I’ve stated this before and I’ll state it again; in my opinion (following his cancer) Lance doped. I’m a cyclist, therefore I know a little something about the sport. Prior to the cancer Lance never showed the class of a seven-time (consecutive) Tour champion. People who have never raced bikes have no idea just how grueling and intense this sport is. Just to be a professional rider selected for a spot on a Tour de France team requires incredible talent and fitness; to finish the race is a major accomplishment; to finish on the podium is an awesome achievement; but to win the Tour seven years in a row is unheard of, especially for an individual who not long before was more dead than alive. And just consider that during his 7-year domination of the sport, Lance was defeating riders of similar if not greater talent who without question were doping!
Nevertheless, in spite of my commentary above, I believe Lance was a great champion. He has a heart the size of an elephant, incredible courage and his commitment to the sport has been nothing short of phenomenal. TGO
Refer to story below. Source: Associated Press
AUSTIN, Texas – Lance Armstrong’s attorney sent a letter to the federal prosecutor investigating the seven-time Tour de France winner and his associates for possible fraud and doping violations, complaining about leaks to the media.
Monday’s letter from Tim Herman to Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Miller in Los Angeles says it’s “especially unfair to subject Mr. Armstrong to this continuing media blitz when he is in the middle of his final Tour de France.”
A copy of the letter was obtained by The Associated Press.
The letter also said Armstrong’s attorneys talked to Miller about the leaks less than two weeks ago and are “extremely frustrated that these leaks have intensified.”
An e-mail message left for Miller was not immediately returned Monday.
Armstrong has denied allegations of doping.
The investigation was spurred by accusations from Floyd Landis, one of Armstrong’s former teammates on the US Postal team, in a series of e-mails sent to cycling and doping officials this spring.
Landis, who was stripped of his 2006 Tour title for doping, said the use of banned substances was common on the team. Armstrong has denied those allegations and has questioned Landis’ credibility.
The New York Times reported that authorities have issued grand jury subpoenas. According to the New York Daily News, one of those went to American cyclist Greg LeMond, a three-time Tour winner who has feuded with Armstrong for several years.
“This appears to be a full-blown and largely unmonitored exploration of Floyd Landis’ patently unreliable and routinely changing accusations of possible improper conduct in the professional cycling industry at large,” Herman wrote.
“In fact, the ‘investigation’ has recently erupted into a forum for disgruntled Lance haters to bash Armstrong and try to settle old scores.”
The letter notes that after seeing some of the leaks in the media, Herman requested a meeting with Miller but that the prosecutor refused to discuss investigation theories or general topics.
“It is egregiously unfair and frustrating for New York reporters to have far more knowledge about this matter than Mr. Armstrong or his attorney,” Herman wrote.
Armstrong was in 31st place Monday in what he has said will be his last Tour de France, 40 minutes, 31 seconds behind leader Alberto Contador of Spain.
I think Agent Novitzky is right on the money with his investigation. It doesn’t matter what it costs , the American way is to do things truthfully and it’s important we have federal agents like Agent Novitzky who’s work reminds us that our country is built on fine morals and cheats don’t prosper.
I do not feel we should spend any monry on this investigation at all. This fucking idot spent Millions of dollars going after Barry Bonds, and we already havea congress spending money faster than they can make it. This should be left to the frderations that govner the sport not the fucking USDA. I have already called my Senator and Congreemen to express my views of the government speading any monies on this stupid cause. Floyd Landis should just ride and go on, what a disgrace to any sport.