Armstrong, Sarkozy and the AFLD

[Mrs John Murphy]

I was wondering if anyone can shine any light on this. I've read in a couple of places suggesting that changes that weakened the leadership of the AFLD and French anti-doping were done at the behest of Sarkozy, and pointing out that Armstrong gave Sarkozy one of his bikes. (Makes a change from being given a bike shop or selling the bikes for drugs but I digress).

The inference is that Armstrong persuaded Sarkozy to weaken the AFLD. Can anyone flesh out the story and whether or not this is what happened or whether this is tinfoil hat time?


Apologies if this has been covered elsewhere but the CN search engine, much like its reportage sucks.

 

[Mrs John Murphy]

Has this story been followed up at all in France? It sounds very plausible given what we know about Armstrong and also Sarkozy. I just wonder if any more flesh has been put on the bones of what sounds like an incredible story.

Corruption within a tinpot sporting organization like the UCI, well that is only to be expected, corruption and the politisation of a supposedly independent institution - in return for a bike is even more shocking.

It is pretty incredible if true that one person can have so much political power and it makes the fact that USADA were successful even more of an achievement.

I'm also amazed (and I'm sure Armstrong was too) about how cheap Sarkozy was to bribe.

 

[thirteen]

in the middle of cooking dinner, but if you search for Sarkozy in the forum, you'll find quite a bit...

also, see French sports minister calls for UCI to uphold Armstrong sanction for an article on Valérie Fourneyron.

 

[Mrs John Murphy]

Pofta mare!

The Rieu interview seems to be the main source for the story but there doesn't seem to have been (or not that I could find) follow up on it.

 

[Dear Wiggo]

Pofta mare!

The Rieu interview seems to be the main source for the story but there doesn't seem to have been (or not that I could find) follow up on it.

We don't do follow up. We kick dead or dying pariahs and reprint stories.

 

[Adamastor]

We don't do follow up. We kick dead or dying pariahs and reprint stories.

This time around, French public does not really care about the LA case. For thrm it was all discussed and dusted in 2005 with Ressiot's article Le Mensonge Armstrong. Back then US public was totally (except some folks in the Clinic ;o) ) behind Armstrong and strongly anti-French.

French position towards Armstrong changed dramatically with following factors:
- ASO sacking Clerc
- ASO coming closer to UCI
- AFLD being pushed out of control over doping in Tour de France
- ASO ordering l'Equipe to be "reactive" to doping news in general, NOT investigative

All these were an ideal preparation for Armstrong's big comeback. Ressiot was inexistant, l'Equipe wrote only positive (or at least neutral) articles about LA.

He appeared showing off with Sarkozy, who had always claimed being a huge fan. LA went to French TV shows to present Livestrong, in such a manner that even today (last week) French star TV presenter Michel Drucker publicly defended LA despite the evidence (Drucker and Sarko are best buddies, and have been cycling together).

So since 2009, apart from Le Monde, with sporadic articles, nobody really commented anymore on doping in cycling. France2, French national TV channel,broadcasting Tour de France, was urged to water down comments on doping to keep advertising attractive, and Eurosport France included worst case doper "a l'insu de mon plein gre" Richard Virenque.

Last man standing, poor old Pierre Bordry, was pretty lonely against the world. The only ones listening to him were the Feds and Italian carabinieri.

I guess he got fed up when French govt refused to guarantee additional funding for his lab. Not sure Sarko directly involved there though.

Last question, I read somewhere Bordry had offered to remit LAs test samples of 1999 to Novitzky, but his offer was refused by the French legal system. Anyone having link for that? Or even confirmation?

 

[Tinman]

Also worthwile to look more into the Amaury connections as they own ASO, dropped Clerc, and own l'Equipe. Their business interests are so substantial that Sarkozy would have (had) a direct connection.

 

[Neworld]

Has this story been followed up at all in France? It sounds very plausible given what we know about Armstrong and also Sarkozy. I just wonder if any more flesh has been put on the bones of what sounds like an incredible story.

Corruption within a tinpot sporting organization like the UCI, well that is only to be expected, corruption and the politisation of a supposedly independent institution - in return for a bike is even more shocking.

It is pretty incredible if true that one person can have so much political power and it makes the fact that USADA were successful even more of an achievement.

I'm also amazed (and I'm sure Armstrong was too) about how cheap Sarkozy was to bribe.

We'll never know if it was just a bike...seems unlikely Sarkozy was that cheap.

 

[Adamastor]

Drucker supports Armstrong

Already mentioned by Frenchfry in another thread, here's the video in French. You have to know that Michel Drucker is a huge icon in France, with his live TV show every Sunday. He was attacked by specialists the following day for his "Liggett" like comments, but the French John Doe will repeat his comments in the bistro when commentating doping.

http://youtu.be/-W5QhRJbp70

 

[Adamastor]

http://www.gauchemip.org/spip.php?article14379

Interviews of AFLD Pierre Bordry collected by left stream publication. The original interviews had been published by Le Monde.

 

[frenchfry]

Already mentioned by Frenchfry in another thread, here's the video in French. You have to know that Michel Drucker is a huge icon in France, with his live TV show every Sunday. He was attacked by specialists the following day for his "Liggett" like comments, but the French John Doe will repeat his comments in the bistro when commentating doping.

http://youtu.be/-W5QhRJbp70

I hadn't seen this tribute to Armstrong, and to doping in general.

Drucker is a sad, sad man. I would even go as far as to say that he is a scumbag.

 

[airstream]

My version is Sarkozy was on the top of the pyramid of Lance's comeback. Could UCI guarantee singlehandedly that Lance wouldn't be touched because of doping? I don't think so. AFLD couldn't either, all the more so they always were eager to catch him. But UCI + AFLD under Sarkozy's constraint could. Just think what a guarantee they had given to him if Lance dared to lay out his blood value whereas those numbers that showed using doping directly. I'm speechless.

 

[Dear Wiggo]

My version is Sarkozy was on the top of the pyramid of Lance's comeback. Could UCI guarantee singlehandedly that Lance wouldn't be touched because of doping? I don't think so. AFLD couldn't either, all the more so they always were eager to catch him. But UCI + AFLD under Sarkozy's constraint could. Just think what a guarantee they had given to him if Lance dared to lay out his blood value whereas those numbers that showed using doping directly. I'm speechless.

And ASO - they got rid of Clerc pre-LA comeback. Bordry from ASO. It's the full house of reshuffling to facilitate the return.

 

[Adamastor]

Bordry interview in Le Monde (28th september 2010)

http://www.lemonde.fr/sport/article...e-pas-a-mon-sport-spectacle_1417319_3242.html

In the small world of sports cheaters have lost a formidable foe. Pierre Bordry, 71, announced Friday, September 24, he resigned from the presidency of the French Agency for the fight against doping Agency (AFLD) without waiting for the end of his term in July 2011. On October 1, it should be replaced by another state councilor, Bruno Geneva. Anyone who saw the agency as the "little grain of sand in the well-oiled sports show," says the World reasons for his departure.

Is it now a risk of weakening the AFLD?

The risk is primarily budgetary. We leave on the same basis as in 2009, when the budget was prepared with a resource from a slight tax increase Buffet (the rights to broadcast sporting events). The government, at the request of the Professional Football League, withdrew this proposal which accounted for 4 million euros, half of the budget of the AFLD. We did obtained in July!
And this year, the budget does not provide for sustainable resources for the agency when it needs additional resources as undetectable products are becoming more and that doping is much more widespread than we think . This makes me believe that there is no political will to support the fight against doping.

Beyond budgetary problems that you blame the government?

For the 2010 Tour de France, we asked to perform additional checks. The International Cycling Union has of course refused. We then took the AMA has made an arbitration in our favor. But we have had no support from the Ministry of Sports.
We even had a minister (Jean-François Lamour) who asked us not to treat the case Landis (positive for testosterone at the 2006 Tour) three days before the meeting where we taught her in disciplinary cases. In another area, that of prevention, the Law on Public Broadcasting plans to impose programs on this subject on public television. However, nobody took the decree. This is strange.

Why does it not true willingness to fight against doping?

One day, I was told that it was not too fight against doping or lose organizing major international competitions or to deprive the French sports victories. Faced with massive economic and financial issues of the sports business, sports movement and political power may prefer to have a strong agency but to pretend.

But if, in the future, they do not support further work as an independent agency AFLD anti-doping will shift in the judiciary and the fight against trafficking will become the sole foundation. This change may be tough for athletes.

 

[Adamastor]

Bordry in l'Humanité

Bordry interview in l'Humanité, 30th September 2010:

http://www.humanite.fr/29_09_2010-le-sport-business-étend-sa-toile-454572

In an interview with Le Monde, the outgoing president of the French Agency for the fight against doping explains the lack of political will in the matter.

Four days after his resignation (read our editions of September 24 and 27) of the Presidency of the French Agency for the fight against doping Agency (AFLD), Pierre Bordry returned in an interview in Le Monde dated 29 September on reasons for its decision. Between pressures and lack of political will, he explains the difficulties the AFLD faces.

Details of pressures

Pierre Bordry recalls that the weakening of the agency's budget. "This makes me believe that there is no political will to support the fight against doping. "Then, who was president of the AFLD since its inception in 2005, describes the pressures. "We even had a minister (Jean-François Lamour - Ed) who asked us not to treat the case Landis (see below) three days before the meeting where we taught her in disciplinary cases. "Or:" In the past, I also said very clearly: find the doped before the Tour de France but especially not during. "The pressures that go beyond cycling. "One day, I was told that it was not too fight against doping or lose organizing major international competitions or to deprive the French sports victories. Faced with massive economic and financial issues of the sports business, sports movement and political power may prefer to have a strong agency but to pretend. '

One of the great regrets of Pierre Bordry remain as "we could not remove the doubts in 2005" on Lance Armstrong, when the laboratory of Chatenay-Malabry found traces of EPO in his urine samples during his first Tour victory in 1999. "At the time, the Sports Minister (Jean-François Lamour - Ed) who was the patron of the laboratory and refused," he says.

Revelations that have reacted the former Minister of Youth and Sports, Marie-George Buffet. "Once again, I ask that the state budget allows stable and sustainable funding to meet the needs of the AFLD. The agency, created to ensure the independence of the fight against doping in all forms of pressure, whether governmental or business carried on by the sport, should see its role guaranteed. '

"The light must be shed"

About the reaction ironic Lance Armstrong on his Twitter account ("Goodbye, Peter"), who is rumored to have asked the head of the AFLD president Nicolas Sarkozy during his lunch at the Élysée October 15, 2009, Marie-George Buffet also challenges the government. "All light must be shed on the background of such resignation. [...] The ethics of sport requires a clear condemnation of the disgraceful reaction to Lance Armstrong ironic resignation. I expect that this sentence expresses the side of the Secretariat of State for Sports. '

 

[Adamastor]

Bordry in June 2012 on RTL (French radio)

http://www.rtl.fr/actualites/sport/...-pierre-bordry-sur-rtl-on-y-arrive-7749507877

The seven-time Tour winner accused of doping repeated for 15 years. Are you suprised?

"Not at all. I knew the determination of the President of the U.S. Agency Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). VAIT There are suspicions and he needed to know if it was true, a lot of work done by the agency World Anti-Doping "

It takes courage to challenge Lance Armstrong?

"It is not a question of courage. It is a matter of doing his job properly."

How to switch between the drops for 15 years (how to escape, Adamastor)?

"When I took office in 2005, there was the matter out by the team on a positive test in 1999. Both Lance Armstrong wanted to take the Tour de France in 2009, I could not rescan of me the same sample. But I suggested to Lance Armstrong, who said he was not doped, which resumes all analyzes to clarify the situation. because it could very well be right that . He replied that it was not useful. legal means we were not allowed to continue. "

Lance Armstrong he received protection? Notably with Nicolas Sarkozy (who said that even Asterix takes the potion? "

"The press reported that he had breakfasted before the 2010 Tour de France with Nicols Sarkozy asking for my head. I replied that I did not see one French sports go Barack Obama and ask him to turn the President of the 'U.S. anti-doping agency,' otherwise I won't do competitions in the United States. "

"I tried to get information but in September 2010, Ms. Bachelot (then Minister of Sport) suggested deleting half my budget. Agency must reduce its controls. Which is why I left. "

"When I left, Armstrong made a tweet on twitter, 'goodbye Pierre', turning to me. I told him that it was not done by the agency with American"

Armstrong can he get out?

"There is an ongoing process. It can challenge the decision of the U.S. agency and challenge the evidence presented against him"

Is this revenge?

"Not at all. I've always had the desire to combat doping because it is cheating. And all that can be done in this way is important. There is not enough resources to fight doping story but the important thing is to get there. It happens, the situation must be clarified "

Lance Armstrong should it make its seven Tour de France titles?

"If this is proved, it must abandon its securities. Otherwise, it is ridiculed France and the Tour de France. UCI This is to ask"

 

[Mrs John Murphy]

Interesting stuff.

It would be interesting to work out why the ASO and the French government were so opposed to anti-doping.

I find it hard to believe that Sarkozy and others would be taking kickbacks for something like this.

It seems a shame that there doesn't seem to be any follow up in France about this angle to the story.

 

[Benotti69]

Interesting stuff.

It would be interesting to work out why the ASO and the French government were so opposed to anti-doping.

I find it hard to believe that Sarkozy and others would be taking kickbacks for something like this.

It seems a shame that there doesn't seem to be any follow up in France about this angle to the story.

Sometimes when these guys get to this level of power it is not about kickbacks it is about the wielding of power. They do things for a whimsical notion and not a trek pro bike but because they can and it makes them feel powerful.

 

[Dear Wiggo]

Sometimes when these guys get to this level of power it is not about kickbacks it is about the wielding of power. They do things for a whimsical notion and not a trek pro bike but because they can and it makes them feel powerful.

Agreed.

see Trading places, with Eddy Murphy.

 

[frenchfry]

Interesting stuff.

It would be interesting to work out why the ASO and the French government were so opposed to anti-doping.

I find it hard to believe that Sarkozy and others would be taking kickbacks for something like this.

It seems a shame that there doesn't seem to be any follow up in France about this angle to the story.

Sarkozy likes to schmooze with "people" such as Armstrong (kind of like Ryan in Australia) and therefore was an easy target for Armstrong's manipulation. A few joint appearances, a new bike and the deal is done. When Armstrong finished strongly on the Tourmalet in 2010 I figured the main reason was to get some TV time with Sarko who had followed the stage and was in the finish area. It is very possible that Sarko was responsible for cancelled raids on Radioshack hotels, and attempted coverups of doping.

 

[Mrs John Murphy]

Sarkozy likes to schmooze with "people" such as Armstrong (kind of like Ryan in Australia) and therefore was an easy target for Armstrong's manipulation. A few joint appearances, a new bike and the deal is done. When Armstrong finished strongly on the Tourmalet in 2010 I figured the main reason was to get some TV time with Sarko who had followed the stage and was in the finish area. It is very possible that Sarko was responsible for cancelled raids on Radioshack hotels, and attempted coverups of doping.

All of which makes for a very interesting story - much more compelling than UCI corruption.

It would be interesting to know if Sarkozy was directly involved in those decisions, or if it was a minion. The image of Sarkozy the micor-manager does lend itself to the idea that he would directly intervene.

 

[blutto]

We'll never know if it was just a bike...seems unlikely Sarkozy was that cheap.

....of course its not just the bike, its more like what some refer to as "future draft considerations"....and the thinking here is admittedly a wee bit conspiratorial but it draws on a host of other examples of similar political machinations...

...and the thinking goes thusly...there was a time when Lord Lance was destined to run for office in Texas....and given his resume at the time he may have actually succeeded ( Lord Lance would have made such a perfect Republican candidate...even better than RobMe...win at all costs...no scruples...a mega lying machine of epic proportions...stone perfect... )...any drug related clouds on the horizon would have very neatly scuppered that idea...so the possibility of a corrupt wrong wing politician helping another corrupt wrong winger is a very plausible scenario to move the wrong wing agenda forward......in a couple of years, if things had gone well, Lord Lance could well have been the new more better Romney....

...and how cool would that have been...even more better than the other drug addled schmuck that the Repukes pushed to power, the one, the only, The Governator...

...just a thought....

Cheers

blutto