The Straight Dope on Lance Armstrong

The Associated Press says that Lance Armstrong has been cleared on charges of doping ("using steroids or other performance-enhancers," for those of you who don't hablo sports-ese) in 1999. The Dutch investigators who completed the investigation and subsequent report not only let Armstrong off the hook -- they accused the "anti-doping authorities" of misconduct.

The tests that led to the initial accusations were conducted on urine samples that were 6 years old at the time they were tested, a point Armstrong raised when the accusations first surfaced. World Anti-Doping Agency chief Dick Pound (yes, that is his real name) has said that the report exonerating Armstrong is a bit dubious, questioning how a "Dutch lawyer with no expertise came to a conclusion that one of the leading laboratories in the world messed up on the analysis."

The report apparently had little to say about whether or not Armstrong was guilty of ruining the 24-Hour Fitness in the Hancock Center. We're predicting a resounding guilty on that one.

(Ed. note: Care.)

Contact the author of this article or email tips@austinist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Carly Kocurek in Other on May 31, 2006 11:42 AM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

Edward

"Armstrong Exonerated" Seems like the end of story until you see by who. The report was written by someone with questionable credentials and paid for by the International Cycling Union who have a vested interest in not having the cycling world tainted by scandal. They got their money's worth since the report garnered the "Armstrong Exonerated" headlines. However, remember that the Bush administration has commissioned reports that concluded global warming is a falacy and the cigarette industry has reports that state the link between smoking and lung cancer is inconclusive. I'm all for our hometown hero and the cycling boom he has inspired, but the only way to truly put the Lance controversy to bed for once and for it to be investigated *independently* and transparently. That will never happen, but until then Armstrong begins to look a lot like Barry Bonds. This article sums it up best:

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/sports/columnists/rick_hurd/14608226.htm