Armstrong in the clear
LIEGE, Belgium, April 24, 2009 (AFP) - The French anti-doping agency (AFLD) said Friday it would not be launching a disciplinary procedure against seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong.
Armstrong claimed this month that French anti-doping authorities were plotting to prevent him from racing in the Tour de France after the AFLD questioned his behaviour at an out-of-competition test in March.
But the AFLD said in a statement it had decided not to take action against the racer.
The body "has decided to take into consideration the athlete's written explanations and, in consequence, not to open a disciplinary procedure against him.
"Analysis of urine and blood samples of Mr Lance Armstrong have not shown up anomalies," the AFLD added.
The seven-time champion, who has undergone 24 drug tests since his comeback to professional racing in September last year, had become increasingly annoyed with the AFLD.
"I know that my comeback wasn't welcomed by a lot of people in France," Armstrong said in a recent video message.
Anticipating AFLD "antics" he added that "there's a very high likelihood that they (the AFLD) prohibit me from riding in the Tour."
The AFLD's dispute with Armstrong relates to the test when the Astana rider took a shower at his French home for 20 minutes while the identity of a doping official, who had come calling, was verified with cycling's governing body, the UCI.
Armstrong claims he was given permission to shower by the official who turned up after a training ride in the French riviera town of Beaulieu-sur-Mer on March 17.
"We asked the official to wait outside while we checked to see if he was legitimate," said Armstrong who was surprised that a tester had arrived alone.
"The control was fine, there was nothing abnormal....but a few weeks later we have this issue that they want to start disciplinary proceedings."
Pat McQuaid, the president of cycling's governing body, accused the AFLD of "not acting very professionally in this case."
He said he believed that "Armstrong had every right to take a shower while his manager (Astana team head Johan Bruyneel) checked with the UCI that these people had the authority to take these samples."
The AFLD's nine-member ruling committee had been mulling whether to punish Armstrong.
Armstrong, who is currently recovering from surgery after breaking his collar bone, is hoping to line up for the Tour of Italy, which starts on May 9.
Armstrong claimed this month that French anti-doping authorities were plotting to prevent him from racing in the Tour de France after the AFLD questioned his behaviour at an out-of-competition test in March.
But the AFLD said in a statement it had decided not to take action against the racer.
The body "has decided to take into consideration the athlete's written explanations and, in consequence, not to open a disciplinary procedure against him.
"Analysis of urine and blood samples of Mr Lance Armstrong have not shown up anomalies," the AFLD added.
The seven-time champion, who has undergone 24 drug tests since his comeback to professional racing in September last year, had become increasingly annoyed with the AFLD.
"I know that my comeback wasn't welcomed by a lot of people in France," Armstrong said in a recent video message.
Anticipating AFLD "antics" he added that "there's a very high likelihood that they (the AFLD) prohibit me from riding in the Tour."
The AFLD's dispute with Armstrong relates to the test when the Astana rider took a shower at his French home for 20 minutes while the identity of a doping official, who had come calling, was verified with cycling's governing body, the UCI.
Armstrong claims he was given permission to shower by the official who turned up after a training ride in the French riviera town of Beaulieu-sur-Mer on March 17.
"We asked the official to wait outside while we checked to see if he was legitimate," said Armstrong who was surprised that a tester had arrived alone.
"The control was fine, there was nothing abnormal....but a few weeks later we have this issue that they want to start disciplinary proceedings."
Pat McQuaid, the president of cycling's governing body, accused the AFLD of "not acting very professionally in this case."
He said he believed that "Armstrong had every right to take a shower while his manager (Astana team head Johan Bruyneel) checked with the UCI that these people had the authority to take these samples."
The AFLD's nine-member ruling committee had been mulling whether to punish Armstrong.
Armstrong, who is currently recovering from surgery after breaking his collar bone, is hoping to line up for the Tour of Italy, which starts on May 9.
-- Dirk Hofman Motorhomes --
0
Posts
One thing stands out: "Pat McQuaid... believed that "Armstrong had every right to take a shower while his manager (Astana team head Johan Bruyneel) checked with the UCI that these people had the authority to take these samples.""
eh? No athlete is allowed to leave the eyesight of chaperone or tester, no matter what grounds they have to query the identity or credentials of the tester. If McQuaid thinks it's ok to saunter off for a shower he needs to spend the weekend reading his own rules.
Why would he bite the hand that feeds him?
Someone should sort out the conflict of interested. Someone who runs cycling, who inevitably needs to make it more popular/wealthy etc shouldn't be the arbiter for doping issues.
This rule is in WRITTING? Just asking as I don't really know. Only ask because lots of things get talked about and if they get talked about a lot the next thing you know they
become "truth" whether they are or not. And you know me. I question everything.
Dennis Noward
WADA
Eh?
Oh.
Strava is not Zen.
Have a read of CN's forum.
The FB's are now blaming the AFLD for making this story such a headline and talking out of turn.
For some he can do no wrong, no matter what.
Do you feel the need to have him apoligize to you?
Dennis Noward
Eat his tyre rubber all you moanin-faced, dope-obsessed weenies
Tyre rubber....surely he should leave that on the wheels, Lance is a god but theres only the chap I saw riding down the high street last week that doesn't need a bit of rubber on his wheels
Lance meets Pat McQuaid
A bit of wee came out.
Genius!!!!
You are the new king.
Anyway as the Second Coming has decreed 'Onwards'! It's been quite nice just being able to watch cycling without the endless inane 'Armstrong is God' chatter - he really is a silly little man with all his xenophobic twaddle.
Are you trying to say he has a lot in common with you?
Dennis Noward
well played Dennis!!
Some will find it hilarious; tears of laughter.
For others, just tears!
Ssssoooooo funny.
I can't keep up with you guys, either.
This competiton is a healthy one.
Unless his reaction was designed to produce this exact outcome...
Only if he's had a sex change and has a degree in French
I've just got ask. Are you only trolling or do you really carry all that "excess baggage"
around with you day in and day out? If you do, why? Can't be healthy. Enjoy life.
Dennis Noward
no comment
Since the situation was made public, certain elements of the media - plus a large proportion of Armstrong's fans - have said that the incident was blown out of all proportion. The Texan has furthered the notion that this is much ado about nothing, playing on anti-French sentiment which built up in the US before the second Gulf War, and suggesting that this is simply sour grapes on the part of that nation.
http://fry.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id= ... /apr20news
Also worthy of comment is how, once again, the UCI / Pat McQuaid have gone out of their way to side with Armstrong, to the extent of saying Armstrong had 'every right' to disappear for 20 minutes or more when the tester arrived. Not only is this contrary to the WADA rules the UCI supposedly follows, it hardly fits in with McQuaid's earlier claim that he had no idea what the rules are when a rider is tested in France!
McQuaid comes out looking like the Armstrong toady that he is.
Armstrong comes out looking like...........well Armstrong.
As for Dennis accusing Micron of being a troll, thats a bit like the Pope accusing the local vicar of being a Catholic. :shock:
Wonder what new test they'll be previewing at the Tour this year - one for autologous blood doping perhaps?
bring it on,
Its a will they catch him or will he stay away question. A bit like a break away on a transition stage that keeps the interest there
You make a very good point. :oops: :oops:
Dennis Noward
Now, if "the body [AFLD] has decided to take into consideration the athlete's written explanations and, in consequence, not to open a disciplinary procedure against him." does that mean Armstrong was telling the truth when he said he'd been given permission?
Could be, but you never know. Given Lances hatred of the French(or so everyone says)
and given the French hatred of Lance(or so everyone says), nothing would suprise me.
Dennis Noward
So ley me get this straight, "micron" and "aurerlio" are therefore both "trolls" because it's just not possible for a human to carry all that "excess baggage and hatred" around day in and day out? Makes sense to me. Almost gives me a sense of relief in knowing that they are not who they claim to be and are just in it for the fun.
Dennis Noward