Lanced--Armstrong Banned, Stripped of all 7 Tour de France Titles

white_shadow · January 18, 2013, 11:39am

The doping use in detail:

[INDENT=1]Erythropoietin (EPO), also known as “E,” “Po,” “Edgar” or “Edgar Allen Poe,” among other names. EPO is used by athletes to increase the number of red blood cells in their circulatory system which are available to carry oxygen. … Even after the EPO urine test was developed and implemented in sport in late 2000 EPO was difficult to detect and the Respondents [Armstrong, a team director, team captain and team doctors] implemented a number of means to avoid detection of EPO use, including: micro-dosing (i.e., using smaller amounts of EPO to reduce the clearance time of the drug), intravenous injections (i.e., injecting the drug directly into the vein rather than subcutaneously to reduce clearance time), saline, plasma or glycerol infusions (described below) and various effort to avoid testing by drug testers at times that EPO might still be detectable in the riders’ urine. … Multiple riders with firsthand knowledge will testify that between 1998 and 2005 Armstrong personally used EPO and on multiple occasions distributed EPO to other riders.[/INDENT]
[INDENT=1] [/INDENT]
[INDENT=1]Blood transfusions (a/k/a “blood doping”). Blood transfusions generally involve the extraction of an athlete’s own blood pre-competition and re-infusion of that blood shortly before or during competition (e.g., in the evening or on a rest day in a multistage race) to increase the athlete’s oxygen carrying red blood cells. By increasing the number of circulating red blood cells, transfusions increase the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood and enhance endurance and recovery. No effective anti-doping test has yet been implemented to detect autologous transfusions (i.e., transfusions of an athlete’s own blood). … Multiple riders will testify that during the period 2000-2005 Armstrong used blood transfusions, was observed having blood re-infused, including during the Tour de France, and had blood doping equipment at his residence.[/INDENT]
[INDENT=1] [/INDENT]
[INDENT=1]**Testosterone. **Also known on the USPS and Discovery Channel cycling teams as “oil.” Testosterone is an anabolic agent and can increase muscle mass and strength. In smaller doses anabolic agents such as testosterone can promote muscle recovery from strenuous exercise and increase endurance. Andriol consists of testosterone undecanoate, a steroid which can be mixed with oil and taken orally. Taken in this way the drug can be absorbed into the lymphatic system without being transported to the liver, making the drug more effective and reducing the prospect of liver damage. Multiple riders who competed on the USPS and Discovery Channel teams from 1998 through 2007 have reported that Dr. Ferrari [an alleged co-conspirator] developed a method of mixing testosterone (i.e., andriol) with olive oil for oral administration. … USADA has eyewitness statements from multiple sources that Lance Armstrong used testosterone and administered the testosterone-olive oil mixture to himself and other riders.[/INDENT]
[INDENT=1]Human Growth Hormone (hGH). Human growth hormone is improperly used in sport to increase strength and lean muscle mass, to assist in weight loss and promote recovery. Multiple riders who competed on the USPS and Discovery Channel teams from 1998 through 2007 have reported to USADA that team director Johan Bruyneel, team trainer Jose Pepe Marti and team doctors Luis del Moral and Pedro Celaya provided human growth hormone to team members.[/INDENT]
[INDENT=1] [/INDENT]
[INDENT=1]Corticosteroids (e.g., cortisone). These drugs reduce inflammation, assist in recovery and can provide a burst of energy and create a temporary feeling of increased energy and well-being. Throughout the relevant time period, corticosteroids were improperly provided to cyclists by team doctors and trainers to increase energy and enhance performance. … USADA will also rely upon firsthand testimony from witnesses who were aware of Armstrong’s use of cortisone without medical authorization.[/INDENT]
[INDENT=1] [/INDENT]
[INDENT=1]**Saline and plasma infusions. **Throughout much of the relevant period the UCI [Union Cycliste International] employed a blood monitoring program and would not permit riders to compete if the rider’s hematocrit (i.e., percentage of mature red blood cells) exceeded 50%. To avoid exceeding the 50% hematocrit threshold and to prevent detection of the rider’s EPO use and/or blood transfusions, Respondents used the prohibited technique of saline, plasma or glycerol infusions to mask their use of prohibited substances and/or methods. … USADA will also present testimony concerning infusions given to numbers USPS riders, including Lance Armstrong.[/INDENT]
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After reading about all the drugs he’s allegedly used for 7 consecutive Tour Du Frances without getting explicitly caught- even with all the scrutiny and the media pressure, I’m actually more amazed at his skill at Tactical Espionage Doping than his cycling victories.

I’m dead serious, I’m actually impressed.

A lesser man would’ve been like, “Aight man, it’s been a good run, but I’m fucking tired of lying, tired of hiding; I just don’t have it in me anymore to keep up this charade… I’m done.”

But NOOOOO, Lance “valiantly” continued to fool the public and his sponsors, and would’ve done so until his dying day, if it wasn’t for those meddling peers…

And the Guv’ment too…

HoneyBBQGrundle · January 18, 2013, 12:06pm

Can’t believe you idiots are falling for this. Did you see him before the interview smiling? Clearly an actor. And you bet your ass they’ll never mention the initial reports that said there were multiple Tour de France winners dressed as nuns. Stock up on vials of blood now, because Obama’s coming for them.

pedoviejo · January 18, 2013, 2:43pm

Im still failing to see why this is considered bad. Why? The best are still going to win, and the spectators have only themselves blame because they demand these athletes to be entertainers as well.

Only people they hurt are themselves if they administer these substances poorly.

naz · January 18, 2013, 3:00pm

What’s bad about this?

is he is STILL LYING in this interview. what an assh*le!?!

Sarangha · January 18, 2013, 6:20pm

He came clean about using all the forms of doping he was accused of. Cheating to win multiple tour de france titles but claims 09 and 10 were legit. 2009 he got third place and 2010 he got 23rd. Says the sport is full of cheating but isn’t taking away the fact he cheated every other year. Admits dragging people in the mud and even suing people who were telling the truth due to his ruthlessness and will to win at any cost. He does deny some things like forcing team mates to dope with him and denies having full control over his team. The weird thing is he admits to being a bully so I don’t know if he is lying or not in that regard.

TLDR: He doped in every conceivable way to win the tour de france from 99-2005 then goes legit the following two years.
Funny thing is he says the German cheating program of the eighties was a more sophisticated operation than what he was involved in.

scytheavatar · January 18, 2013, 7:31pm

It’s bad because there are actually people in Cycling who couldn’t compete if they refuse to be drug cheats?

pedoviejo · January 18, 2013, 9:56pm

lol, **German 80’s. **So sterotypical. hahahahahaha

no one stopped them from competing, and if it wasn’t Lance, it would have been several hundred more cheating.

People will continue to “cheat” (more like take competitive edges) to win, we always have and always will. You can’t be the best without being the best.

Dragonfave723 · January 19, 2013, 12:09am

There’s going to be a movie on his rise and fall from fame: http://www.deadline.com/2013/01/lance-armstrong-movie-jj-abrams-paramount-deal/

Saitsu · January 19, 2013, 12:10am

My problem with Lance isn’t the doping. It’s Cycling…EVERYONE dopes. Everyone knows it too. At this point it’s pretty much made so the US cyclists are screwed no matter what. If you don’t dope and take a moral stand…well that’s all well and good but you’re going to get stomped at the TdF. Dope and win, congrats, now all possible resources are going to be used to prove that you did dope. It’s really a no win scenario. So yeah, don’t care that he doped, fuck cycling.

The PROBLEM is that he sued a fair amount of people calling him out about doping so he essentially is costing people their livelihoods on a lie. That you really can’t defend.

AlphaZero · January 19, 2013, 12:11am

He wasn’t cheating, he was leveling the playing field:rofl:

That blood doping shit is legitimately demented though…

Sarangha · January 19, 2013, 12:26am

We are vultures.

p.m_novaroad_pilot · January 19, 2013, 12:41am

lol yeah he trained harder cause thats what epo and peds allow
its like my highschool and my college coach said
you only got so many jumps in you body at a time

thers some workouts Ive seen and done that you only supposed to do once a day
or once a week
using drugs to recover from those at a expedient rate is disgraceful

eh lance did what what it took to win but any athlete will tell you that its disgraceful

Vynce · January 19, 2013, 5:39am

I was going to like this, at first equating the saying to “letting the cat out of the bag.” Then, I realized it was a belated acknowledgement that the new year has arrived.

Happy new year to YOU, Saitsu :tup:.

Bicycling is stupid. Like, stay off my road, spandex fags.

NickRocks · January 19, 2013, 9:34am

wish I could like this twice. Game of Shadows made me a Barry fan

Javid · January 22, 2013, 5:26am

Hmm, I wonder what he will do with his jerseys. If anything, he should auction them off and give them to charity.

white_shadow · January 22, 2013, 12:12pm

It was a good interview. At first I thought he was a complete sociopath based on how confidently he lied, but now I think he’s just a narcissist and a pathological liar who’s getting a cold reality check.