Xplora wrote:It would have been justified during his TdF victories, or even just after... but it isn't. The train left, it ain't coming back.
Do you think it's possible that USADA have just acquired new evidence in light of the recent Federal investigation and are now acting on it ??
The decision to charge Armstrong is a courageous one (they would be taking some serious heat on this) and one that should be applauded by all those that want cycling cleaned up not decried. The argument that it happened too long ago or that "I'm over it" or we should all just move on is an unhealthy one and one that will lead to the same mistakes being made over again. The people involved need to be identified and removed from being involved in cycling. Should have happened to Riis and others also.
Cycling's image should have bottomed out in 98 but unfortunately EPO and Armstrong came along and now it appears that cycling is about to take it's biggest hit ever. We can thank those who put him on a pedestal and protected him and created someone who (in the mainstream) became bigger than cycling itself. An unhealthy situation for any sport, but a time bomb when it's all built on a lie.
I don't know what USADA have, but nothing involving Armstrong is a slam dunk. He has enormous resources, he'll be represented by the best and he doesn't blink. We'll never hear an admission from Armstrong.
Personally, as hard as it will hit cycling, I hope he goes down and I hope that everyone who assisted him and protected him goes down too. Maybe then cycling can trully start again. We already have athletes like Cadel who we can believe in and (to me anyway) the last few GT's have been believable, every one knackered, no magical performances. It actually looks like hard work and that's what it is. Cycling is a great sport it will survive.
And just for the record I come from the same position as RonK. Although I won't say I was a huge fan I wanted to believe in Armstrong and I would defend him to my non cycling mates. I too used the "never tested positive" argument but I now know how ridiculous that argument is.... Jones, Basso, Ullrich, Valverde etc etc.... they're ahead of the game
The more I read the more overwhelming the evidence was.
I would urge people to check out the link posted by csy75....
http://velocitynation.com/content/inter ... l-ashenden
It's an excellent read and is very involved. Goes over lots of territory including the myth about Armstrongs physical gifts (compared with other elite athletes) and Armstrongs 99 Tour samples that contained EPO. It also casts doubt on the view that it was an even playing field and that none of his competitors were ever really cheated, especially the 99 Tour.
Also not sure why people think he's being singled out, Riis, Virenque, Pantani, Ullrich, Heras, Basso, Vino, Valverde.... some of the biggest names in our sport have all gone down. The evidence leads where the evidence leads.