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Spaniard believes in sporting merit of American's Tour victories
Alejandro Valverde has voiced his support of Lance Armstrong in the wake of Monday's decision by the UCI to accept USADA's ban of the American rider and disqualify his results dating back to 1998, including all seven Tour de France titles. The Movistar Spaniard believes in the sporting merit of Armstrong's Tour de France victories.
"The Tours were won with his legs, his body and let no one believe that he did not suffer for his success," Valverde told Marca.
Valverde's debut Tour de France in 2005 overlapped with what was Armstrong's final Tour victory. In fact, Valverde earned his first Tour de France stage win that year in a head-to-head duel with Armstrong at the conclusion of stage 10 in Courchevel.
Valverde himself has direct experience with drug sanctions as the Spaniard returned to racing this season following a two-year ban during the 2010-2011 seasons. While never testing positive, DNA tests on blood samples linked him to the Operación Puerto doping scandal and what began initially as a ban in Italy was extended worldwide after the World Anti-Doping Agency and the UCI appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in the wake of his own federation's reluctance to take action.
Regarding Armstrong's doping ban, Valverde echoed the sentiment of compatriot Samuel Sanchez in what he perceived as a surfeit of direct evidence of Armstrong doping and instead the reliance on testimony. Valverde was also critical of former riders who are speaking out now after having retired.
"Why not speak when you were competing? Speaking out now that your are retired. Why? To screw others?" Valverde said.
Spaniard believes in sporting merit of American's Tour victories
Alejandro Valverde has voiced his support of Lance Armstrong in the wake of Monday's decision by the UCI to accept USADA's ban of the American rider and disqualify his results dating back to 1998, including all seven Tour de France titles. The Movistar Spaniard believes in the sporting merit of Armstrong's Tour de France victories.
"The Tours were won with his legs, his body and let no one believe that he did not suffer for his success," Valverde told Marca.
Valverde's debut Tour de France in 2005 overlapped with what was Armstrong's final Tour victory. In fact, Valverde earned his first Tour de France stage win that year in a head-to-head duel with Armstrong at the conclusion of stage 10 in Courchevel.
Valverde himself has direct experience with drug sanctions as the Spaniard returned to racing this season following a two-year ban during the 2010-2011 seasons. While never testing positive, DNA tests on blood samples linked him to the Operación Puerto doping scandal and what began initially as a ban in Italy was extended worldwide after the World Anti-Doping Agency and the UCI appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in the wake of his own federation's reluctance to take action.
Regarding Armstrong's doping ban, Valverde echoed the sentiment of compatriot Samuel Sanchez in what he perceived as a surfeit of direct evidence of Armstrong doping and instead the reliance on testimony. Valverde was also critical of former riders who are speaking out now after having retired.
"Why not speak when you were competing? Speaking out now that your are retired. Why? To screw others?" Valverde said.