We knew he was a chemical plant in himself with all those drugs he was taking. He just never got caught.

But now he was. The real question is why doing those tests now ?

embarrassing situation for Lance

http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/special4/articl...823065609990014

Doping allegations return for Armstrong - AP News

By ANGELA DOLAND, Associated Press Writer

PARIS (AP) -- Seven years after Lance Armstrong won his first Tour de France title -- and a month after he won his seventh -- the doping allegations have returned.

According to the French sports daily L'Equipe, six urine samples provided by Armstrong during the 1999 Tour tested positive for the red blood cell-booster EPO.

The drug, also known as erythropoietin, was on the list of banned substances at the time but there was no effective test to detect it.

Tour de France director Jean-Marie Leblanc said the four-page article -- headlined ``The Armstrong Lie'' -- appeared ``credible'' and meticulously researched, adding that Armstrong must have a chance to rebut the claims.

``We are very shocked, very troubled by the revelations we read this morning,'' Leblanc told RTL radio.

Armstrong, a frequent target of L'Equipe, vehemently denied the allegations.

``Unfortunately, the witch hunt continues and tomorrow's article is nothing short of tabloid journalism,'' Armstrong wrote on his Web site. ``I will simply restate what I have said many times: I have never taken performance-enhancing drugs.''

The allegations surfaced seven years later because EPO tests on the 1999 samples were carried out only last year -- when scientists at a lab outside Paris used them for research to perfect EPO testing. The national anti-doping laboratory in Chatenay-Malabry said it promised to hand its finding to the World Anti-Doping Agency, provided they were never used to penalize riders.

L'Equipe's investigation was based on urine B samples -- the second of two samples used in doping tests. The A batch was used in 1999 for analysis at the time. Without those samples, any disciplinary action against Armstrong would be impossible, French Sports Minister Jean-Francois Lamour said.

The governing body of world cycling did not begin using a urine test for EPO until 2001, though it was banned in 1990. For years, it had been impossible to detect the drug, which builds endurance by boosting the production of oxygen-rich red blood cells.

Jacques de Ceaurriz, the head of France's anti-doping laboratory, which developed the EPO urine test, told Europe-1 radio that at least 15 urine samples from the 1999 Tour had tested positive for EPO.

Separately, the lab said it could not confirm that the positive results were Armstrong's. It noted that the samples were anonymous, bearing only a six-digit number to identify the rider, and could not be matched with the name of any one cyclist.

However, L'Equipe said it was able to make the match.

On one side of the page, it showed what it claimed were the results of EPO tests from anonymous riders used for lab research. On the other, it showed Armstrong's medical certificates, signed by doctors and riders after doping tests -- and bearing the same identifying number printed on the results.

``It will be very interesting to see what UCI does and what the U.S. Cycling Federation does and what Lance Armstrong has to say,'' WADA chairman Dick Pound said. ``If the evidence is seen as credible then, yes, he has an obligation to come forward and specifically give his comments, especially after his previous comments that he has never used drugs.

``If anything were found, we couldn't do anything because we didn't even exist in 1999. But it's important that the truth must always be made clear.''

Representatives for Armstrong said he was in Austin, Texas, where he lives and did not wish to comment beyond the statement on his Web site.

A year before Armstrong won his first Tour title, the race faced its worst doping scandal after police caught a Festina team employee with a stash of drugs. Riders were ejected and others quit, almost forcing the Tour to collapse.

Armstrong has been dogged by questions in the French media about how someone whose testicular cancer had spread to his lungs and brain could rise to the top of one of the most grueling sporting events in the world.

Armstrong angrily appeared at a news conference that year to explain that trace amounts of cortisone found in his system were from a prescription skin cream to treat saddle sores.

The following year, Armstrong and his U.S. Postal Service team became the subject of a French investigation into whether they used banned substances during the 2000 race. The probe was closed in 2002 for lack of evidence.

L'Equipe, whose parent company is closely linked to the Tour, often questioned Armstrong's clean record and frequently took jabs at him -- portraying him as too arrogant, too corporate and too good to be for real.

``Never to such an extent, probably, has the departure of a champion been welcomed with such widespread relief,'' the paper griped the day after Armstrong's record seventh straight win.

A former L'Equipe journalist, Pierre Ballester, was co-author of a book published last year that contained doping allegations against Armstrong. He wrote ``L.A. Confidential, the Secrets of Lance Armstrong'' with The Sunday Times sports writer David Walsh.

In the book, one of Armstrong's former assistants claimed that the American once asked her to dispose of used syringes and give him makeup to conceal needle marks on his arms.

Armstrong has taken libel action against The Sunday Times after the British newspaper reprinted allegations in a review of the book in June 2004. The case is to go to trial in London's High Court in November.

Armstrong retired from cycling after his record seventh Tour victory last month. In his parting speech, he addressed the people who think was doping.

``I'm sorry for you,'' Armstrong said. ``I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles.''

Updated on Wednesday, Aug 24, 2005 2:30 am EDT

Sorry Lance, no we don't believe in fairy tales but you are still a spectacular athlete

We knew he was a chemical plant in himself with all those drugs he was taking. He just never got caught.

But now he is. The real question is why doing those tests now ?

embarrassing situation for Lance

Yawn, zzzzzzzzz - just more Yank-Bashing on the part of the Froggies...

...nice try there, Butterfly.

get back to those kung-foo lessons, eh

We knew he was a chemical plant in himself with all those drugs he was taking. He just never got caught.

But now he is. The real question is why doing those tests now ?

embarrassing situation for Lance

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yawn, zzzzzzzzz - just more Yank-Bashing on the part of the Froggies...

...nice try there, Butterfly.

get back to those kung-foo lessons, eh

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Aren't you ever tired of being so paranoi ?

Don't you have anything "intelligent" to post for once ?

if not, then you know the drill...

Well, how'd you like this one?

They all cheat.LA is still the best rider IMO.

Co-author of L.A. Confidential David Walsh talking with Radio Sports Brendan Telfer about the drugs furore surrounding cyclist Lance Armstrong.

http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/audio2/26125011.wma

They all cheat.LA is still the best rider IMO.

Co-author of L.A. Confidential David Walsh talking with Radio Sports Brendan Telfer about the drugs furore surrounding cyclist Lance Armstrong.

http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/audio2/26125011.wma

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes he certainly is. But he should have at least the guts to admit it. What are the risks involved if he does ?

``I'm sorry for you,'' Armstrong said. ``I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles.''

Does he believe in miracles ?

cheat!

All that cancer treatment he had must have helped super-power him up too.

All that radiation.

That is how the Hulk and Spiderman and the Fantastic Four and Daredevil gained their powers.

Cancer victims should not be allowed to participate.

I think one of the sad side effects of this "furor" is that l'Equipe's sales have probably sky rocketed....I'm sure their editors are really really sad about this.

All that cancer treatment he had must have helped super-power him up too.

All that radiation.

That is how the Hulk and Spiderman and the Fantastic Four and Daredevil gained their powers.

Cancer victims should not be allowed to participate.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I wonder if there is a market for fake diagnoses for the right kinds of cancer so you can get all of that really really good treatment?

All that cancer treatment he had must have helped super-power him up too.

All that radiation.

That is how the Hulk and Spiderman and the Fantastic Four and Daredevil gained their powers.

Cancer victims should not be allowed to participate.

I wonder if there is a market for fake diagnoses for the right kinds of cancer so you can get all of that really really good treatment?

HuH?

What a load of rubbish. They refer to six years old frozen doping tests. They can't show anything usable proving you took drugs at the time of the test.

Typical froggie bashing.

Cheers.........kandt

What a load of rubbish. They refer to six years old frozen doping tests. They can't show anything usable proving you took drugs at the time of the test.

Typical froggie bashing. 

Cheers.........kandt

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

eh?

Just the frenchies being bad sports again....can't beat him, so they magically pull out urine samples from 7yrs ago claiming positives.

Perhaps in the first couple of years that Armstrong won they couldn't test for the drug but in the last 5 years they could and he was clean and he kept right on winning....seems like this shows that he is a champion even when it is well documented that he is drug free.

Perhaps in the first couple of years that Armstrong won they couldn't test for the drug but in the last 5 years they could and he was clean and he kept right on winning....seems like this shows that he is a champion even when it is well documented that he is drug free.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The whole sport is dirty IMO, why wouldn't he be any different than the rest of the cheaters?

All that cancer treatment he had must have helped super-power him up too.

All that radiation.

That is how the Hulk and Spiderman and the Fantastic Four and Daredevil gained their powers.

Cancer victims should not be allowed to participate.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

"Perhaps in the first couple of years that Armstrong won they couldn't test for the drug but in the last 5 years they could and he was clean and he kept right on winning....seems like this shows that he is a champion even when it is well documented that he is drug free."

They probably invented the test so that they could test Lance

It just goes to show how desperate you are to win if athletes take risks like this including risking their careers. All comes down to feeling a need to win and not stopping at second best but what happened to the good ol' fashioned "Everyone is a winner" phrase.

Guess the temptation of popping a few pills or whatever is too hard to resist if it causes you to win.

We knew he was a chemical plant in himself with all those drugs he was taking. He just never got caught.

But now he is. The real question is why doing those tests now ?

embarrassing situation for Lance

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yawn, zzzzzzzzz - just more Yank-Bashing on the part of the Froggies...

...nice try there, Butterfly.

get back to those kung-foo lessons, eh

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

More like kung foo - eee!!

Only the frogs would be lame enough to try to tear someone's credentials down 6 years after the fact. Sort of like DeGaulle insistence to lead the march down the Champs as if he had personally whipped the krauts' butts.

Only Butterfly would be lame enough to try and stir the sh*t with that lame-o story that comes up every time LA wins.

All of LA's contemporaries freely admit that they can't beat him, that he is the best that ever was at the TdF, and that's that.

If they try to force feed this malarky down everyone's throats and strip him of any titles, the event will die a long slow painful death and will forever be known by Tour de Frog, Tour de Fraud, Tour de Foo-eee .... or whatever .... add your own.

Hey Butterfly .... why don't you spin yourself back into your cocoon until you can come up with something better.

(Or maybe go interview your brethren Chavez and Castro and ask them how they think they are going to destroy America by giving away free gas.)

Only a complete loytoy believes that this is Amaerican bashing.Only a complete tool believes that the sport is not chokka block with drug cheaters.

No doubt that LA is the best though.....but they ALL do it.

I was banned once for a doping in a race. It was at the Cane Toad Cup in Townsville Australia, a teet pippet's measure of red bull and "squashed" (the toad), jumped like never before. The punishment handed out by the judges, was the toad was squashed and I was firehosed... The XXXX days were great!

We knew he was a chemical plant in himself with all those drugs he was taking. He just never got caught.

But now he is. The real question is why doing those tests now ?

embarrassing situation for Lance

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yawn, zzzzzzzzz - just more Yank-Bashing on the part of the Froggies...

...nice try there, Butterfly.

get back to those kung-foo lessons, eh

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

More like kung foo - eee!!

Only the frogs would be lame enough to try to tear someone's credentials down 6 years after the fact. Sort of like DeGaulle insistence to lead the march down the Champs as if he had personally whipped the krauts' butts.

Only Butterfly would be lame enough to try and stir the sh*t with that lame-o story that comes up every time LA wins.

All of LA's contemporaries freely admit that they can't beat him, that he is the best that ever was at the TdF, and that's that.

If they try to force feed this malarky down everyone's throats and strip him of any titles, the event will die a long slow painful death and will forever be known by Tour de Frog, Tour de Fraud, Tour de Foo-eee .... or whatever .... add your own.

Hey Butterfly .... why don't you spin yourself back into your cocoon until you can come up with something better.

(Or maybe go interview your brethren Chavez and Castro and ask them how they think they are going to destroy America by giving away free gas.)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

And one more thing ....

http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news?slug=ap-ar...ov=ap&type=lgns

Somebody have a problem with that?

It's a witch hunt, plain pure and simple!

We knew he was a chemical plant in himself with all those drugs he was taking. He just never got caught.

But now he is. The real question is why doing those tests now ?

embarrassing situation for Lance

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yawn, zzzzzzzzz - just more Yank-Bashing on the part of the Froggies...

...nice try there, Butterfly.

get back to those kung-foo lessons, eh

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

More like kung foo - eee!!

Only the frogs would be lame enough to try to tear someone's credentials down 6 years after the fact. Sort of like DeGaulle insistence to lead the march down the Champs as if he had personally whipped the krauts' butts.

Only Butterfly would be lame enough to try and stir the sh*t with that lame-o story that comes up every time LA wins.

All of LA's contemporaries freely admit that they can't beat him, that he is the best that ever was at the TdF, and that's that.

If they try to force feed this malarky down everyone's throats and strip him of any titles, the event will die a long slow painful death and will forever be known by Tour de Frog, Tour de Fraud, Tour de Foo-eee .... or whatever .... add your own.

Hey Butterfly .... why don't you spin yourself back into your cocoon until you can come up with something better.

(Or maybe go interview your brethren Chavez and Castro and ask them how they think they are going to destroy America by giving away free gas.)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

And one more thing ....

http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news?slug=ap-ar...ov=ap&type=lgns

Somebody have a problem with that?

It's a witch hunt, plain pure and simple!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

According to Lance

We knew he was a chemical plant in himself with all those drugs he was taking. He just never got caught.

But now he is. The real question is why doing those tests now ?

embarrassing situation for Lance

Yawn, zzzzzzzzz - just more Yank-Bashing on the part of the Froggies...

...nice try there, Butterfly.

get back to those kung-foo lessons, eh

More like kung foo - eee!!

Only the frogs would be lame enough to try to tear someone's credentials down 6 years after the fact. Sort of like DeGaulle insistence to lead the march down the Champs as if he had personally whipped the krauts' butts.

Only Butterfly would be lame enough to try and stir the sh*t with that lame-o story that comes up every time LA wins.

All of LA's contemporaries freely admit that they can't beat him, that he is the best that ever was at the TdF, and that's that.

If they try to force feed this malarky down everyone's throats and strip him of any titles, the event will die a long slow painful death and will forever be known by Tour de Frog, Tour de Fraud, Tour de Foo-eee .... or whatever .... add your own.

Hey Butterfly .... why don't you spin yourself back into your cocoon until you can come up with something better.

(Or maybe go interview your brethren Chavez and Castro and ask them how they think they are going to destroy America by giving away free gas.)

And one more thing ....

http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news?slug=ap-ar...ov=ap&type=lgns

Somebody have a problem with that?

It's a witch hunt, plain pure and simple!

According to Lance

...and to 'Joe-Six-Pak' who might not even be aware of professional bicycle racing but knows the French track-record...

and to 'Joe-Six-Pak' who might not even be aware of professional bicycle racing but knows the French track-record

Does joe-six-pak come from the Bible belt and is his mothers name Bert?

and to 'Joe-Six-Pak' who might not even be aware of professional bicycle racing but knows the French track-record

Does joe-six-pak come from the Bible belt and is his mothers name Bert?

Y'all think America is nothing but a "Dukes of Hazzard" re-run or somthin'?

and to 'Joe-Six-Pak' who might not even be aware of professional bicycle racing but knows the French track-record

Does joe-six-pak come from the Bible belt and is his mothers name Bert?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Y'all think America is nothing but a "Dukes of Hazzard" re-run or somthin'?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yep

But I do like Daisy

Personally, I think they should allow drugs in all athletic events....the world would benefit in that a lot of research would happen about how drugs work in the body and additionally people would see how drugs destroy your body by seeing the sad shape that athletes would be in after they are forced to retire because their bodies fall apart.

I was banned once for a doping in a race. It was at the Cane Toad Cup in Townsville Australia, a teet pippet's measure of red bull and "squashed" (the toad), jumped like never before. The punishment handed out by the judges, was the toad was squashed and I was firehosed... The XXXX days were great!

They were the good old days hey Torny?

I was banned once for a doping in a race. It was at the Cane Toad Cup in Townsville Australia, a teet pippet's measure of red bull and "squashed" (the toad), jumped like never before. The punishment handed out by the judges, was the toad was squashed and I was firehosed... The XXXX days were great!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

They were the good old days hey Torny?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

They really were JD.