Doping allegations against Lance Armstrong
edit: I'm going to preface my prior long comments with this: The complete text of Lance Armstrong's latest responses regarding these new allegations is found here. Sorry, I think it requires you to register to see it, but it's quick, free and they don't spam you. Trust me, it's worth reading. Among other things Armstrong notes that several anti-doping experts have already said this is crazy. He also notes the lab made at least two serious ethics violations according to the code they are supposed to follow. Something very shady is going on here.
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Analysis and commentary on this week's accusations against Lance Armstrong:
L'Équipe, one of France's most popular sports publications broke doping charges against Lance Armstrong this week. It should be noted that L'Équipe has frequently attacked Armstrong in previous issues over the years.
The NY Times has this article on the doping allegations. They say that the EPO test is a controversial one in cycling with some questioning its accuracy. They also note that L'Équipe is owned by the same company that owns the Tour de France. Interesting
When riders are tested, an A sample and a B sample are taken. The A sample is used first and the B sample is only used in the event that the A sample tests positive. It must also be positive to convict the rider of doping. The A samples from 1999 were used up at that time, when no test for EPO existed. The B samples were saved for some reason.
In this case, the lab claims they were simply refining their test methods.
Yet to refine test methods, why did the lab just happen to be using 6 year old preserved samples, many of them being Armstrong's? An article in the Christian Science Monitor questions their motives. I'm extremely doubtful that they "just happened to be testing these particular samples. A quote from CSM:
"L'Équipe said they had been refining their detection methods. One prominent antidoping expert, however, suggests the analysts were deliberately seeking to target Armstrong.
"Scientists have had their doubts about Armstrong for a long time," says Jean-Pierre de Mondenard, a sports doctor in Paris who once worked for the Tour, detecting riders' drug use. "They were fed up with being fooled. Armstrong's seven victories were a defeat for the battle against doping.""
In other words, they couldn't see how he was so dominate, so they were convinced he MUST be cheating. I'm curious, were L'Équipe and their 'experts' also convinced that Miguel Indurain was a doper as he was dominating the Tour de France for five consecutive years? He was almost as good as Armstrong. Yet I at least can acknowledge that, hey, maybe the guy was just that good. No, I think this French publication just can't stand it that an American dominated the Tour for seven years. A Spaniard is okay, but not an American! /gasp
On the other hand, the Boston Globe claims that L'Equipe is a must read in France, a very credible paper. Then why is it that for six years, without proof which they now claim to have, they have been attacking Armstrong? How is that credible? L'Equipe's negative views toward Armstrong are well known. They've been looking for and hoping for some way to discredit him. Their credibility with regards to Lance Armstrong was blown a long time ago, regardless of how respected the publication is in France.
The Boston Globe writer then draws a lousy comparison to a swimmer who was mediocre for a long time, then suddenly winning golds. She was found to be doping. Yet I would note that said swimmer didn't go through cancer and have her life completely transformed and her commitment level pushed way up like Lance did. Also remember that Lance Armstrong was a huge talent who was thought in some ways to be achieving below his ability level. He won a world championship all the way back in 1993. He also won a couple Tour de France stages before he had cancer. But he wasn't dominant in the mountains like he later became after his comeback and some very hardcore mountain training. Plus a more lithe body helps immensely. The writer mentions the lithe muscle of the post cancer Armstrong as part of Lance's "explanation", as though it's a shady explanation. He doesn't bother saying that it's one small part of a completely reasonable explanation for Lance's transformation as a rider, the most important part of which was the incredible determination forged by his battle with cancer.
Armstrong has been tested scores and scores of times over the years, often in surprise tests. Testers will simply show up at his door, literally, to take test samples. They've never found anything, and this test for EPO has been around for a few years now. Over the years Armstrong has also come out in support of extensive testing in cycling. That's not what a man trying to hide his doping would be inclined to do. Were he doping, more and better testing might catch him.
In conclusion, there are many doubts regarding the accuracy and the motives of everyone involved with these allegations. L'Équipe has long disliked Armstrong. They are extremely biased in this regard and determined to bring him down. The lab testing these particular six year old samples when they claim they were just using some samples to "refine their testing process" is very suspicious. On top of that the results were also leaked. What's going on between L'Équipe and this lab? Also I wouldn't be too concerned about the director of the Tour de France already claiming that Lance's doping has now been "proven". For one he's being horribly irresponsible to pass judgment on these allegations already. He's a huge douche just for that. Additionally people should remember that the Tour is owned by the same people who own L'Équipe. So he's sure as hell not going to say "these allegations are bogus".
No, most likely these allegations are the corrupt workings of a certain group of pathetic, jealous Frenchmen. I'm not saying that everyone in France dislikes him, but in the past French media, Tour organizers, prosecutors, police, and the French Ministry of Sport were all in on trying to bring down Armstrong. They found absolutely nothing and some of the media still tried to twist it into something. Armstrong correctly called it a witch hunt.
---------------------------
Analysis and commentary on this week's accusations against Lance Armstrong:
L'Équipe, one of France's most popular sports publications broke doping charges against Lance Armstrong this week. It should be noted that L'Équipe has frequently attacked Armstrong in previous issues over the years.
The NY Times has this article on the doping allegations. They say that the EPO test is a controversial one in cycling with some questioning its accuracy. They also note that L'Équipe is owned by the same company that owns the Tour de France. Interesting
When riders are tested, an A sample and a B sample are taken. The A sample is used first and the B sample is only used in the event that the A sample tests positive. It must also be positive to convict the rider of doping. The A samples from 1999 were used up at that time, when no test for EPO existed. The B samples were saved for some reason.
In this case, the lab claims they were simply refining their test methods.
Yet to refine test methods, why did the lab just happen to be using 6 year old preserved samples, many of them being Armstrong's? An article in the Christian Science Monitor questions their motives. I'm extremely doubtful that they "just happened to be testing these particular samples. A quote from CSM:
"L'Équipe said they had been refining their detection methods. One prominent antidoping expert, however, suggests the analysts were deliberately seeking to target Armstrong.
"Scientists have had their doubts about Armstrong for a long time," says Jean-Pierre de Mondenard, a sports doctor in Paris who once worked for the Tour, detecting riders' drug use. "They were fed up with being fooled. Armstrong's seven victories were a defeat for the battle against doping.""
In other words, they couldn't see how he was so dominate, so they were convinced he MUST be cheating. I'm curious, were L'Équipe and their 'experts' also convinced that Miguel Indurain was a doper as he was dominating the Tour de France for five consecutive years? He was almost as good as Armstrong. Yet I at least can acknowledge that, hey, maybe the guy was just that good. No, I think this French publication just can't stand it that an American dominated the Tour for seven years. A Spaniard is okay, but not an American! /gasp
On the other hand, the Boston Globe claims that L'Equipe is a must read in France, a very credible paper. Then why is it that for six years, without proof which they now claim to have, they have been attacking Armstrong? How is that credible? L'Equipe's negative views toward Armstrong are well known. They've been looking for and hoping for some way to discredit him. Their credibility with regards to Lance Armstrong was blown a long time ago, regardless of how respected the publication is in France.
The Boston Globe writer then draws a lousy comparison to a swimmer who was mediocre for a long time, then suddenly winning golds. She was found to be doping. Yet I would note that said swimmer didn't go through cancer and have her life completely transformed and her commitment level pushed way up like Lance did. Also remember that Lance Armstrong was a huge talent who was thought in some ways to be achieving below his ability level. He won a world championship all the way back in 1993. He also won a couple Tour de France stages before he had cancer. But he wasn't dominant in the mountains like he later became after his comeback and some very hardcore mountain training. Plus a more lithe body helps immensely. The writer mentions the lithe muscle of the post cancer Armstrong as part of Lance's "explanation", as though it's a shady explanation. He doesn't bother saying that it's one small part of a completely reasonable explanation for Lance's transformation as a rider, the most important part of which was the incredible determination forged by his battle with cancer.
Armstrong has been tested scores and scores of times over the years, often in surprise tests. Testers will simply show up at his door, literally, to take test samples. They've never found anything, and this test for EPO has been around for a few years now. Over the years Armstrong has also come out in support of extensive testing in cycling. That's not what a man trying to hide his doping would be inclined to do. Were he doping, more and better testing might catch him.
In conclusion, there are many doubts regarding the accuracy and the motives of everyone involved with these allegations. L'Équipe has long disliked Armstrong. They are extremely biased in this regard and determined to bring him down. The lab testing these particular six year old samples when they claim they were just using some samples to "refine their testing process" is very suspicious. On top of that the results were also leaked. What's going on between L'Équipe and this lab? Also I wouldn't be too concerned about the director of the Tour de France already claiming that Lance's doping has now been "proven". For one he's being horribly irresponsible to pass judgment on these allegations already. He's a huge douche just for that. Additionally people should remember that the Tour is owned by the same people who own L'Équipe. So he's sure as hell not going to say "these allegations are bogus".
No, most likely these allegations are the corrupt workings of a certain group of pathetic, jealous Frenchmen. I'm not saying that everyone in France dislikes him, but in the past French media, Tour organizers, prosecutors, police, and the French Ministry of Sport were all in on trying to bring down Armstrong. They found absolutely nothing and some of the media still tried to twist it into something. Armstrong correctly called it a witch hunt.
posted by Patrick at
5:34 PM
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