Lance says he never tested positive. In 2004 a lab working on an EPO test used left over B samples from 1999 in their research. They claim that 12 of those samples tested positive for EPO. L’Equipe claims that it was able to match six of those results to Lance. There is no chain of custody to verify the lab results. There is no evidence of any control to determine if the samples were properly labeled or handled. I have to agree with Lance.
See my last post just above. At least as it has been reported, the race organization let it slide after he turned in the prescription, as they were already reeling from the '98 Festina mess, and didn’t want another fiasco.
Let’s not forget Paul, Phil, and Lance own part of a gold mine business together, or really Paul allowed them to buy in to it since it was willed to him. Call me crazy, but that might have something to do with it.
Lance did test positive in '99 for corticosteriods, but had permission to apply creme for saddle sores. Whether or not is was legit would be speculation.
Tom -
Do you work for Lance?
Actually, I think your post was written with tongue firmly planted in cheek, but I can’t be certain.
The scary part is, whether you are serious or not, I actually think about what you said about no one being safe from his legal threats every time I post on any thread like this. Kind of scary it even crosses my mind, but I am careful what I say.
Ha! Man you are so right about that. I couldn’t even believe I was hearing that out of Paul’s mouth. That was just bizarre. The stage before Contador was toying with Rasmussen on the final climb. Rasmussen had to “tear himself inside out” (to quote one of my favorite announcers) to stay with him. Why wasn’t this obvious proof that Contador was doping and Rasmussen wasn’t???
but I am careful what I say
As well you should be. No one deserves to be libelled or slandered.
Haven’t I read on ST that Contador was involved in the whole Puerto circus?
You must have missed the “proof positive” of his cleanliness, as Paul noted how “tired” he looked at the end of the last stage, which, in his opinion, only happens when you’re riding clean.
Today’s pre-race show was embarrassing.
I agree with todays pre race show being embarrassing. Yesterday they thought “Well this is it…we have eliminated the cheeters”. Then today Al opens with another sad story.
How about when Phil says of Rasmussen…“He is gone, may he never ride again.” What happened to the two year penalty? Millar is there racing again getting all his sympathy for his puce colored skin (can he say that any more often?). Plenty of forgiveness for him it would appear.
I will still watch and enjoy while I ride my trainer. I can’t look away. It changes nothing when it comes to getting on my bike and going for a ride with a group of folks. Keep busting the cheaters, progress will come.
As for Lance…it was a magical 7 years and dope or no dope, there was hard work,a great team, a lot of talent, drive and courage and most importantly LUCK. Luck because look at Vino’s crash this year, that could have taken Lance out any one of those years.
I do actually find these tours with out Lance just as exciting and interesting to watch. But no one around me can name a single rider in the Tour except now Rasmussen because his departure finally makes the Tour a story for the average dullard who watches ESPN.
I loved how they announced that they could tell the top three are clean by the way they ride. (They get “fatigued” and “drop their shoulders.”) Aren’t these the same jackasses who said the dopers were riding with “all heart?” It was also interesting to hear them say that all the other riders “hate dopers.” Uh, the other riders ARE dopers (at least many of them, I believe.) I think those riders hate dopers who get caught.
I can’t believe how dumb Liggett and Sherwin have been. They know the sport and they know the sports dark side yet since day 1 of the tour they have been gushing about how clean the tour is now that the riders have all signed contracts not to use drugs. Surely the could not have been so naieve to think that they could make it all the way to Paris without a scandal to make them look stupid. Who knew it would be the two riders they have spent most of their airtime praising for their heart and courage, Vino and Rasmussen.
I’d have more respect for them if they had an on air tantrum and yelled at the riders for killing the goose thats laying the golden eggs. There’s a lot of money to be made in the sport yet these guys seem determined to scare it all away.
I think the time has come for a Commission to be appointed to investigate pro cycling…to save pro cycling. An international body with subpoena powers and the ability to grant immunity in return for testimony. Every rider, coach, doctor, masseuse and bottle washer gets hauled in and roasted over the coals.
Wrong.
I never really minded the hometown slant. When I watch a baseball game on the local channel they spend most of the time talking about the home town team. Versus is a US broadcast, so it doesn’t surprise me that they focus on US riders or the US based Discovery team.
After reading Bob Rolls book I will forever love that guy and will be unable to attack him. In that book he wrote “Some say you should live high and train low, I say you should move to Belgium and race every day in the rain.” BRILLIANT!
Check your facts. Lance did return a test showing corticoids in his body but they were below the allowable limit. he used them, with permission, for a saddle sore. In fact if I remember correctly he result was on 1/100th of the allowable limit.
Somebody play the tape.
"How about when Phil says of Rasmussen…“He is gone, may he never ride again.” What happened to the two year penalty? Millar is there racing again getting all his sympathy for his puce colored skin (can he say that any more often?). Plenty of forgiveness for him it would appear. "
I saw that and I think right before saying this, Phil mentions that Ras is 33 yrs old too, so a 2 yr ban would probably put him past his prime riding years. I think that is what he meant.
Fair enough on the past his prime, but still…is he out for two years or just looking for a new ride since he did not test positive?
Michael
Fair enough on the past his prime, but still…is he out for two years or just looking for a new ride since he did not test positive?
Michael
That I don’t know. I guess just looking for new employment, although he has got to be damaged goods now.