New Tyler Hamilton website

Triathlon Forum
1

Just got the attached email:

Hello!

1) A letter from Chris Davenport, THF Board of Directors:

The Board of Directors of the Tyler Hamilton Foundation announce the creation of www.believetyler.org

Tyler has four goals and dreams in life: to reach the podium, to win a Gold Medal, to cure MS and to change the face of US Cycling.

He did not achieve his goal to reach the podium in the 2004 Tour de France due to a severe injury to his back. He left the Tour and as Tyler does, he immediately set off in pursuit of his next goal – the Gold Medal.

On August 18th, Tyler won the Gold Medal in the Men’s Time Trial in Athens with a time of 57’ 11”. It was a dream come true. He had worked all his life to reach that moment, never stopping and always pushing himself further.

And in the fight against MS, he pushed himself further and again, went above and beyond. In January 2004, he started the Tyler Hamilton Foundation as a vehicle to increase funding towards the eradication of this devastating disease.

But Tyler still needed to do more to improve and enhance US Cycling by providing opportunities and guidance to youth cyclists. As Tyler has demonstrated over and over again, he fights hard for what he believes in and he continually gives back. He tenaciously pursues his goals, despite every obstacle he encounters. His goals are not selfish but encompass the well being of thousands. He has made a difference in the lives of so many individuals across the United States.

But in September, Tyler Hamilton, an icon in the sport of cycling and the hero to many, was accused of doping. His life was literally turned around in a matter of minutes. His career is in jeopardy and his impeccable reputation tarnished. In the short time that followed the accusation, Tyler won his Gold Medal for a second time but there is still a long, hard battle in the fight to defend his innocence to the UCI and WADA. This battle will take time, money and belief that Tyler was wrongly accused.

Across the world, individuals have stepped forward in support of Tyler. This support has come even before Tyler has been able to tell his side of the story. The support is overwhelming and an indication of the man Tyler Hamilton is – an honorable man and a fair and clean cyclist. Due to the fact that we were already receiving unsolicited donations to help Tyler clear his name, we decided to formalize this process with www.believetyler.org .

Believe Tyler. Support Tyler. And support his dream to change the face of US Cycling. Contributions to the Believe Tyler Campaign will help fund his defense and will help fund programs through the Tyler Hamilton Foundation to educate junior cyclists on the dangers of doping and drugs. It is an important education, and perhaps the best method to ensure that the sport of professional cycling is a clean sport, and that achievements that are won, are won by hard work, dedication and pure athletic ability.

The challenge of Tyler’s integrity is the challenge of the integrity of all that know him. Help Tyler and the Tyler Hamilton Foundation make it right again. Please forward this release to anyone who might want to help or learn more about Tyler’s case.

Believe Tyler.

Chris Davenport

Chair, believetyler.org

Board of Directors, Tyler Hamilton Foundation

Davenport MountainSport Inc.
chris@steepskiing.com

2) How you can help:

  •      Spread the word 

  •     Put a link on your website to <u>www.believetyler.org</u> 

  •     Check out the merchandise and wear it proudly:  <u>http://www.cafepress.com/believetyler</u>

3) Words from those impacted by Tyler

Tyler’s efforts against MS and to help develop junior cycling are two causes dear to my heart. When I was diagnosed with MS in 1987, I eventually had to stop bike racing and gave up the team I ran in Colorado, the Maglia Rosa Racing Team. I dedicated myself to the fight against multiple sclerosis and even suffered an exacerbation the same as Maureen Manley in 1991 when she was on the U.S. National Team. I hope you can pass along to Tyler, Joe, Haven, and all the others my gratitude and appreciation for their efforts, courage and leadership. I believe that a cure can be found for MS and strangely enough, I believe, along with Jimmy Huega, that the cure and the discoveries that will lead to the cure will be found, in part, through cycling. I may not be able to walk very well, but for some reason, yet unexplained, I can ride the bike pretty well. That’s why, to me, Tyler is the perfect leader in the fight against MS!

Believe Tyler!

5

I don’t understand why? I heard from the news that this was a new test, but I would assume it is scientifically accurate. Ok, let’s say he is a special case and the results show up positive due to an abnormal condition; couldn’t they test some old blood samples that were taken years back. It should be the same then, shouldn’t it. I’m sure some of them are still chillin in some freezer. Please correct me if my reasoning is wrong. Or, couldn’t they test him now again. Assuming he didn’t take any PED in the meantime (time frame from his last positive test until now), shouldn’t both of those tests come out the same? If this is true, wouldn’t a change in outcome mean that he used to take something before his positive test at the Vuelta?

Also, just because he contributes toward a good cause doesn’t exclude the possibility of him being a cheater.

7

I have been trying to figure this out, are there false positives for the blood doping test, or is it possible that he has had the blood abnormality all along?

I really do not know, but looking at the web site I assume that there will be a press release with an explanation soon.

8

Very interesting…

I’ll reserve judgement until later, but not very impressed with this communication or style. Seems more of a PR blitz than a bonafide solution to the problem.

10

what you mean about Beke? A and B tests were not handled properly? Is it just me or does it seem those days that all negative tests indicate the athletes are clean, yet the positive get their results from improper handling? WTF is going on? Really!

edit. why test at all if the tests are (???) so unreliable?

11

If Tyler Hamilton wants me to go back to being a fan of his, he’ll have to stand up, admit what he has done, and name names. That site is a disgrace. It looks to me like he is taking advantage of the few remaining suckers who are holding out hope. What a scumbag.

-Marc

13

His career is in jeopardy and his impeccable reputation tarnished.

Impeccable reputation?

Didn’t a USPS doctor rerelease a statement after the tour this year that Tyler asked him for PEDs while on the team?

Maybe one time and you might be justified in being skeptical… but now we have 1) doctor saying tyler asked him for PEDS 2)positive A sample at the Olympics 3) positive A and B sample at the Vuelta. How much are we going to be asked to believe?

Seems pretty spotty to me.

14

I note that the Tyler camp were also quick to cast aspersions on the reliability/accuracy of the test.

If you read up on it, you will find that the technology has been used in emergency departments for years in order to identify patients who have previously had transfusions (apparently the risk of adverse reaction to a transfusion is significantly increased the 2nd time around - so emergency departments want to know if their patient is a “virgin” or not). According to the reading I have done, the technology is rock solid. So, we have 3 positives and 1 destroyed sample. Seems pretty damning to me.

Oh, but he’s nice to the kids so he couldn’t have done it… :slight_smile:

15

started a new topic “PED, Doping, WTC - let’s talk for a clean sport”
.

16

I had the chance to talk with Tyler for a few minutes and he is anxious to talk about the case. He’s asked to hold judgement until he gets his side of the story out.

The evidence is pretty damning, but there has been no defence.

We’ll all have to wait and see(hear)

-SD

17

And here I always thought WTF stood for “World Triathlon Federation”.

I am a moron that must go to sleep now.

19

It’s funny how people are not certain of the facts but still correct others…

20

How could the blood not be handled properly? Everything I’ve read said the A & B sample were both positive and the Belgian Triathlon Federation was handling the case now?

Hopefully now that the World Series is over MLB can work with the international doping agencies to really get to the bottom of this problem!!!

21

Yes '99. Pantani was kicked out for a high hematocrit level (above 50). Interestingly with all the press about Pantani doping they never did actually suspend him for a true positive dope test. only for being in possession of certain dope (insulin i think) and then having a hematocrit over 50.

After all that was written about him needing EPO to actually race because he had taken so much of it, when they released his autopsy they said it showed no signs of long term EPO use???

I’m not sure if that’s just spin out of respect or not.

23

if you want to split hairs - he actually was removed from the race for “health” reasons since he actually did NOT return a positive dope test - only a high hematocrit and therefor was put on the UCI two week stand-down. He could have returned to racing right away if he wanted to but the Tour was hesitant to keep him in the race.

25

You are certain of a wrong fact.

26

How much are we going to be asked to believe?
Heh heh! Throw one right down the middle, nice and easy.

27

Didn’t Tyler swear on his dead dog’s grave that he was clean? What more does anyone need? Where’s my shovel?

28

Didn’t Tyler’s blood that was tested indicate two blood types in his system like b+ and O-? Or some such? If that is the case, everyone involved in believetyler.org should be horsewhipped. How stupid do we have to be?

If not, carry on.

29

I sure hope he is innocent!