Armstrong charged and banned

[Alun]

True, but I don't think it's entirely fair to cast the BOA as "mavericks" - whether you agree with it or not, their decision was one of principle. The problem there was jurisdiction - BOA aren't entitled to overrule the IOC's selection criteria. This case is slightly different because it's not one governing body exercising its jurisdiction over another (seems like WADA, USADA, UCI and ASO are all out to get Lance, one way or another).

Also, as noted above, Lance may well have expensive lawyers at his disposal but so does the USADA.

d.

How about "idiots" then! They pay big money to fight a case at CAS which I could have told them they would lose. They then have to get money off the taxpayer to jazz up the Olympic opening ceremony. The BOA had signed up to the 2 year rule, they then clumsily tried to claim a lifetime ban was a "selection" issue, as if they were going to fool anyone at CAS.

 

[smutchin]

Maybe. Fwiw, I don't entirely agree it was quite so clear cut that they would lose the case, but that's just, like, my opinion, man.

From what Brailsford has been saying, they may still find a way to avoid selecting Millar anyway, so it was probably all a massive waste of time.

d.

 

[Alun]

From what Brailsford has been saying, they may still find a way to avoid selecting Millar anyway, so it was probably all a massive waste of time.
d.

I would hope Dave Brailsford will select riders based on merit and how they fit into a team, rather than avoiding selecting someone due to some other agenda.

 

[albion]

Holy Christ ......are you just an unthinking fanboy?.........
Those of us who believe Armstrong to be guilty ....Historic evidence....

I have no opinion either way. It is even possible that he was sophisticated enough to cheat and ensure he had balanced performance characteristics.

Historic evidence on the face of it seems to be mainly innuendo and conspiracy theory that forms into a belief system.
Sadly it looks so long drawn and inconsequential that doubts will always exist both ways.

Stuff like 'he had/can afford expensive lawyers' is just one example.

 

[Alun]

Lance is innocent you damn haters

He's guilty, it's already been decided!
However it'll only be a 2 year ban as it's a first offence

 

[albion]

He's guilty, it's already been decided!

Nah, a friend of a friend on the committee was jobless so it has now become 12 months gainful employment to then decide there is only doubtful evidence and/or not enough of it.

 

[smutchin]

I would hope Dave Brailsford will select riders based on merit and how they fit into a team, rather than avoiding selecting someone due to some other agenda.

Brailsford has only said that there's enough strength in depth to the team that Millar's inclusion in the long list is by no means a guarantee that he'll make the final squad, but I'm sure it would suit him nicely if he had a valid pretext for dropping him.

On the other hand, Cav wants Millar in the team, so that must carry some weight.

d.

 

[yello]

Lance may well have expensive lawyers at his disposal

If Armstrong's to be taken at his word (!) then he's not going to contest so any lawyer involvement would be basic procedural, legalities and such like.

If he chooses not to contest then he's basically accepting the evidence as presented and the USADA panel will judge on that basis. That is, little that'd equate to a trial procedure. We'll know soon enough whether he decides to contest as he has to file his response before the end of this month (20th or 25th??).

Of course, come the hour, whether he sticks with his previously stated decision of not contesting (and several commentators have remarked on this point already) is another matter. It'd certainly be atypical. It's possible that he's decided to accept any outcome in the name of getting on with his life. Whilst not what we might expect of him, given his character, I think it would be none-the-less understandable.

For me, a factor is any ban he might face. Given the nature of the evidence, it's hard to see anything other than a life time ban (that is, if USADA decide to go ahead and that, I think, we can assume is likely). That scuppers any notion Armstrong may have had about continuing triathlon (unless he can find some organisation/competition NOT signed up to WADA). Whether Armstrong factored in not being able to compete in triathlon as a likely outcome, I obviously don't know.

 

[Andrew_P]

Has this all come about because he turned pro for the Ironman and Triathlons?

 

[Alun]

Interesting times! It would be out of character for Armstrong to just accept the charges, but most of the evidence contained in the letter USADA sent to him seems to cover all of the accused so maybe one guilty all guilty?
Except the blood samples from 2009/10 which are said to be "consistent" with using EPO or Blood transfusions or both. I mean which is it? Make your mind up USADA! Not the "smoking gun" some people have been hoping for.
"I saw him take growth hormones prior to 1997" I think that's a bit long in the tooth now!

 

[rich p]

TBH, if I had to choose one or the other, I might even pick Bruyneel as the one I'd like to see nailed. He's still a big noise in the sport and it would help clean it up if he got a life ban.

 

[gb155]

He's guilty, it's already been decided!
However it'll only be a 2 year ban as it's a first offence

Really?????

 

[gb155]

TBH, if I had to choose one or the other, I might even pick Bruyneel as the one I'd like to see nailed. He's still a big noise in the sport and it would help clean it up if he got a life ban.

I've got to agree here, he's the one consistent across the board in relation to previously banned riders of teams he's managed etc

 

[mangaman]

It went like this in the media columns.
'he beat me , must be on doping'
and
'well I'm doping so he must do it better'

It must certainly wrankle that those using doping could still not beat Armstrong apart from an occasional inconsistent stage win. One's ego certainly told tell them that 'Armstrong cheats better than me'.

What people forget is cycling is a team sport.

Armstrong and Bruyneel took that to a new level.

All his domestiques used to fly up hills with Armstrong just wheel sucking, before Heras, Hamilton etc etc pulled out 100m from the top.

I don't believe the other teams had the money and organisation to get away with it - witness most of Armstrong's team testing positive as soon as they moved to another team.

It's simply wrong to say \armstrong beat Ullrich so he was better - Ullrich was often left isolated, Armstrong never was for 3 weeks

 

[Crackle]

TBH, if I had to choose one or the other, I might even pick Bruyneel as the one I'd like to see nailed. He's still a big noise in the sport and it would help clean it up if he got a life ban.

Oooh, I'd really like to see Bruyneel out the sport.