Comments on: Ex-Teammate: I saw Lance Armstrong use EPO
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- If testosterone is one of the primary culprits and it's made naturally in the body and some have more than others naturally then it seems like the ones that do have more naturally would have an unfair advantage over those that didn't. That's pretty much consistent with reality though as everyone has different levels of ability across the board. Given that, the sport should ask what it is that they are trying to establish with the competition. Are they seeking to show that the winner had immense genetic advantage. That wouldn't be consistent with the values of sportsmanship and a level playing field. It would be more consistent with the theory that the guy born with all the right stuff can almost always stomp the scrawny guy into the ground. That's probably not the example we tell ourselves we're providing for the kids. The opposite would be no holds barred last man standing type competition where there were no rules. Of course, when half the cyclist's hearts exploded on the first lap from 10x too much of everything stimulating they could acquire, legally or otherwise, then that probably wouldn't be a good example for the kids either. But if a level playing field is considered fair, then what if testosterone boosting was legal to a certain level. If you went over, you were out, if not, you were ok. Likewise with blood cell packing and other fairly safe procedures that are difficult to trace. The rest, illegal stimulants and similar could be tested for at the very beginning and the very end of the race.
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- Why no mention of Tyler Hamilton's years of lying and TWO failed drug tests?
I am not claiming Armstrong's innocence or guilt, but I think it might be pertinent information to mention...full disclosure-wise. - Reply to this comment
- Why are they wasting all this time and money on such a silly issue? Whatever he did or didn't do, it's all over now, and it doesn't make any difference anyway. There are real criminals out there, and these people should be focusing their attention finding them instead.
Even the cycling world doesn't want to know about it. Look how they just dismissed charges against Alberto Contador. He failed a drug test, and the cycling community realized that it was in their best interest to look the other way, so they did. He's well on his way to winning the Giro d'Italia right now, and he's the odds on favorite to win the Tour de France as well. He's one heck of a cyclist, and a whole lot of fun to watch. Don't pull Alberto out, and don't crucify Lance either. Let it go, and start spending our tax money on REAL problems! - Reply to this comment
- Let's face it, God probably doesn't make a human being that can compete with someone of similar ability that is using performance enhancers. I recently enjoyed a rare period of enhanced motivation at work that led me to begin taking a testosterone precursor, ADHD meds(not above regular dosage though), vitamins, and herbs. I used some loud loud techno music to immerse myself in some motivating fantasy and bought some good running shoes. I worked in a warehouse that was huge and all of that (plus my eye on a cute redhead for inspiration) and I ended up maintaining a light jogging pace for several hours at a time, with occasional flat out sprints at times. If you can't get out of it, get into it. I'm 54 and have smoked heavily for 40 years.
All it takes is one person willing to cheat and the whole world will cheat behind him to catch up. That's sad but so is the world. I would think they would have some more effective drug testing mechanisms in place if they really wanted to stop this.
Ruining the reputations of major sports heroes every 5 years or so probably isn't teaching the kids much about sportsmanship. More likely, it's teaching them that you have to cheat to compete. I would think that testing for drugs would have to be an ongoing process during the event, not just before it. Most people could probably cheat a drug test if they knew the time and which drug. It's not quantum theory level stuff, you know. - Reply to this comment
- 1. If everyone took various drugs, then all were even at the start.
2. If Armstrong failed a test during "an important event right before the Tour de France", why were the results never revealed - especially given France's virulent hatred of Armstrong.
3. I agree with the second comment: who cares? Armstrong is retired, challenges of contamination obviate using any stored blood samples.
4. Everyone saw everyone, but no photograph has ever been revealed. No cell phones? No minicams? No nothing. - Reply to this comment
- Sadly, I believe Lance Armstrong cheated. I also believe that due to his testicular cancer, and removal of the testes, he had been given T (Testosterone) and EPO to attempt to match what his testes would of naturally been producing. Perhaps during the time he was given T and EPO he began to notice how much energy he had when his body got slightly more than what may have been needed. Most males produce T and EPO naturally, so all urine drug tests and/or blood drug tests for these 'drugs' will come up positive. The question is what is the 'acceptable' amount and what is considered over the 'acceptable' limit. Both T and EPO are on a circadian rhythm, higher at some time and lower at others in any given 24 hr period. Also, 'normal' levels are different in the blood vs the urine. To his male counterparts, with testes, he had to be given (injected) a certain amount just to maintain a normal male hormone level. This, I think, is where it may have gotten tricky. Perhaps different labs had different normal values/limits and Lance and his doctors could have contested any positive results that were suspicious by stating that they had to use a different manufacturer of hormone or had to inject later or earlier in the day, throwing the values off. I think over time, Lance, and his team may have learned different ways to manipulate the results, especially, if they were using blood doping. He could have had a high level in his system during a race, then blood doped in the trailer afterwards, dropping the level of T and EPO down into a normal range, or vice versa, depending on when dope screening was most likely to take place. With a good team, and perhaps an insider letting them know when dope screening was being done, this may have been easier than we know. Just because a test is 'neg' or with in 'normal' limits, doesn't mean they didn't cheat. Where there is a will, there is a way... Also, if one pours bleach on their hand(s) and lets it dry into a fine crystalline powder and then urinates on to their hand first, catching the residue into a urine drug cup, the bleach will render many of the drug metabolites useless for testing, essentially making a positive UDS into a negative. So, there are ways to 'cheat'. Don't be too gullible about the 'neg' drug tests. There are ways around the methodology of the drug screening technology. Just ask a toxicologist.
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- what's more, in a 1999 interview, Armstrong admitted more or less that he was taking doping as well (like the Festina team expelled in 1998) he never said it black on white, but it was obvious.
AND
he actually tested positive, during the tests used to calibrate the EPO test used today, but those tests weren't intended to catch riders, just to see if the EPO test was valid.
l'Equipe (the best sports newspaper in the world, founder of the champions league, tour de france and football (soccer) world championships) obtained a list of riders with their numbers, the numbers associated with the calibration tests, Armstrong was positive every time, not enough to convict him when following the rules of the sport, but easily enough if it was a normal legal case, he never sued l'Equipe. - Reply to this comment
- I did EPO once only to wake up the next day in a desert with a indian medicine man burning dead turtle skulls into my chest while mumbling something about Charlie Sheen's ex, a jar of mayo, and pony rides being the the only true path to the spirit world.
But I tested clean... - Reply to this comment
- OK Tyler, so the same labs that tested everybody and caught you doping never caught Lance eh? What was his dope less detectable than yours?
Lance Armstrong was probably the most tested athlete in history - and the SCIENCE says he is clean. On one side we have HUNDREDS of clean drug screenings, and on the other we have Tyler Hamilton, banned from the sport for doping and out looking for money.
It isn't just drug screenings during the racing season - these guys are subject to random screenings anytime, anywhere. 60 Minutes should maybe look into how this process is done before putting this junk on the air. - Reply to this comment
- Yes, Believe Tyler, a pillar of honesty...NOT.
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