Is the jig up for Lance Armstrong?

[wheelspinner]

It's starting to look like a sticky end for Lance Armstrong. With his trainers and medics accepting life bans for helping him dope, and a reported 3-4 teammates prepared to testify to his cheating, it's almost impossible to envisage any other outcome than disgrace, a life ban the loss of all of his Tour de France titles, and lots more besides.

The defenses Armstrong currently puts forward are identical to those Marion Jones used a few years back. She ended up in jail.

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Lance Armstrong associates banned for life
From: AFP July 11, 2012 8:49AM
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Lance Armstrong, right, during his Tour de France heyday.. Source: AP
LANCE Armstrong today refiled a federal lawsuit against the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), just hours after the group issued life bans against three of his former cycling associates.

Armstrong, a seven-time Tour de France champion, wants a federal judge to issue a temporary injunction against USADA pushing forward with charges or punishments against him for charges he was part of a major doping conspiracy.

USADA issued life bans as part of the conspiracy to former US Postal doctor Luis Garcia del Moral, Armstrong's personal trainer and team consultant Michele Ferrari and coach ''Pepe'' Marti for what USADA termed ''systematic doping within the team'' during Armstrong's run of Tour de France crowns from 1999 to 2005.

''Permanently banning these individuals from sport is a powerful statement that protects the current and next generation of athletes from their influence, and preserves the integrity of future competition,'' said USADA chief executive officer Travis T. Tygart.

This trio are part of the group of six, including Armstrong, who were accused by USADA in June of being part of the doping conspiracy.

Another doctor Pedro Celaya, who is presently team doctor to the RadioShack team, and sporting director Johan Bruyneel are also accused of being involved. Bruyneel has denied any wrongdoing.

Armstrong has steadfastly denied taking performance-enhancing drugs, citing the fact he has never tested positive in a drug test, the same defense usd by disgraced US track star Marion Jones before she admitted to being a dope cheat.

Armstrong had filed a lawsuit on Monday in US District Court in his hometown of Austin, Texas, but US District Court Judge Sam Sparks dismissed the 80-page suit without ruling on the merits of the case, saying it seemed more of a public relations move than a court case.

The refiled version, only 25 pages, claims USADA lacks jurisdiction in the matter, saying the International Cycling Union (UCI) should press such cases, and that the system USADA uses to judge doping challenges by athletes violates the US Constitution.

USADA could strip Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles and impose a life ban on him if he is found guilty of the charges USADA has brought.

The moves come four months after a two-year US government probe into Armstrong ended with no criminal charges filed.

Armstrong, who has retired from cycling but was hoping to compete in Ironman triathlon events before USADA's charges foiled that plan, has until Saturday to answer the charges unless the courts issue an injunction against USADA.

The next step would be a hearing before a three-person arbitration panel where Armstrong could present witnesses and challenge evidence.

The losing side would almost certainly appeal with the final decision likely to come from the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

But USADA imposed punishments on three of its accused conspirators and said they chose not to fight the sanctions.

''The respondents chose not to waste resources by moving forward with the arbitration process, which would only reveal what they already know to be the truth of their doping activity,'' Tygart said.

''When USADA has information about the existence of a sophisticated, far-reaching doping conspiracy, it is our duty under the established rules to conduct a thorough, fair investigation to uncover the truth.''

There was no indication from USADA that Italy's Ferrari or Spaniards Marti and Del Moral have cooperated with USADA in its investigation. Nor did USADA detail its evidence against the three or how it was obtained.

USADA says its evidence shows all three possessed, trafficked in and administered performance-enhancing drugs and assisted others in a conspiracy involving such substances.

AFP

www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/cycling/armstrong-associates-banned-for-life/story-fn8sc2wz-1226423143824

[MacBeth]

Let's hope that this is the end of him - I am sick of hearing him say everyone is lying but him

[shiftless2]

Jul 26, 2012 17:00:18 GMT -5 MacBeth said:

Let's hope that this is the end of him - I am sick of hearing him say everyone is lying but him

So we're supposed to accept the word of a bunch of people that are in deep doo-doo but will get reduced penalties if they claim that someone else is guilty. Doesn't matter that the someone else in question is perhaps the most tested individual on the planet.

And for the record, they just banned someone because they retested a 2004 sample. (The question is whether or not the substance in question was even illegal in 2004.)

[joethree56]

I think The underlying principle is that all enhancement is illegal irrespective of when it is capable of detection.

[wheelspinner]

Aug 3, 2012 16:35:35 GMT -5 shiftless2 said:

Jul 26, 2012 17:00:18 GMT -5 MacBeth said:

Let's hope that this is the end of him - I am sick of hearing him say everyone is lying but him

So we're supposed to accept the word of a bunch of people that are in deep doo-doo but will get reduced penalties if they claim that someone else is guilty. Doesn't matter that the someone else in question is perhaps the most tested individual on the planet.

And for the record, they just banned someone because they retested a 2004 sample. (The question is whether or not the substance in question was even illegal in 2004.)

Actually, it's a complete myth that Armstrong is one of the most tested people on the planet. He's not even the most tested cyclist. In the Tours, the stage winner and the race leader are tested after each stage. Most stages are won by sprinters or by minor cyclists the peleton lets go. The most tested cyclist in recent years is Australian sprinter Robbie McEwan, with Mark Cavendish coming up fast.

It's possible to win the Tour without being tested in more than a few late stages, by which time any stimulants you've taken are out of your system. If you look at how Armstrong went about winning, this is exactly the approach he used.

Armstrong has been tested roughly 100 times over the years, and has returned 6 positives. He has not been penalised in the past, but that's not the same as saying he has always been clean. He hasn't, he's just got away with it in the past.

If you're not going to accept the evidence of people who are also guilty, then you might as well do away with the laws of conspiracy, because you'd never make a case. There has clearly been a concerted operation around Armstrong, testified to by his medics, trainers and team mates. What more do you want as proof?

Note that Armstrong has stopped claiming innocence, he's now just contesting jurisdiction. Even if he wins on that point, nobody will ever believe him again.