Drug Cheat Lombard Crushes Cragg

residual effects? this guy is probably still taking the stuff

Which is why I said that Vinny probably felt that way cause himself and others may have missed out.

We should not keep using Vinny as an example but I dont think Vinny ever lost to Cathal before he started taking drugs. And I say this because i am not one of the morons who buy the argument that his 13.19 was clean but his 27.33 was not. Point is he was a guy who could not break 30 mins for 10k or 14 mins for 5k and all of a sudden he started running 40 seconds faster over 5k and 2 mins faster over 10k. Now we can argue how much of this exactly was down to drugs but I bet it was a dam lot and since he's the cheating b*stard we should assume all of it unless he can prove otherwise. And since he's a lying b^stard his word is not good enough.

And you must be quite the performer if you can sit here and criticise Vinny's career as when fit he has consistently been top 3 in Ireland, consistently been one of the top Irish runners at World Cross and Europeans and still could perhaps run a great marathon.

I fail to see why people can come on here and back Lombard. He was probably juicing the last 2 years whilst not running to increase the success he would have when he started back.

Have another lot of photographs from the race -

http://www.annadalestriders.co.uk/IrelandXC2/

I think its very unfair to come on and say why Vinny Mulvey didn't shake hands with Lombard. I would like to think its pretty obvious why he didn't but people can't just assume its because of grants or anything like that. I know Vinny. Vinny works full time and cares little about grants. He works 9 to 5 and runs 100/110 miles per week and knows what hard work it takes to get the most out of oneself. I really respect his decision not to shake hands on the podium. While most people at the race were disgusted with lombard, vinny was able to use the position of being on the podium to make a statement. to be honest, knowing vinny, he prob just didn't want anything to do with lombard and couldn't look him in the eye. in response to an earlier question, 4 years ago vinny was running sub 14 mins 5k and sub 29 mins 10k when lombard was running 14.18 and 30.12 or something. then when lombard made his dramatic improvements vinny asked him for advise on how he could improve. lombard lied to him about plyometrics and weights and diet and then he got caught for EPO. vinny has told me this before (about 3 years ago!). i'm sure he was just sick yesterday and on a personal level didn't want anything to do with the cheat. i can only applaud him. vinny shook craggs hand and said well done or something to that effect and then just ignored lombard. fair play to ye vinny. Go Iona!!!

KOF

I think I was the one who first mentioned grants on this thread. I was not saying that Vinny himself missed out on a grant etc because of Lombard but that simply put Lombard was getting recognition and the funds that go along with that on false pretences. Vinny, and every other Irish runner missed out.

I wasa not sure of exact times but knew that Vinny was faster than Lombard. Which makes me think that Lombard is still benefitting from the effects of his pro-longed drug use. No way would the Cathal Lombard pre-EPO even have been able to run 10 minutes with Alistair Cragg, even with Muddy conditions.

Hopefully Lombard blows up in his upcoming marathon and then goes quietely into the night....

From the Article

Lombard's victory was greeted by scarcely any applause which was in marked contrast to the enthusiastic reception Cragg got on the podium.

"I wouldn't have anything to say about it," said Lombard, responding to the observation that many would judge his victory as a bad day for Irish athletics.

Lombard refused to answer any furthers questions on his drugs issue although he did acknowledge that he was shocked to win.

However, Olympic Games hopeful Cragg acknowledged that he believed drugs cheats such as Lombard should be handed life bans.

"To me a guy who decides to take that route in life should never be allowed to get back

Apparently team manager said that the likelihood of sending a men's team to Edinburgh was "more positive than negative". Don't know if she was referring to Cathal!?

lombard isnt going due to business interests

Was there a postal strike?

That may stop the deliveries of EPO!

Lombard is not going cause he is preparing for a spring marathon

See website below for photographs of the race:

http://hmphotographs.fotopic.net/

Use Google

See website below for photographs of the race:

http://hmphotographs.fotopic.net/

Use Google

Everyone should embrace Lombard. A true winner!

Lombard has served his time, and as he proved here, he is a good/talented runner. EPO will only take you so far - EPO will not make a cart horse into a champion, and Lombard has shown that without EPO he can compete at a high level, as I had previously indicated in another thread.

Yes, Vinny felt cheated, but now we move on, and this is part 2 for Lombard in his career, and we are all here to see how fast he can go without illegal substances, and judging by his win here, he is on track for running well again at 10,000/marathon combination. I think times in the region of 28:30-29:00 and 2:11 - 2:14 are possible in 2008. His improvement has been very swift, since that 24:40 5 miles race back one month ago. Looking at the photos, Cathal is all muscle with little to no body fat. A very strong, muscular runner, with a similar physique to that of Roger Hackney.

Let's move on and respect Lombard for having the courage to face his detractors and show them how good he can be. That takes a lot of guts. Many lesser mortals would have called it a day a long time ago.

Ghost in Korea

c.moulton (www.gifle.go.kr) apply now, good conditions for runners.

ghost I am interested in teaching overseas - what is the pay please?

The reason he has no fat is that his body changed when he took EPO, it strips fat cells, his body is not the same as pre drug use. Lets get something straight, he was an average runner and how can you be so sure he is not using again?

Quote_

'Let's move on and respect Lombard for having the courage to face his detractors and show them how good he can be. That takes a lot of guts. Many lesser mortals would have called it a day a long time ago. '

He will get n respect from me, he is a convicted cheat, courage is being the best you can be, not stickinga needle in your arse becasue you are not man enough to deal with the fact that you are never going to be world class. Many lesser mortals?????

What kind of signals are you sending out Ghost? You suppose to be a teacher/coach. To forgive the cheaters and welcome them back creates a win-win situation for the cheater as seen in Ukraine and Bulgaria. The clean athlete's position must be strengthen...not the opposite.

Lombard would still be cheating today if he wasn't caught.

You make a good point. But I believe that Lombard has genuinely turned the page, and will never cheat again.

He made a very poor mistake, and has learned from it. Cheaters who do not take responsibility for what they have done are much more dangerous than Lombard, who came clean very quickly, and never tried to deny the facts once they were presented.

Ghost in Korea

c.moulton (www.gifle.go.kr) apply now, good conditions for runners. Forest trails to run. Good salary, free accommodation, 8 weeks paid vacation per year. Apply now! Go to the webpage and to the teacher application pages. Save up to $25,000 u.s. per year, free of taxes.

In the video interview, Lombard acknowledges that he could only beat Cragg in muddy conditions. He concedes that Cragg is a much better track runner.

Lombard goes on to talk about his commitment to his 'business interests' which one can deduce means he might not have the time to devote himself 100% to athletics.

It was good to see how good natured and relaxed Cathal appeared to be after all the trials and tribulations he has gone through.

Ghost in Korea

www.gifle.go.kr

(apply now, good conditions)c.moulton