snowleopard
Well-known member
As this is the Cafe, here goes off topic. I've been a cyclist for 25 years, a former amateur racer, and followed the sport very closely for the last two decades. So close I'm an admin on the world's biggest pro cycling website. Everyone has heard of Lance Armstrong. Most heard of him for years as a hero. The story about beating cancer, winning the Tour de France, starting his own foundation.
But over the last several years many of us grew increasingly suspicious of a darker side to his winning. That the reasons weren't merely from determination and hard work, but in a sport dominated by one doping scandal after another, by those very same methods.
This was brought face first to the US forefront when last year Floyd Lands - himself one of those who had tested positive for doping - changed his mind and spilled his guts, naming Armstrong in the process. At the time his credibility was brought into question by many. But the closer people looked, and the more he spoke, the greater the ring of truth started to be. Soon it was revealed that Armstrong was under investigation by the FDA, and the lead investigator none other than Jeff Novitzky, the same man who took on Balco for MLB. The Wall Street Journal, of all publications, ran a very detailed article looking into the matter.
The investigation quietly continued, with many ex-teammates, trainers, doctors, all being called to testify before a grand jury. Armstrong and his attorney referred to this as a "witch hunt", but that didn't alter the course. As time passed, more and more people started to abandon ship, and leaks became very porous out of the so-called Livestrong camp. Rumors great about two very detailed and long articles on the issue. One to be published by Sports Illustrated in the US, the other out of Europe. While it took a while for the SI article to clear legal hurdles, it hit the presses today. Unlike allegations in the past, this brought the story more to the forefront. It appeared on the NBC Nightly News tonight, and two PhD scientists who run a site called the Science of Sport, wrote a detailed comment on the article. Joe Lindsay, respected long time author for Bicycling magazine, and other periodicals, and one who looked favorable upon Armstrong in the past wrote this article today further dissecting the situation.
Rumors continue beyond what was published. Misuse of money, tax fraud, etc. Some rumors being that an indictment from the FDA, or DOJ could come anytime, but as more people seek to speak out, the indictment is held while the new info comes in to pile on.
What complicates this is unlike someone like Michael Vick who eventually did plea out, and admitted his guilt for dog fighting, Armstrong built his entire career, and his reputation, on the pillar of being the clean athlete. One who never used drugs, and would never do so, because he had received a gift after beating cancer. By pleading out, if charged, Armstrong could avoid large fines and prison time. But everything he built upon it, his reputation and beyond, millions of dollars worth, would completely crumble. It would quite possibly considered the biggest fraud in the history of sports. And in the end, whether he is taken to court or not, once this is further in the open, that's exactly what I think is going to happen.
But over the last several years many of us grew increasingly suspicious of a darker side to his winning. That the reasons weren't merely from determination and hard work, but in a sport dominated by one doping scandal after another, by those very same methods.
This was brought face first to the US forefront when last year Floyd Lands - himself one of those who had tested positive for doping - changed his mind and spilled his guts, naming Armstrong in the process. At the time his credibility was brought into question by many. But the closer people looked, and the more he spoke, the greater the ring of truth started to be. Soon it was revealed that Armstrong was under investigation by the FDA, and the lead investigator none other than Jeff Novitzky, the same man who took on Balco for MLB. The Wall Street Journal, of all publications, ran a very detailed article looking into the matter.
The investigation quietly continued, with many ex-teammates, trainers, doctors, all being called to testify before a grand jury. Armstrong and his attorney referred to this as a "witch hunt", but that didn't alter the course. As time passed, more and more people started to abandon ship, and leaks became very porous out of the so-called Livestrong camp. Rumors great about two very detailed and long articles on the issue. One to be published by Sports Illustrated in the US, the other out of Europe. While it took a while for the SI article to clear legal hurdles, it hit the presses today. Unlike allegations in the past, this brought the story more to the forefront. It appeared on the NBC Nightly News tonight, and two PhD scientists who run a site called the Science of Sport, wrote a detailed comment on the article. Joe Lindsay, respected long time author for Bicycling magazine, and other periodicals, and one who looked favorable upon Armstrong in the past wrote this article today further dissecting the situation.
Rumors continue beyond what was published. Misuse of money, tax fraud, etc. Some rumors being that an indictment from the FDA, or DOJ could come anytime, but as more people seek to speak out, the indictment is held while the new info comes in to pile on.
What complicates this is unlike someone like Michael Vick who eventually did plea out, and admitted his guilt for dog fighting, Armstrong built his entire career, and his reputation, on the pillar of being the clean athlete. One who never used drugs, and would never do so, because he had received a gift after beating cancer. By pleading out, if charged, Armstrong could avoid large fines and prison time. But everything he built upon it, his reputation and beyond, millions of dollars worth, would completely crumble. It would quite possibly considered the biggest fraud in the history of sports. And in the end, whether he is taken to court or not, once this is further in the open, that's exactly what I think is going to happen.
