Lance Armstrong Admits to use Performance-Enhancing Drugs

[LaxTV_Admin]

From ESPN.com

Lance Armstrong confessed during an interview Monday with Oprah Winfrey that he used performance-enhancing drugs to win the Tour de France, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the interview is to be broadcast Thursday on Winfrey's network.

Armstrong was stripped of all seven Tour titles last year following a voluminous U.S. Anti-Doping Agency report that portrayed him as a ruthless competitor, willing to go to any lengths to win the prestigious race.

USADA chief executive Travis Tygart labeled the doping regimen allegedly carried out by the U.S. Postal Service team that Armstrong once led, "The most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen."

After a federal investigation of the cyclist was dropped without charges being brought last year, USADA stepped in with an investigation of its own. The agency deposed 11 former teammates and accused Armstrong of masterminding a complex and brazen drug program that included steroids, blood boosters and a range of other performance-enhancers.

Read Full Story - http://espn.go.com/sports/endurance/sto ... eport-says

How much does this tarnish his reputation?

[OAKS]

Lance Armstrong Admits To Using Performance-Enhancing Drugs To Show Remorse

http://www.theonion.com/articles/lance- ... nci,30912/

[Ravaging Beast]

I don't think I have any issues with Armstrong. I have always assumed that the highest performing athletes are using some sort of PEDs. If you aren't trying to get that edge, you aren't going to have a shot at being the best. Many times, that involves cheating. When this much money is involved, why not get take the risk?

I am a bit upset about how he treated those who accused him of using PEDs, but I would do the exact same thing if accused of cheating if the accusers had no concrete evidence. If you already have the "balls" to cheat, you have the "balls" to lie about it.

My issue is with those running the sports such as baseball, football, and cycling. The issue is not the athletes, it is the managing bodies of the sports that those athletes participate in. They are the ones benefiting most from the enhanced performance of the athletes. Money, money, money. It is enough for them to turn a blind eye. It is not difficult to monitor these athletes closer. So they are the ones who have tarnished their image. Lance was the best cheater in cycling (there were a lot more). Bonds, Clemons, McGwire, Sosa, etc were the best cheaters in baseball. The blame falls on the sport, not the athletes.

[OAKS]

Well the cycling authorities do a good amount of testing. Armstrong's attorneys said he provided samples "500 to 600 times over 14 years." In reality it was like 250, and not all of those were for prohibited substances, but he passed every single one. The athletes can pour a lot of money into getting substances that do not show up, and the organizations are playing catch-up to add every new substance they can find to their tests.

So cycling was trying to stay somewhat pure, but could have probably tested a little more, whereas football and baseball have mostly turned a blind eye.

[Ravaging Beast]

Clearly cycling was not doing enough testing if he was able to get away with it for so long. If they think doping may be occurring in their sport, they better get to the bottom of it.