Armstrong in the mire again. LeMonde reports

[**Uru**]

uru, it’s not a political battle. you’re terribly mistaken thinking that way.
if aso was behind it you’d have a point. but afld is merely a national antidoping agency minding its business in its home country. there was a cooperative formally signed agreement between the uci and afld regarding 2009 tour testing. both were supposed to test when they felt was right and afld was granted the status of a full partner. Afld is saying aloud that the uci did not uphold its end when astana was given a more lenient treatment. they did not complain about other teams. that’s huge enough in their view to file a formal complaint with wada.

it goes beyond involuntary mistakes and occasional oversights.

afld believes this was favouritism and is prepared to back up its position with facts if wada cares to get to the bottom of it.

Seems to be political turf battle to me. If there was some kind of agreement and AFLD was an equal partner, they should have put their foot down and tested when they wanted to test. AFLD seems to prefer to cower and complain later rather than do their job at the time.

 

[python]

Seems to be political turf battle to me. If there was some kind of agreement and AFLD was an equal partner, they should have put their foot down and tested when they wanted to test. AFLD seems to prefer to cower and complain later rather than do their job at the time.

because your answer is spinning i'll take the hint and say you're either clueless or a willful distorter. have fun.

 

[progressor]

It never changes. Anyone that questions the myth is dismissed as a fanboy their methods are nothing more then "Political" or a "nuisance". The groupies really need to come up with a new strategy as this one is tired.

SSDD

Of course there's no bias in focusing this whole thing on evil armstrong when st Conti is just as implicated is there?

Like you said SSDD

Interesting article, of course if the rabid desire to attack armstrong that is prevalent with many posters here, is a reflection of a wider group including many journalists, then you wouldn't ge able to trust the impartiality of much of what is written, would you?

 

[Race Radio]

Seems to be political turf battle to me. If there was some kind of agreement and AFLD was an equal partner, they should have put their foot down and tested when they wanted to test. AFLD seems to prefer to cower and complain later rather than do their job at the time.

What?

Do you realize how silly you sound? It was the AFLD's fault because they were dumb enough to believe the UCI would actually live up to their commitment?

 

[pmcg76]

Of course there's no bias in focusing this whole thing on evil armstrong when st Conti is just as implicated is there?

Like you said SSDD

Interesting article, of course if the rabid desire to attack armstrong that is prevalent with many posters here, is a reflection of a wider group including many journalists, then you wouldn't ge able to trust the impartiality of much of what is written, would you?

Considering the amount of coverage devoted to Lance as opposed to cycling in general, it is only natural that the level of criticism is on a par with the annoying level of media attention he receives. If you get more coverage, you will also get more criticism, normal I would think.

 

[BroDeal]

What?

Do you realize how silly you sound? It was the AFLD's fault because they were dumb enough to believe the UCI would actually live up to their commitment?

No, no, no. It's the AFLD's fault because the organization is filled with haters who have a rabid desire to attack Armstrong. You cannot trust their impartiality. And because people bring up that Armstrong was on Astana instead of concentrating on Contador, it lends more weight to the idea that it is all a vendetta carried out by those who hate excellence and love cancer. Of course, me saying this in no way implies that I am an Armstrong tea bagger who gets upset every time someone bags on The Lance.

 

[progressor]

I wonder how many of you people here theorising on conspiracy here, dismiss people who challenge your mainstream political views as 'conspiracy theorists' LOL

 

[progressor]

No, no, no. It's the AFLD's fault because the organization is filled with haters who have a rabid desire to attack Armstrong. You cannot trust their impartiality. And because people bring up that Armstrong was on Astana instead of concentrating on Contador, it lends more weight to the idea that it is all a vendetta carried out by those who hate excellence and love cancer. Of course, me saying this in no way implies that I am an Armstrong tea bagger who gets upset every time someone bags on The Lance.

Of course that statement was accidently dishonest, not biased, wasn't it?

 

[pmcg76]

As I pointed out before, do you trust AFLD to retest the samples from the 08 Tour. If you do, then dont try to push this idea that its now a conspiracy. The AFLD seem to accepted as compotent until it relates to Lance and then it suddenly becomes a conspiracy. How is it not possible to see the double standards.

 

[progressor]

Considering the amount of coverage devoted to Lance as opposed to cycling in general, it is only natural that the level of criticism is on a par with the annoying level of media attention he receives. If you get more coverage, you will also get more criticism, normal I would think.

Fair post. But getting sick of him, and constantly gong on and on about how evil he is in most threads doesn't really add up. Nor does it excuse the extremities of bias and hatred presented by many as logic.

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

The UCI has issued its response, and it is seriously not very happy:

http://www.uci.ch/Modules/ENews/ENe...=/Templates/UCI/UCI5/layout.asp?MenuID=MTYxNw

(hope that link works, if not just go on uci.ch and look for it)

Susan

 

[Anonymous]

I wonder how many of you people here theorising on conspiracy here, dismiss people who challenge your mainstream political views as 'conspiracy theorists' LOL

I wonder here how you here will learn to communicate here in the English language here in a permissible manner here your theorising [sic] here?

 

[BroDeal]

I wonder how many of you people here theorising on conspiracy here, dismiss people who challenge your mainstream political views as 'conspiracy theorists' LOL

Judging by your posts I would guess that you are a devotee of Lyndon Larouche and convinced that the Queen of England is out to get Lance Armstrong.

 

[Race Radio]

Of course there's no bias in focusing this whole thing on evil armstrong when st Conti is just as implicated is there?

Like you said SSDD

Interesting article, of course if the rabid desire to attack armstrong that is prevalent with many posters here, is a reflection of a wider group including many journalists, then you wouldn't ge able to trust the impartiality of much of what is written, would you?

It appears you do not know the history of the UCI and Armstrong.

Shortly after his positive test for Cortisone in 1999 Armstrong gave the UCI a "Donation" of $500,000. Silvia Schenck, head of the UCI ethics committee and UCI board member has said that this was a major conflict of interest and was the reason for the preferential treatment Armstrong received. This preferential treatment included advanced notice of out of competition testing. The conflict of interest is further enhanced by Armstrong and Verbruggen being partners on business deals, including an attempt to buy the Tour de France

I am confident Contador is a doper, but that is not the topic of this thread. If the team received preferential treatment it was because of Armstrong's connections to the UCI, not Contador's.

 

[luckyboy]

"Furthermore, the UCI recalls that as a result of concerns previously expressed by the AFLD, it had already conducted an investigation on the treatment of the Astana team. This clearly showed that the Astana team had not been favoured in any way."

What?! They waited for Astana. Surely that is favouritism


"Consequently, the UCI will now study the options for collaborating with a neutral partner for anti-doping controls on French soil."

How come the UCI are in charge of tests in the Tour? I mean, they don't run it, so it is because the teams involved are signed up to the PT?

 

[Digger]

The UCI has issued its response, and it is seriously not very happy:

http://www.uci.ch/Modules/ENews/ENe...=/Templates/UCI/UCI5/layout.asp?MenuID=MTYxNw

(hope that link works, if not just go on uci.ch and look for it)

Susan

Thanks Susan.
For me it bodes well for the restests and the transparency that should have been there last Autumn when the rumours of the fifteen or so suspicious values first surfaced. I said it in an email to Paul Kimmage last year that it was as plain as day that a cover up was evident.
I've said before, Pat McQuaid is an embarassment to Ireland. And I'm Irish.

 

[BroDeal]

"Furthermore, the UCI recalls that as a result of concerns previously expressed by the AFLD, it had already conducted an investigation on the treatment of the Astana team. This clearly showed that the Astana team had not been favoured in any way."

Translation: "No matter which team is being tested, the UCI is equally corrupt and incompetent."

 

[Sprocket01]

I agree with the sentiment of those who have said this is more about politics than substance. The issue seems rather petty and besides the point. I expect we'll get more stories like this in the off season.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

From the UCI statement:
"Furthermore, the UCI recalls that as a result of concerns previously expressed by the AFLD, it had already conducted an investigation on the treatment of the Astana team. This clearly showed that the Astana team had not been favoured in any way."

It must have been a very quick investigation - as the day after Bordry first mentioned the Astana team Pat McQuaid made this responce.

"I assure you that the inspectors treat all racers in the same manner. There is no talk of 'cronyism'," said McQuaid. "I have received a letter from Bordry concerning this matter and I will answer that. Talk of weak inspections, however, I deny firmly."

 

[Mellow Velo]

Furthermore, the UCI recalls that as a result of concerns previously expressed by the AFLD, it had already conducted an investigation on the treatment of the Astana team. This clearly showed that the Astana team had not been favoured in any way.
Same quote as Luckboy.
An investigation so secretive, that no findings have been made public?
So secret, that the media had no knowledge of it's existence until now?
Smoke mirrors and the distinct smell of stale cheese.

Pat blowinghard again. Does he really want the Tour to pull out of his calander again, in defence of Astana?

Astana and Pat: He loves me.....he loves me not......he loves me.....he loves me not...

Shack's licence announcement will probably follow shortly, as a result of this.
( I see everyone has latched onto this spectacular piece of Pat BS)

 

[Dr. Maserati]

I agree with the sentiment of those who have said this is more about politics than substance. The issue seems rather petty and besides the point. I expect we'll get more stories like this in the off season.

But it is about the substance surely?

It doesn't matter who makes the allegation or whether their motivation is political, commercial or even personal.

It is the substance that matters - is the allegation true or not - and if the UCI have conducted an investigation in to the matter than why have they not realized it?

 

[Bala Verde]

Furthermore, the UCI recalls that as a result of concerns previously expressed by the AFLD, it had already conducted an investigation on the treatment of the Astana team. This clearly showed that the Astana team had not been favoured in any way.
Same quote as Luckboy.
An investigation so secretive, that no findings have been made public?
So secret, that the media had no knowledge of it's existence until now?
Smoke mirrors and the distinct smell of stale cheese.

you took the words out of my mouth.

If UCI had conducted an investigation based on AFLD's complaints during the TdF - the 'star$ incident' which was published in many non-US newspapers - then why didn't they release this exonerating report with much fanfare!

They had all to gain and nothing to lose. Perhaps it got lost in the same drawer with all the TdF 2008 test results...

Quick paddywack with his pottymouth then starts questioning Bordry's true intentions. Lovely!

 

[Sprocket01]

But it is about the substance surely?

It doesn't matter who makes the allegation or whether their motivation is political, commercial or even personal.

It is the substance that matters - is the allegation true or not - and if the UCI have conducted an investigation in to the matter than why have they not realized it?

The dispute, it seems to me, is political. Making such a big deal about a slightly delayed inspection at 6am and blowing it up into criticism of the UCI inspectors has all the haul marks of politics. Astana, Contador and Armstrong were already huge targets that were tested more than the other teams. If anything there was bias against them because of their history and the big names. It's the silly season as far as I'm concerned.

 

[hfer07]

Summarizing the entire thread, the first thing that i'm surprised is that "le monde" broke the article, instead of the old-nemesis-Lance-hating "l'equipe", which makes evident how some politics/sponsors behind close doors can find a truce when is required..
What wasn't mentioned in the French article was the co-relation between the Testing delays in key stages & the team's results, the suspicious "amicable" treatment between UCI delegation to the Bruyneel/LA's crew- which it was caught & red flagged by many reporters & mostly in depth, the disappearance of LA in the 2nd rest day which coincides exactly with the jump on his publicized blood values... but I guess it's just another "conspiracy theory"....

 

[python]

The UCI has issued its response, and it is seriously not very happy:

http://www.uci.ch/Modules/ENews/ENe...=/Templates/UCI/UCI5/layout.asp?MenuID=MTYxNw

(hope that link works, if not just go on uci.ch and look for it)

Susan

Consequently, the UCI will now study the options for collaborating with a neutral partner for anti-doping controls on French soil. Such an option has already been implemented by other International Federatioin.

wow this statement is plain stupid. pat or whoever wrote this phrase is a nut case. afld will be very happy to take full control of ad testing in 2010 particularly given that lance is not going to like the idea. yeah go and consider your options dimwit pat.. i know what i'd like to see - no fraudstrong in 2010.