The Armitstead doping thread.

[Alex Simmons/RST]

It's more of a dope test than a doping test.

 

[Archibald]

Re:

Armitstead not very convincing in follow-up interview with Lawton who broke the story.

1. Too busy with Worlds in Richmond to appeal first fail
2. Doesn't want to talk about the family emergency that caused the third missed test. She claims this was out of character, not sure why, as missing about 20% of her tests, it would seem completely in character
3. "I'm one of the most tested athletes in the world." Yes, that's her exact quote.
4. I am a clean athlete and honest person.

Right, I am glad that's all that straightened out. Nothing to see here.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-3720407/Lizzie-Armitstead-reveals-fears-missing-Rio-Olympics-banned-s-scared-about.html

there are some gems in there...

My victories and dominance this year are a result of hard work, a fantastic cycling team and some incredible individuals who believe in me.

which LA said this?

‘I feel incredibly proud of the work I have put in ahead of Sunday’s race despite all this happening to me. It’s been really difficult to concentrate on training, nutrition and recovery — all the little details — but I haven’t let anything slip.’

oops...

The second missed test... ...Since then, extra precautions have been put in place around increased diligence and care and my priority is “whereabouts”.

Clearly not if there's a third 'slip'...

‘Basically, it was found that he did not do a good enough job in trying to find me. I was the leader of the World Cup, I was tested the next day, and that sample was negative.’

he rang you directly, what more could you ask for??
not that you made it easy by forgetting to put your room number on your whereabouts...
A negative test? Just add it to the list of 'never testing positive'

Her advisers argued that her mobile phone was in silent mode out of courtesy to a room-mate, while also pointing out that it is not a breach of regulations to put a phone on silent when sleeping

so you weren't sleeping, just that your phone was on silent so you wouldn't wake someone else??
Any one heard from the "room-mate"? Why hasn't said "room-mate" come forward to help with her defense?

 

[Weeman]

Got to remember she is British and will of course not be doping. It's insulting to even think she would lower herself to the level of Johnny Foreigner all of whom are of course doping to stop the plucky brits.

 

[MartinGT]

I was at the British Nationals this year.

Whilst watching the women on the outer course (There was an outer loop then inner circuit) one of the women climbed off and pulled out. A lad near us asked where Armitstead was. She replied @Oh shes ill, she's been ill through the womens Tour too apparently'

I burst out laughing and the lass gave me a look. I asked her if she had watched the Womens Tour. She looked at me stupidly and said 'Well of course' Then looked at me blankly.

I said 'If she was ill through the Tour would she have coped with the aggressive riding she did and what others threw at her? Lisa Brennauer was ill and DNF, not won the f@cking thing'

*blank look* and went off.

Laughable. The whole thing stinks. It stinks that much I even have friends who laugh at my cynicism saying it's not right. BUT There are lots of Union Flag tainted spec wearers out there who still believe it and she is whiter than white. Pfffft

 

[kwikki]

So the first test ..my phone was off and its all your fault...still a missed test
The second test...Filing error, I wasnt where I said Id be...sooo still a missed test
Whats the third test excuse ?

Lizzie has a history of everything being somebody else's fault, so this is hardly surprising

Could you elaborate on this? Would be interesting to hear more

It's just me being sarcastic about her tendency to always find somebody or something to blame back in the days when she was the perennial bridesmaid. À la Leif Hoste. Somebody had always blocked her at a key time, not done their share etc. Ponferrada is probably the most famous example, when she threw a hissy about Longo Borghini (who doesn't have a sprint), Johansson and Vos not wanting to lead out in the final kilometre; being very catty especially about Emma who she's seemingly never got on with. "For sure I don't know why she didn't work, but she got another silver [actually bronze], maybe she prefers them" - notwithstanding that, of course, of that quartet Johansson had by far the weakest protection from teammates up to the point of the break, and had been the one to try to escape solo too. Targets included British Cycling, in fact, when they had the temerity to back Cooke over her not only in Geelong but in København too.

Yep, never the most endearing person ever to have swung a leg over a bike (but then top riders aren't often very well adjusted humans).

 

[kwikki]

If Armitstead isn't getting any punishment over three missed tests in a 12 month span, then the ASO and UCI need to give Rasmussen that 2007 TDF title. I mean, Contador has already tested positive, we know he is a proven doper and plus he appeared in the Operacion Puetro list, so Rasmussen getting that title shouldn't be much of a problem. Unreal hypocrisy by the UKAD and BC.

The more I see stuff like this happening, the more I am inclined to think that there is a pro-Anglophone bias within the UCI.

Have Paula, Sir Brad, Mo, Reedie, Dawg, Lord Coe said anything about this? Are they saying this is another step in the right direction for ant-doping? Are they saying it was a mistake by Lizzie and co. and that she shouldn't be punished for something so trivial? They are probably too busy trying to keep those pesky Russians, Jamaicans and Kenyans in line with 'fair play' for Rio. Wouldn't want any cheaters taking all the glory from the 'clean' athletes in Rio, would we?

You do know why Rasmussen was thrown off the Tour and banned, don't you?

Whilst I think Armistead's missed tests are suspicious, there is little comparison with Rasmussen.

Personally, I think Armistead's first missed test sounds legit. There has to be recourse against other people's incompetence, especially when it is high stakes. It's her second and third I find astonishing.

 

[doperhopper]

Re:

Armitstead not very convincing in follow-up interview with Lawton who broke the story.

1. Too busy with Worlds in Richmond to appeal first fail
2. Doesn't want to talk about the family emergency that caused the third missed test. She claims this was out of character, not sure why, as missing about 20% of her tests, it would seem completely in character
3. "I'm one of the most tested athletes in the world." Yes, that's her exact quote.
4. I am a clean athlete and honest person.

Right, I am glad that's all that straightened out. Nothing to see here.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-3720407/Lizzie-Armitstead-reveals-fears-missing-Rio-Olympics-banned-s-scared-about.html

how can I donate to Lizzie Fairness Fund?

 

[King Boonen]

Bringing up Rasmussen as a comparison, this is why we can't have sensible discussions here.

 

[kwikki]

Re: Re:

Stokes now with an interview with another Doping Control Officer saying if the guy gave up so easily and didn't show proper credentials to hotel staff, not surprised she got off and that it was the right decision. And that phone on silent normally not a big deal as 99% of the time they get to knock on the door. Or perhaps ring the doorbell?

http://cyclingtips.com/2016/08/doping-control-officer-its-right-that-armitstead-was-cleared-in-her-whereabouts-case/

Yes, this titbit in the Stokes article was glaring;

Asked for an example, he said that UKAD sends out testers on their own. “In ten years, I have never, ever done a test on my own. I have a chaperone with me at all times. But with UKAD, it is just one person. I think it is to save costs.”

And we have a problem with Russia because?

Actually, the whole article was glaring because it was unequivocally in favour of Armistead. The dope tester was anonymous, he could have said 'It's suspicious' but he didn't. He said it was entirely right that she was cleared.

 

[Mayo from Mayo]

Interesting that in the extract from the Mail aricle below Armistead appears to be claiming to know the reasons behind the CAS decision. UKAD are allegedly waiting on this before deciding on what further action they will take, if any.

‘Basically this bloke walks in off the street at 6am and asks for my room number, without explanation, and understandably the receptionist wouldn’t give it to him. Then he called my mobile, which was on silent. And then filed a missed test report. The findings in the CAS hearing said that he should have told the receptionist that firstly he was looking for a Boels Dolmans (her professional team) cyclist. He didn’t explain who he was or the seriousness of the situation.
‘Basically, it was found that he did not do a good enough job in trying to find me. I was the leader of the World Cup, I was tested the next day, and that sample was negative.’


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-3720407/Lizzie-Armitstead-reveals-fears-missing-Rio-Olympics-banned-s-scared-about.html#ixzz4GFvuHQX1

It strikes me that what she may have provided above is an agreed narrative which was presented to the Tribunal.

 

[Bolder]

"I’m one of the most tested athletes in the world,’ she said.

Boy does that sound familiar...

Like everyone, one test, sure, you get a pass. Two...could go either way. Three: See ya!

 

[kwikki]

Re:

"I’m one of the most tested athletes in the world,’ she said.

Boy does that sound familiar...

Like everyone, one test, sure, you get a pass. Two...could go either way. Three: See ya!

She's on two now, until october is up and then on one until next July.

 

[elduggo]

Re: Re:

"I’m one of the most tested athletes in the world,’ she said.

Boy does that sound familiar...

Like everyone, one test, sure, you get a pass. Two...could go either way. Three: See ya!

She's on two now, until october is up and then on one until next July.

aye, fairly convenient for her that shes off to get married after the olympics

I expect after her gold medal we won't see much in the way of results until after october at the earliest.

 

[elduggo]

Re:

...lizzie...'it's more than missing the olympics...it's everything....my family.......'

...bleugh! i almost feel bad about doubting her now........

Mark L

I started warming to her after Walsh started attacking her

If Walsh thinks shes bad, then shes alright by me.

 

[Andy262]

Re: Re:

...lizzie...'it's more than missing the olympics...it's everything....my family.......'

...bleugh! i almost feel bad about doubting her now........

Mark L

I started warming to her after Walsh started attacking her

If Walsh thinks shes bad, then shes alright by me.

Not sure I get the hate for Walsh? Maybe someone could enlighten me.

As for Lizzie, It'd be nice to understand the circumstances of tests 2 and 3. Otherwise it's a pattern of carelessness that stretches credibility for one in her position. As usual, Nicole Cooke has it right.

 

[Chaddy]

Re: Re:

...lizzie...'it's more than missing the olympics...it's everything....my family.......'

...bleugh! i almost feel bad about doubting her now........

Mark L

I started warming to her after Walsh started attacking her

If Walsh thinks shes bad, then shes alright by me.

Not sure I get the hate for Walsh? Maybe someone could enlighten me.

As for Lizzie, It'd be nice to understand the circumstances of tests 2 and 3. Otherwise it's a pattern of carelessness that stretches credibility for one in her position. As usual, Nicole Cooke has it right.

He doesn't think Sky and Froome dope, hence he is now the most hated journalist around, closely followed by Matthew Syed.

 

[kwikki]

Well, as much as some people here take the anti-British thing a little too far, I am with anyone who says Walsh is a paid shill.

 

[gillan1969]

Re: Re:

...lizzie...'it's more than missing the olympics...it's everything....my family.......'

...bleugh! i almost feel bad about doubting her now........

Mark L

I started warming to her after Walsh started attacking her

If Walsh thinks shes bad, then shes alright by me.

Not sure I get the hate for Walsh? Maybe someone could enlighten me.

As for Lizzie, It'd be nice to understand the circumstances of tests 2 and 3. Otherwise it's a pattern of carelessness that stretches credibility for one in her position. As usual, Nicole Cooke has it right.

Walsh? Nutella

 

[Bronstein]

That missed test occurred last August while Armitstead was staying in a Swedish hotel, having failed to provide her room number to anti-doping authorities.

It emerged last night she did so after British Cycling sent an email to all riders in February last year telling them to include room numbers on their whereabouts information, advice also given on the ­website of UK Anti-Doping.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/olympics/2016/08/03/lizzie-armitstead-warned-by-british-cycling-before-missed-drugs/

 

[MartinGT]

https://twitter.com/L_ArmiTstead/status/760776866437496832

Some of the replies are too funny :lol:

 

[TeflonDub]

Re: Re:

So the first test ..my phone was off and its all your fault...still a missed test
The second test...Filing error, I wasnt where I said Id be...sooo still a missed test
Whats the third test excuse ?

Lizzie has a history of everything being somebody else's fault, so this is hardly surprising

Good call. So Lizzie has issued a heartfelt love-letter telling all that she wants the world to know about her misses. And it's not her fault. Apparently, her British Cycling-appointed minder, Simon Thornton, left BC without anybody telling her. Despite the fact they had a "no news is good news" relationship, and despite the fact she was going through some apparently very bad news with family, it doesn't appear she tried to seek his help. However:

"If Simon was still in place the following oversight could have been prevented."

Time to start "digging up", Lizzie.

 

[fmk_RoI]

Re: Re:

I started warming to her after Walsh started attacking her

A summary of what Walsh has said, for those of us who have him on 'Block'?

 

[fmk_RoI]

Re:

Well, as much as some people here take the anti-British thing a little too far, I am with anyone who says Walsh is a paid shill.

Disliking Walsh is not anti-British.

 

[kwikki]

Re: Re:

Well, as much as some people here take the anti-British thing a little too far, I am with anyone who says Walsh is a paid shill.

Disliking Walsh is not anti-British.

Ireland is part of the British Isles

I think you have to take my comment in the context of the post to which it was a reply.

 

[Brian Butterfield]

Re: Re:

Well, as much as some people here take the anti-British thing a little too far, I am with anyone who says Walsh is a paid shill.

Disliking Walsh is not anti-British.

Ireland is part of the British Isles

I think you have to take my comment in the context of the post to which it was a reply.

"Ireland is part of the British Isles " pffft!

"Northern Ireland" is part of the United Kindgom. The other bit isn't. Walsh evidently grew up and worked in the part that isn't.