Lance Armstrong cleared of doping charges (and now drops the fight)

[vailpass]

USADA is engaging in a dick move supreme. What is the point of this witch hunt?

[morphius]

Originally Posted by vailpass

USADA is engaging in a dick move supreme. What is the point of this witch hunt?

That was my real question, what was the point.

The dude has been fighting the charges for years, and has always come out on top, why waste more money on a lawyer just to repeat it again next year with some other group?

[Donger]

Originally Posted by morphius

That was my real question, what was the point.

The dude has been fighting the charges for years, and has always come out on top, why waste more money on a lawyer just to repeat it again next year with some other group?

And a group which doesn't have the power or jurisdiction to strip Armstrong of his TDF victories. USADA is also tax-payer funded.

[NewChief]

Originally Posted by Donger

And a group which doesn't have the power or jurisdiction to strip Armstrong of his TDF victories. USADA is also tax-payer funded.

Oh no. Please don't tell me that you're going to come down on the, "It's Obama trying to destroy an American icon!" theory that I've seen passed off in a few places.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by NewChief

Oh no. Please don't tell me that you're going to come down on the, "It's Obama trying to destroy an American icon!" theory that I've seen passed off in a few places.

Not at all. Just stating a fact.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by Donger

And a group which doesn't have the power or jurisdiction to strip Armstrong of his TDF victories. USADA is also tax-payer funded.

Ok, so for all you people that think NASA is a waste of money I'm ready to take arguments on why litigation vs. a guy with one nut who rides a bicycle for a living isn't...

[morphius]

Originally Posted by Donger

And a group which doesn't have the power or jurisdiction to strip Armstrong of his TDF victories. USADA is also tax-payer funded.

Yup, the whole thing is a complete head scratcher. Especially after he retired.

[Chest Rockwell]

Originally Posted by Donger

And a group which doesn't have the power or jurisdiction to strip Armstrong of his TDF victories.

Actually, they do. USADA works under WADA rules/authority and according to those waiving the hearing means USADA gets to make a "reasoned decision" based on the evidence they have and submit a "reasoned decision explaining the action."

UCI has to await this, then issue the formal notice. If they fail to do this, they're in non-compliance with WADA code.

UCI could take USADA's ruling to CAS, but that would come at significant cost and it seems that USADA is chomping at the bit to present the case, while I really doubt UCI want the full details of the entire conspiracy case (It's important to remember Lance isn't the only one implicated here, just the highest profile; he is, however, the only one who seems to be taking his ball and going home (heh).) to see the light of day. They have enough issues with their credibility as it is.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Chest Rockwell

Actually, they do. USADA works under WADA rules/authority and according to those waiving the hearing means USADA gets to make a "reasoned decision" based on the evidence they have and submit a "reasoned decision explaining the action."

UCI has to await this, then issue the formal notice. If they fail to do this, they're in non-compliance with WADA code.

UCI could take USADA's ruling to CAS, but that would come at significant cost and it seems that USADA is chomping at the bit to present the case, while I really doubt UCI want the full details of the entire conspiracy case (It's important to remember Lance isn't the only one implicated here, just the highest profile; he is, however, the only one who seems to be taking his ball and going home (heh).) to see the light of day. They have enough issues with their credibility as it is.

I know. Perhaps I should have been clearer: USADA can't, by itself, strip Armstrong of his TDF victories. UCI can.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by Donger

I know. Perhaps I should have been clearer: USADA can't, by itself, strip Armstrong of his TDF victories. UCI can.

This is correct, but its a formality at this point. The UCI has only two options: accept the USADA findings and impose the mandated punishment, or take the USADA to the world court of arbitration for sport. If it went there (unlikely), Armstrong has almost zero chance.

Armstrong is giving up because he knows that the USADA has him absolutely dead to rights now, and he's made the calculation that he'd rather travel the path of the angry martyr for the few who still believe him for some odd reason, rather than endure the public humiliation of this arbitration hearing.

[alnorth]

The tragic thing here is that Armstrong probably would have won most or all of those titles if everyone wasn't cheating. He was in a dirty sport and could either do what he had to do, or play it honest and sink into failure and obscurity as all the cheaters passed him by.

It would be fine to be sympathetic with his being put into an impossible situation if he'd just admit the obvious, but right now he's a liar.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by alnorth

This is correct, but its a formality at this point. The UCI has only two options: accept the USADA findings and impose the mandated punishment, or take the USADA to the world court of arbitration for sport. If it went there (unlikely), Armstrong has almost zero chance.

Based on what?

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by morphius

That was my real question, what was the point.

The dude has been fighting the charges for years, and has always come out on top, why waste more money on a lawyer just to repeat it again next year with some other group?

Yep. Lance has passed enough tests and won enough times in courts on two continents. He doesn't have to defend himself in these endless witch hunts anymore.
**** USADA. They need to focus their efforts on current athletes instead of wasting tax $$ on trying to make an example of a legend.