB]

25. Armstrong calls Leblanc remarks "preposterous"

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2005/aug05/aug25news2

Below this piece are two related pieces on the ethics of the matter and an interview with Armstrong teammate Jonathan Vaughters.

[HuckleB]

26. Top lab official wonders if delayed testing is possible

http://www.velonews.com/news/fea/8746.0.html

"We are extremely surprised that urine samples could have been tested in 2004 and have revealed the presence of EPO," Ayotte said in an interview with VeloNews on Tuesday. "EPO - in its natural state or the synthesized version - is not stable in urine, even if stored at minus 20 degrees."