11 former teammates testified against Armstrong

[Big Daddy]

USADA has outlined their response with more details to follow later. The story is blowing up. ABC just stopped their telecast to report it. And it has been picked up by SI and ESPN.

The statement of the bigger report to follow now names the teammates who have provided direct testimony.

Sports Illustrated:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20...ADA-case.ap/index.html?sct=hp_t2_a2&eref=sihp
ESPN

The teammates are -
Frankie Andreu
Michael Barry
Tom Danielson
Tyler Hamilton
George Hincapie
Floyd Landis
Levi Leipheimer
Stephen Swart
Christian Vande Veld
Jonathan Vaughters
David Zabriskie

Additionally, there are non-teammates, including several team staff members and others who have also provided direct testimony. In total, upwards of 26 people.

 

[CobbleStoner]

wow, I was expecting more facts and less opinions. and the second line is already a lie (they would have had to research every team in every sport that ever existed for it to be accurate). and the rest is filled with opinions like what Armstrong or Johan were thinking, you can present facts, but you can't second guess what someone else was thinking. I hate Lance and think he is guilty, but this is not a reasoned decision that should have any weight for something that has already happened, been tested for, and confirmed... move on. and this one is the clincher "...have a chance to leave a legacy far greater for the good of the sport than anything they ever did on a bike". that is what this is really about Tygart's legacy, and to a smaller extent, Landis' and Hamilton's too.
I call shenanigans
and Romney wants to cut 4 mil for Big Bird but will pay 9 mil for the USADA's worthless bureaucracy?

 

[Mishrak]

You do realize they haven't actually released the evidence right? That's merely a statement. Evidence is later today.

 

[Benotti69]

wow, I was expecting more facts and less opinions. and the second line is already a lie (they would have had to research every team in every sport that ever existed for it to be accurate). and the rest is filled with opinions like what Armstrong or Johan were thinking, you can present facts, but you can't second guess what someone else was thinking. I hate Lance and think he is guilty, but this is not a reasoned decision that should have any weight for something that has already happened, been tested for, and confirmed... move on. and this one is the clincher "...have a chance to leave a legacy far greater for the good of the sport than anything they ever did on a bike". that is what this is really about Tygart's legacy, and to a smaller extent, Landis' and Hamilton's too.
I call shenanigans
and Romney wants to cut 4 mil for Big Bird but will pay 9 mil for the USADA's worthless bureaucracy?

This is a statement.

The document of evidence is 1000 pages. Yes that is one thousand pages.

 

[thirteen]

This is a statement.

The document of evidence is 1000 pages. Yes that is one thousand pages.

and this thread should be closed as it's being discussed in several other existing threads.

 

[RichWalk]

Some inordinate nonsense being spouted on twitter, by some who should know better and some who really shouldnt be throwing any stones today..........

 

[thirteen]

Some inordinate nonsense being spouted on twitter, by some who should know better and some who really shouldnt be throwing any stones today..........

yes... but he just can't help himself, can he

 

[RichWalk]

yes... but he just can't help himself, can he

The whole things a farce and so many have been at best complicit for so long they've forgotten what the truth is.......

 

[Benotti69]

yes... but he just can't help himself, can he

link if it is not someone with one ball

 

[Benotti69]

Great Tweet from Walsh

‏@DavidWalshST

When reading USADA report, remember Betsy A, Emma O'R and Stephen S who told the truth 10 years ago, without being compelled to do so.

Too true

Chapeau to Betsy, O'Reilly and Swart.

 

[Fatclimber]

I'm curious to find out how many of the 11 admitted doping and how many collective tests they passed.

 

[Big Doopie]

Great Tweet from Walsh



Too true

Chapeau to Betsy, O'Reilly and Swart.

and lemond.

 

[RichWalk]

'Apolos if its elsewhere, trying to keep track

From Mr. Barry:

Cycling has always been a part of my life. As a boy my dream was to become a professional cyclist who raced at the highest level in Europe. I achieved my goal when I first signed a contract with the United States Postal Service Cycling team in 2002. Soon after I realized reality was not what I had dreamed. Doping had become an epidemic problem in professional cycling.

Recently, I was contacted by United States Anti-Doping Agency to testify in their investigation into the use of performance enhancing drugs on the United States Postal Service Team. I agreed to participate as it allowed me to explain my experiences, which I believe will help improve the sport for today's youth who aspire to be tomorrow's champions.

After being encouraged by the team, pressured to perform and pushed to my physical limits I crossed a line I promised myself and others I would not: I doped. It was a decision I deeply regret. It caused me sleepless nights, took the fun out of cycling and racing, and tainted the success I achieved at the time. This was not how I wanted to live or race.

After the summer of 2006, I never doped again and became a proponent of clean cycling through my writing and interviews.

From 2006 until the end of my career in 2012, I chose to race for teams that took a strong stance against doping. Although I never confessed to my past, I wrote and spoke about the need for change. Cycling is now a cleaner sport, many teams have adopted anti-doping policies and most importantly I know a clean rider can now win at the highest level.

I apologize to those I deceived. I will accept my suspension and any other consequences. I will work hard to regain people's trust.

The lessons I learned through my experiences have been valuable. My goal now is to help turn the sport into a place where riders are not tempted to dope, have coaches who they can trust, race on teams that nurture talent and have doctors who are concerned for their health. From direct experience, I know there are already teams doing this but it needs to be universal throughout cycling.

Progressive change is occurring. My hope is that this case will further that evolution.

 

[Big Daddy]

I'm curious to find out how many of the 11 admitted doping and how many collective tests they passed.

Hincapie also released a statement today admitting to doping yet never having failed a test. Armstrong's camp can't be happy about Hincapie's statement since it is in opposition to their own that a person has to test positive to have ever used drugs.

 

[Mishrak]

Haven't seen Lance post anything on twitter yet. Anyone want to take a bet on whether he calls them Serial Perjurers or a Witch Hunt first?

 

[Cramps]

Hincapie's statement

This is an excerpt from Hincapie's statement, which in places is similar to Barry's statement below. I've gone ahead and pasted the core excerpt here, given that it was hard to connect to georgehincapie.com


"...it is extremely difficult today to acknowledge that during a part of my career I used banned substances. Early in my professional career, it became clear to me that, given the widespread use of performance enhancing drugs by cyclists at the top of the profession, it was not possible to compete at the highest level without them. I deeply regret that choice and sincerely apologize to my family, teammates and fans.

Quietly, and in the way I know best, I have been trying to rectify that decision. I have competed clean and have not used any performance enhancing drugs or processes for the past six years. Since 2006, I have been working hard within the sport of cycling to rid it of banned substances. During this time, I continued to successfully compete at the highest level of cycling while mentoring young professional riders on the right choices to make to ensure that the culture of cycling had changed.

About two years ago, I was approached by US Federal investigators, and more recently by USADA, and asked to tell of my personal experience in these matters. I would have been much more comfortable talking only about myself, but understood that I was obligated to tell the truth about everything I knew. So that is what I did."

 

[Arnout]

Haven't seen Lance post anything on twitter yet. Anyone want to take a bet on whether he calls them Serial Perjurers or a Witch Hunt first?

I think his first tweet will be a letter of support to a fellow cancer survivor. That's what I would do.

 

[alberto.legstrong]

Thank God.

 

[The Gnome]

the confessions and suspensions are coming fast and furious...I love it...so long Lance, we knew ye too well...

my only quirk is the measly six month suspensions...these bozos will be back for the first race next spring...they should have to sit out the whole of next season at least...but what the heck...

 

[manafana]

while i agree those that came out long time ago against all this are hte ones to be praised.

The fact Barry (who kept a vail of innocence for long time) and Hincapie (king of the no comment on the matter) have now admitted doping upto lances last tour win, how can he discredit them now? anyone unsure can not denie the fraud this man is and the lie he lives.

 

[VeloCity]

imo the interesting part of Barry's statement is this:

"After being encouraged by the team, pressured to perform..."

Might just be him trying to avoid responsibility, but it certainly is in line with Landis/Hamilton.

 

[Carlo Algatrensig]

imo the interesting part of Barry's statement is this:

"After being encouraged by the team, pressured to perform..."

Might just be him trying to avoid responsibility, but it certainly is in line with Landis/Hamilton.

I took that part of his statement to not be trying to absolve himself of responsibility but hint at the fact that others were the instrumental parties. Perhaps the team manager and team leader.

 

[VeloCity]

I took that part of his statement to not be trying to absolve himself of responsibility but hint at the fact that others were the instrumental parties. Perhaps the team manager and team leader.

Right, I just meant by avoiding responsibility that it could be seen as the wiggly "I only doped because the team made me" defense.

 

[hiero2]

Right, I just meant by avoiding responsibility that it could be seen as the wiggly "I only doped because the team made me" defense.

Of course he is trying to shift the blame. I agree with ya on that. He and GH also stick this line in "everybody did it!".

On the other hand, I hope to believe the good part of what he and GH say - that they rode clean as of 2006 - and tried since to work in that direction.

 

[Benotti69]

Did they employ the same person to write their statments FFS.

TOM DANIELSON STATEMENT

I don’t remember a time when I didn’t want to be a professional cyclist. It
has always been my dream. Along the road to following my dream, I've had several ups and downs, but I stuck with it because I love the sport. I never set out thinking I would cross a line, I set out simply wanting to compete, to race my bike and do what I love. And that is exactly what I did, clean. Then, after years of doing things the right way, I was presented with a choice that to me, did not feel like a choice at all. In the environment that I was in, it felt like something I had to do in order to continue following my dream. I crossed the line and that is something I will always be sorry for. I accept responsibility for my choices and apologize to everyone in my life for them – in and out of the sport.

When I heard about the team Jonathan Vaughters was creating, I knew that his team was exactly what cycling needed – it was exactly what I needed and I wanted to be a part of it. Even though I made the choice to compete clean before Slipstream’s inception, I’ve seen both worlds, and I believe that today, cycling is in a good place, and that organizations like Slipstream have helped change the sport. I believe, too, that it's time to confront cycling’s past, so that we can continue to build its future. That’s what I’ve done, and I promise it's what I’ll continue to do.

CHRISTIAN VANDE VELDE STATEMENT

I love cycling, it is and always has been a huge part of who I am. As the son of a track cycling Olympian I was practically born on the bike and my dream, ever since I can remember, was always to be a professional cyclist. I have failed and I have succeeded in one of the most humbling sports in the world. And today is the most humbling moment of my life.

As a young pro rider I competed drug free, not winning but holding my own and achieving decent results. Then, one day, I was presented with a choice that to me, at the time, seemed like the only way to continue to follow my dream at the highest level of the sport. I gave in and crossed the line, a decision that I deeply regret. I was wrong to think I didn’t have a choice – the fact is that I did, and I chose wrong. I won races before doping and after doping. Ironically, I never won while doping, I was more or less just treading water. This does not make it ok. I saw the line and I crossed it, myself. I am deeply sorry for the decisions I made in the past -- to my family, my fans, my peers, to the sport that I love and those in and out of it – I’m sorry. I always will be.

I decided to change what I was doing and started racing clean again well before Slipstream, but I chose to come to Slipstream because I believed in its unbending mission of clean sport. Today, I am proud of the steps that I and cycling have have made to improve the future of the sport that I love so much. I am proud to be a part of an organization that implemented a no-needle policy. I am proud that I published my blood values for all of the world to see after almost reaching the podium at the 2008 Tour de France; showing first and foremost myself that it was possible to and then, confirming it for the rest of the world. I continue to be proud of the strides the sport has taken to clean itself up, and the actions our organization has taken to help shape the sport that I love.

We’re in a good place now, young riders of the new generation have not had to face the choices that I did, and this needs to continue. By looking at the mistakes of cycling’s history, we have an opportunity to continue to shape its future.

I’m very sorry for the mistakes I made in my past and I know that forgiveness is a lot to ask for. I know that I have to earn it and I will try, every day, to deserve it – as I have, every day, since making the choice to compete clean. I will never give up on this sport, and I will never stop fighting for its future.

DAVID ZABRISKIE STATEMENT
Cycling was a refuge for me. Long, hard training rides were cathartic and provided an escape from the difficult home life associated with a parent with an addiction. My father had a long history of substance use and addiction. Seeing what happened to my father from his substance abuse, I vowed never to take drugs. I viewed cycling as a healthy and wholesome outlet that would keep me far away from a world I abhorred.

In 1996, soon after joining a local cycling club and winning a state championship, I qualified to participate in training at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. After winning the GP Des Nation under 23 category in 2000, I was invited onto a pro-level team. Ironically, the sport I had turned to for escaping drugs turned out to be rampant with doping. I chose not to focus on that. I was young, everyone was telling me I had a great future – and I knew I could do it clean. From the beginning, I always had.

After distinguishing myself in an important race, management presented me with drugs and instructed me on how to proceed. I was devastated. I was shocked. I had never used drugs and never intended to. I questioned, I resisted, but in the end, I felt cornered and succumbed to the pressure. After one week I stopped. I subsequently succumbed in less than a handful of confined instances never making it a systematic part of my training practices or race routines. But it happened and I couldn’t be sorrier. It was a violation – a violation not only of the code I was subject to, but my personal and moral compass that I had set out to follow. I accept full responsibility and was happy to come forward and tell USADA my whole story; I want to do my share to help bring this entire issue to the fore and ensure a safe, healthy, and clean future for cycling.

I returned to being 100% clean long before the Anti-Doping Commitment was issued for riders to sign in 2007. I was one of the first to sign. I embraced complete transparency. When Slipstream surfaced I was eager to join for all that it stands for and its unwavering commitment to clean cycling. I only wish a team like this had existed when I was a neo pro. Cycling started out as a refuge for me and I want to play my part in making it the sport I had always hoped it would be and know that it can be.

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/1...rts-in-USADA-investigation.aspx#ixzz28vXRGcEm