USADA - Armstrong

[131313]

So funny.....

In the 15-page charging letter obtained by The Post, USADA made previously unpublicized allegations against Armstrong, alleging it collected blood samples from Armstrong in 2009 and 2010 that were “fully consistent with blood ma*nipu*la*tion including EPO use and/or blood transfusions.”

This should surprise no one. In 2010, he was getting dropped at Gila by domestic pros, including me. A few weeks later he's second in the T of Suisse? Sorry, form just doesn't work like that.

Ultimately, his own hubris is what bit him in the rear.

 

[BroDeal]

That USADA ignores this fundamental distinction and charges me instead of the admitted dopers says far more about USADA, its lack of fairness and this vendetta than it does about my guilt or innocence.

- ummm those admitted dopers were charged! He does realize this doesn't he?

At the very least he is talking about Vaughters and others who supposedly talked to the USADA and WADA. Maybe he is also talking about recent teammates like Leipheimer.

 

[mewmewmew13]

That USADA ignores this fundamental distinction and charges me instead of the admitted dopers says far more about USADA, its lack of fairness and this vendetta than it does about my guilt or innocence.


- ummm those admitted dopers were charged! He does realize this doesn't he?

hog you really need to learn to start using "" marks

Yea, pot calling kettle black alright..."vendetta" ...gotta love it

Smear the USADA...but does actually say "my guilt or innocence"...oops Freudian slip?

 

[Froome19]

he has pushed himself into a corner where he has no chance but to deny it.
An awfully horrible corner to be in and one that unfortunately he can remain in.
He should be forced to admit as all dopers should.
Or in the case of someone like Valverde the rider should remain in suspension.

 

[GoneWithTailWind]

And the other shoe just dropped.

Banned from competition. About Effing time.

Shame he wasn't banned in 1999 after he tested positive then.

 

[CQmanager]

About time! Cant believe it took this long ... better late than never

 

[Anonymous]

This should surprise no one. In 2010, he was getting dropped at Gila by domestic pros, including me. A few weeks later he's second in the T of Suisse? Sorry, form just doesn't work like that.

Ultimately, his own hubris is what bit him in the rear.

Exactly. Just like Clemens.

 

[mastersracer]

wow, it's big...

"alleges that Armstrong and five former cycling team associates — three doctors including Italian physician Michele Ferrari, one trainer and team manager Johan Bruyneel— engaged in a massive doping conspiracy from 1998-2011, and that “the witnesses to the conduct described in this letter include more than ten (10) cyclists . . .”

The letter specifically alleges that Armstrong used EPO, blood transfusions, testosterone, corticosteroids and masking agents and that he distributed and administered drugs to others."

 

[Merckx index]

So what exactly do they have on LA?

1) testimony from other riders, some of whom we have already heard from. This is probably the heart of their case, the strongest evidence they have. I’m sure LA was right when he said they asked him to visit because they were hoping he would confess and make their job easier.
2) The connection with Ferrari. This IMO is the real wild card in the deck. It could be the smoking gun, or it could be next to nothing, depending on how much the investigators have been able to find out. Ferrari has proved to be so slippery that I wouldn’t put much hope here until I hear more.
3) The EPO test in 2001. As the article notes, Saugy will not testify that it was a positive, only that it was borderline.
4) The ’99 EPO samples. Very good evidence. Ashenden will testify to the unlikelihood of either intentional contamination or degradation during storage. But this has all been known for a very long time.
5) Suspicious blood parameters after he came out of retirement. Judging from how difficult it has been to make a case against riders based on the passport, this evidence will likely not be compelling. One also wonders, if the tests were suspicious, why nothing was announced at the time. This could be evidence of a coverup, or it could be the numbers weren’t strong enough to trigger any action. I wish to h--- they had a positive DEHP test, but if they had they probably would have mentioned it.

 

[mikkemus23]

Some 14 years late (or more) but better late than never.

I sense more desperation and anger coming from him, like the Tyler H. episode in Aspen..lol.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Naff title.
So far, not much of a snowball effect.
Other forum have more posts on the news.


Oh and he knew it was in the wind with that little tear jerker he pulled a month back.

 

[BroDeal]

So what exactly do they have on LA?

1) testimony from other riders, some of whom we have already heard from. This is probably the heart of their case, the strongest evidence they have. I’m sure LA was right when he said they asked him to visit because they were hoping he would confess and make their job easier.
2) The connection with Ferrari. This IMO is the real wild card in the deck. It could be the smoking gun, or it could be next to nothing, depending on how much the investigators have been able to find out. Ferrari has proved to be so slippery that I wouldn’t put much hope here until I hear more.
3) The EPO test in 2001. As the article notes, Saugy will not testify that it was a positive, only that it was borderline.
4) The ’99 EPO samples. Very good evidence. Ashenden will testify to the unlikelihood of either intentional contamination or degradation during storage. But this has all been known for a very long time.
5) Suspicious blood parameters after he came out of retirement. Judging from how difficult it has been to make a case against riders based on the passport, this evidence will likely not be compelling. One also wonders, if the tests were suspicious, why nothing was announced at the time. This could be evidence of a coverup, or it could be the numbers weren’t strong enough to trigger any action.

If the USADA can get access to older blood values then what stops them from using ludicrous changes in hematocrit, say from racing at 50% in 1999 and 2000 to 43% in 2009? The same thing goes with changes in testosterone:epitestosterone levels.

 

[JayZee]

Anyone have a link to the actual letter? Should be some good reading.

 

[mikkemus23]

I just posted the CN story on his facebook page with a "lol about time". It took them a minute to take it down.

 

[thehog]

Cycling's governing body, the UCI, issued a press release on Wednesday evening stating the body had only just been informed by USADA of this decision and that it was "the first time USADA has communicated to UCI on this subject."

"The UCI is not aware of the information that is available to USADA on the persons concerned and has not been involved in the proceedings opened by USADA," the press release said. "The UCI will follow the case to the extent it will be informed and has noted that the persons concerned have been invited to send submittals on the allegations that are made against them. The UCI will not comment further at this stage."

 

[mastersracer]

reports that other team members charged but no names yet.

 

[VeloCity]

10+ riders? Obviously Landis and Hamilton, probably Hincapie and Leipheimer. Wonder who the others might be?

EDIT: oh and Frankie Andreu, too.

Also interesting:

Amongst the claims made are that Armstrong, team manager Johan Bruyneel, doctors Michele Ferrari (Italy), Pedro Celaya (Luxembourg), Luis Garcia del Moral (Spain) and the Spanish trainer Pepi Marti, who currently coaches Alberto Contador, were involved in what is being termed a massive doping conspiracy between 1998 and 2011. The Post states that there are more then ten cyclists amongst the witnesses.

Is that true? I thought AC no longer works with Marti.

Read more: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/1...strong-Tour-titles-at-risk.aspx#ixzz1xi1uLinb

 

[masking_agent]

Perhaps the reason for Hincapie's retirement announcement.

that's exactly what came to mind for me.. HMMmmm???

 

[WillemS]

Cycling's governing body, the UCI, issued a press release on Wednesday evening stating the body had only just been informed by USADA of this decision and that it was "the first time USADA has communicated to UCI on this subject."

"The UCI is not aware of the information that is available to USADA on the persons concerned and has not been involved in the proceedings opened by USADA," the press release said. "The UCI will follow the case to the extent it will be informed and has noted that the persons concerned have been invited to send submittals on the allegations that are made against them. The UCI will not comment further at this stage."

So for them it's a surprise as well.

Well, I wouldn't trust the UCI with an Armstrong investigation either, if I would be in the place of the USADA.

 

[masking_agent]

at this stage of the game, anyone know if the claims made by Michael Ashenden will be valid this time round ?

 

[mewmewmew13]

I just posted the CN story on his facebook page with a "lol about time". It took them a minute to take it down.

ah busy interns....
where's Polish?

 

[webvan]

About time but a conspiracy from 1998-2011? How on earth could it have taken that long to uncover a 13 year conspiracy?! Oh wait, "protection", but Heinie and Fat Pat knew nothing about it of course...

Man this makes me sick for Ulle, but at least he IS going to get these 2000, 2001 and 2003 titles by the looks of it.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

10+ riders? Obviously Landis and Hamilton, probably Hincapie and Leipheimer. Wonder who the others might be?

Also interesting:

Is that true? I thought AC no longer works with Marti.

Read more: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/1...strong-Tour-titles-at-risk.aspx#ixzz1xi1uLinb

Remember when JV said This:

We expect anyone in our organization who is contacted by any cycling, anti-doping, or government authority will be open and honest with that authority. In that context, we expect nothing short of 100% truthfulness – whatever that truth is – to the questions they are asked. As long as they express the truth about the past to the appropriate parties, they will continue to have a place in our organization and we will support them for living up to the promise we gave the world when we founded Slipstream Sports.

 

[GoGarmin]

Finally, finally.

Go USADA.

 

[mr. tibbs]

Oh god slowtwitch comments are out of control. Ditto the few comments at WaPo. Ugh. These people.

Looks like NYTimes hasn't picked up the story yet. I'm a member there, so I'll happily wade into the fray once it is.

Haha Armstrong. What a tool. Whoever mentioned hubris earlier w/r/t 2009-10 pegged it.

Another fallen hero (the guy in yellow and black, not the guy in yellow and blue):