BREAKING Report: Lance Abandoning Fight vs Doping Charges, TDF Titles Gone

Wow. Next question, what will he say to the public?

He could go with the A-Rod doper's classic:

'If I wasn't being honest with myself, how could I be honest with the public?'

oops wrote:

Wow. Next question, what will he say to the public?

I never tested positive despite being the most tested athlete in history. Although I am ending my formal fight against these charges because it is a baised forum that does not change what happened on the roads. I refuse to allow my children to see their father's name being drug through the mud. This is a witchhunt fueled by haters with a vendetta and I refuse to allow them to continue to waste taxpayer resources. I am going to continue the fight against Cancer, despite my detractors wishes...blah, blah, blah.

Well, here is what he said courtesy of the AP:

http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/lance-armstrong-faces-big-decision-doping-case-17066016

''There comes a point in every man's life when he has to say, "Enough is enough." For me, that time is now," Armstrong said in a statement sent to The Associated Press. He called the USADA investigation an "unconstitutional witch hunt."

"I have been dealing with claims that I cheated and had an unfair advantage in winning my seven Tours since 1999," he said. "The toll this has taken on my family and my work for our foundation and on me leads me to where I am today - finished with this nonsense."

...

Armstrong insisted his decision is not an admission of drug use, but a refusal to enter an arbitration process he believes is improper and unfair to athletes facing charges.

"USADA cannot assert control of a professional international sport and attempt to strip my seven Tour de France titles," he said. "I know who won those seven Tours, my teammates know who won those seven Tours, and everyone I competed against knows who won those seven Tours."

...

"There is zero physical evidence to support (the) outlandish and heinous claims. The only physical evidence here is the hundreds of (doping) controls I have passed with flying colors," Armstrong said.

...

"Today I turn the page. I will no longer address this issue, regardless of the circumstances. I will commit myself to the work I began before ever winning a single Tour de France title: serving people and families affected by cancer, especially those in underserved communities," Armstrong said.

Yeah, mine was the abbreviated version, but I pretty much nailed it. If I had made it into a drinking game I'd be hammered;

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/lance-armstrongs-full-statement-on-usada-ban

So now we know he's guilty for sure. About time. See you Lance. Don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out.

This is literally the worst thing that could happen. Brilliant douche move by Lance because he knows they would have proven his guilt but this way he can claim that he just got tired of fighting the charges. What a joke.

Lance Armstrong? More like Lance Liestrong.

asdfafsd wrote:

So now we know he's guilty for sure. About time. See you Lance. Don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out.

Anybody without their head up their ass knew that a long time ago, but of course Lance is still claiming he is innocent and threatening to sue USADA if they say otherwise:

Armstrong, 40, said his decision did not mean he would accept USADA's sanctions. His lawyers threatened a lawsuit if USADA proceeded with punishing Armstrong, arguing that the agency must first resolve myriad disagreements with the International Cycling Union over whether a case against Armstrong should be pursued against based on the evidence.

they should take this DNA out of the immortality drive

I know who won those seven Tours, my teammates know who won those seven Tours, and everyone I competed against knows who won those seven Tours. We all raced together. For three weeks over the same roads, the same mountains, and against all the weather and elements that we had to confront. There were no shortcuts, there was no special treatment. The same courses, the same rules. The toughest event in the world where the strongest man wins. Nobody can ever change that.

This really sucks. All of these years, and all of the kids who dreamed of being like armstrong one day. This sucks big time. Well, at least we still habe Michael Phelps, the Dream Team, Allyson Felix and plenty of other clean (so far) heroes.

So will the US Triathlon Federation, USATF, and whoever in US sanctions untras besides USATF abide by his "nolo contendere" plea, and ban him from their events?

This move saves face with his hobby-cyclist / jogger / triatlete base. They will view it as a witch hunt and show him the ultimate respect for saving himself and family all the "agony."

Final thought, what happens to Livestrong and sponsored events and facilities, like Livestrong Park for Sporting KC? Any business-person with a keen sense in sports will not want to be affiliated with a doper.

"The toughest event in the world..."

What about a hilly 26.2 in hot weather?

oops wrote:

So will the US Triathlon Federation, USATF, and whoever in US sanctions untras besides USATF abide by his "nolo contendere" plea, and ban him from their events?

This move saves face with his hobby-cyclist / jogger / triatlete base. They will view it as a witch hunt and show him the ultimate respect for saving himself and family all the "agony."

Final thought, what happens to Livestrong and sponsored events and facilities, like Livestrong Park for Sporting KC? Any business-person with a keen sense in sports will not want to be affiliated with a doper.

USA Triathlon will recognize the ban. As an Olympic sport NGB they basically have no choice. The interesting question is whether World Triathlon Corporation (which owns and runs or licenses all the Ironman events) will continue their association with USAT and WADA. Since they are not an olympic sport they have more options.

Epo, the blood doping drug used by cyclists, is intended for use by chemo therapy patients to increase red blood cell count. So obviously, Lance Armstrong, a cancer survivor, should be given a little leniency here. Is is an unfair advantage or does it allow him to perform up to his natural abilities? I say the latter

An individual who has accomplished more than most could in 10 lifetimes, and whose legacy has been recklessly tarnished. Armstrong is an incredible human being, in my eyes, and hopefully many more. He is a cancer survivor who has raised millions to empower those affected by cancer and will continue to serve as an inspiration.

I agree- Wouldn't Lance have received EPO and testosterone as a consequence of having chemotherapy and radiation for testicular cancer?Why doesn't the media address this?

Brooklyn George wrote:

Epo, the blood doping drug used by cyclists, is intended for use by chemo therapy patients to increase red blood cell count. So obviously, Lance Armstrong, a cancer survivor, should be given a little leniency here. Is is an unfair advantage or does it allow him to perform up to his natural abilities? I say the latter

Come on Brooklyn. Lets cut the nonsense.

No competitor with an ego like Lance just gives up and caves in- unless he is about to be nailed by dozens of respected colleagues, teammates, coaches, physios, etc. Nope, if you've been wronged, you fight. You fight to the death.

He's guilty as hell.