Bye Lance

[spesh]

not sure if this has been posted before, I'm usually a bit behind the times    but should prove interesting

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21227052

I'd recommend reading the Inner Ring's post from yesterday, in order to understand why no-one should get their hopes up too high about the trial.

http://inrng.com/2013/01/operation-puerto-trial-expectations/

The key thing to realise is that this is not a doping trial. Also, if it drags on through the year, by the time WADA get their hands on any useful documentation after the trial, they'll have a somewhat limited window of opportunity to act on it in order to sanction anyone, thanks to the eight year statute of limitations.

The other thing to bear in mind of course, is that when Op. Puerto hit the news 6 years ago, there was much talk about how cyclists were but a minority of Dr. Fuentes' clients - there were supposedly track & field athletes, swimmers, footballers and tennis players on his client list. But we have heard sweet FA about them, beyond various dirty rumours...

There is absolutely no way that the Spanish authorities will even countenance the fact that much of their nation's sporting success over the last decade could very well have been built on a carpet of blood bags.

[bikey-mikey]

Did we all see this story in yesterday's Telegraph?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/lancearmstrong/9831270/Lance-Armstrong-doped-during-cycling-comeback-insists-USADA-chief.html

This is about Tygarts appearance on 60 minutes.
He's doing his best to try and mitigate Lance's obvious lying on the Oprah show.

Armstrong has to work with USADA, if he wants any sort of presence in sport, but he is trying to avoid it and obfuscate. Tygart and Armstrong had a meeting before Christmas about a possible confession, and the terms. Armstrong walked out in anger.

I wonder how much Travis Tygarts has made out of all this.

Anyone any idea of what HIS salary is?

Does he get paid for TV appearances?

[Hot Flatus]

Don't be silly.

[citoyen]

 

[Exit Stage Left]

It's difficult to know what the financial status of USADA is.

USADA is not a government entity, however the agency is partly funded by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), with its remaining budget generated from contracts for anti-doping services with sport organizations, most notably the United States Olympic Committee.[5] The United States has also ratified the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport, the first global international treaty against doping in sport, and relies in a large part on USADA to carry out this commitment

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Anti-Doping_Agency

An Amnesty for doping in cycling is complicated by it being criminal in countries such as Italy and France, and by a need to be fair to other sports.

[citoyen]

It's difficult to know what the financial status of USADA is.

But in any case, it's irrelevant.

Lance has already tried to get the case against him turned over by questioning the integrity and authority of his accusers.

He failed spectacularly.

d.

[citoyen]

WADA sitting on the fence and/or pulling their punches...

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/536652/wada-uci-being-deceitful-by-disbanding-independent-commission.html

[Exit Stage Left]

It's difficult to know what the financial status of USADA is.

But in any case, it's irrelevant.

Lance has already tried to get the case against him turned over by questioning the integrity and authority of his accusers.

He failed spectacularly.

d.

That's if you think this whole affair is solely about Lance, or is partly a turf war between competing bodies, which Lance has been implicated in exploiting. Also whether the idea of a truth and reconciliation process is compatible with the treatment of riders in juridictions where doping is a criminal matter.

[citoyen]

That's if you think this whole affair is solely about Lance, or is partly a turf war between competing bodies

I've never thought it was either of those things.

d.

[spesh]

WADA sitting on the fence and/or pulling their punches...

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/536652/wada-uci-being-deceitful-by-disbanding-independent-commission.html

Dang, you beat me to it...

Reading the full statement from WADA, it's fair to say that John Fahey's spitting tacks, if not blood. I wonder what the first draft was like?

I note that the UCIIC is expressing the hope that any "truth and reconciliation" commission is independent, but given how the UCI has behaved since discovering that the UCIIC took the word "independent" seriously, rather than being Vrijmann v2.0, what odds on the TRC being fully independent itself?

[Exit Stage Left]

That's if you think this whole affair is solely about Lance, or is partly a turf war between competing bodies

I've never thought it was either of those things.

d.

You hadn't considered that the USADA case was timed to have the maximum impact on the run-up to the London Games then. Or that USADA was asserting it's right to act beyond its original remit, and predating its founding.

[citoyen]

You hadn't considered that the USADA case was timed to have the maximum impact on the run-up to the London Games then.

Fat lot they achieved if that was their aim. They may have influenced the selection process for the USA road cycling team but that's about it.

Or that USADA was asserting it's right to act beyond its original remit, and predating its founding.

Leaving aside the fact that Lance was laughed out of court when he tried this one on, I really don't care if they're a legitimate authority or a self-aggrandising vigilante group - they're going after the UCI, which puts them on the side of righteousness in my book.

d.

[padbeat]

WADA's response to the UCI is fairly forthright!

[Mrs Pingu]

I think Pat must be needing a new shuvel by now, that one must be getting quite worn out with all the digging....

[Tewdric]

This is becoming infuriating.  Who is up for helping the following message to go viral?

I am a cycling fan.  I suspect that the UCI is a disfunctional and corrupt organisation and is not fit to be the world governing body for the sport that I love.  I will not spend any more of my  money on products or services from companies that are connected through sponsorship or advertising with the UCI or any event sanctioned by it.  I call for the resignation of Pat McQuaid and the removal of Hein Verbruggen from any position, honorary or otherwise, with the UCI.  I further call for a genuinely independent inquiry into the role of the UCI during the period 1999-2010 with particular reference to drug use in cycling and the connection with Lance Armstrong

[Hot Flatus]

The problem is the UCI is not a democracy.  They are all in bed with the IOC. Same story.

[Martin 14]

This is becoming infuriating.  Who is up for helping the following message to go viral?

I am a cycling fan.  I suspect that the UCI is a disfunctional and corrupt organisation and is not fit to be the world governing body for the sport that I love.  I will not spend any more of my  money on products or services from companies that are connected through sponsorship or advertising with the UCI or any event sanctioned by it.  I call for the resignation of Pat McQuaid and the removal of Hein Verbruggen from any position, honorary or otherwise, with the UCI.  I further call for a genuinely independent inquiry into the role of the UCI during the period 1999-2010 with particular reference to drug use in cycling and the connection with Lance Armstrong

Why Lance, why not go through the whole history of, its been happening for generations

[Veloman]

Anyhoo... fahey of WADA has made an outspoken statement about what a bunch of wankers the UCI are.

The UCI have hit back by publishing private emails:

http://www.uci.ch/Modules/ENews/ENewsDetails2011.asp?id=OTAxNg

What a hoot!

Can things get any worse?

Seems a need for T&R between them.  Perhaps I should offer my services as a qualified mediator.

[Mrs Pingu]

*stuffs popcorn in face*

[spesh]

<Winston Churchill>

I cannot forecast to you the action of the UCI. It is a SNAFU wrapped in a fustercluck inside an omnishambles: but perhaps there is a key. That key is Messrs. Verbruggen and McQuaid's personal interest. It cannot be in accordance with the interest of the safety of the UCI that independent investigators shall plant themselves in the corridors of Aigle, or that they summon riders, and directeurs sportif and question the officials who were there at the time,  That would be contrary to the historic life-interests of Verbruggen and McQuaid.

</Winston Churchill>

 

Inspiration: Churchills "Russia Enigma" speech, broadcast October 1st 1939 http://www.churchill-society-london.org.uk/RusnEnig.html

[ferret]

I'm not sure how the UCI is set up but is it not possible for "members" to have a vote of no confidence in the committee ?

[padbeat]

The structure is such that the whole thing can hardly help but descend into Chicago politics. They're not accountable to anyone other than themselves.

[Biff]

The UCI should run the porn industry. Full of drugs, bad acting and fake performances.

[Exit Stage Left]

The problem is the UCI is not a democracy.  They are all in bed with the IOC. Same story.

Who should the electors of the UCI be? The Athletes perhaps. Much of the problem goes back to the integration of the professional and amateur wings.

[Tewdric]

The UCI should run the porn industry. Full of drugs, bad acting and fake performances.

That's close to POTD material!