Lance Armstrong knocks NFL testing policy

tk13 · 08-14-2006, 03:21 PM

Armstrong urges Landis to use lower gear with media
Posted 8/12/2006 4:35 PM ET

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Lance Armstrong believes Floyd Landis has said too much in public in his attempt to disprove the positive drug test that cost him the Tour de France title.

"In this day and age, you're not going to get a fair shake in the media," said Armstrong, who rode his bike for charity Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

"And the more you get out there and talk about it, I have to talk about it. The best is just to let the process play out and get out of the media. ... I would have encouraged him just to lay low."

Landis, a Pennsylvania native who once competed on Armstrong's team, appeared on the "Tonight Show" this week and has given interviews on all four major network morning shows.

Landis has cited a variety of possible reasons for his failed test: ingesting something that raised his testosterone, cortisone shots for pain in his degenerating hip, drinking beer and whiskey the night before the test, thyroid medication, his natural metabolism and dehydration.

Armstrong, who overcame testicular cancer to win the Tour a record seven consecutive times from 1999 to 2005, faced constant doping allegations toward the end of his career.

Landis has tested positive for elevated testosterone and synthetic testosterone, leaving Armstrong to answer more questions about performance-enhancing drugs. The Tour de France said it no longer considers Landis its champion.

"It's obviously not a good situation for cycling," Armstrong said. "Everybody would admit that. Floyd would admit that. It's certainly not a good situation for American cycling. But I am a fan and supporter of Floyd Landis. I believe in him."

Armstrong said cycling's testing policies are among the strictest in sports.

"That's why so many people are out there getting caught, or supposedly getting caught, because we're really aggressive," he said. "If the NFL had the same policy that cycling has, we'd be talking about something different than Floyd Landis right now. It would be a huge story."

jspchief · 08-14-2006, 03:27 PM

He's right. If the NFL had cycling's policy, players would be getting busted left and right.

However, the NFL has been a leader in steroids testing in comparison to the other major pro sports, so it's not like they are ignoring the issue. The reason the NFL hasn't cracked down on things like HGH is because they don't feel there is an accurate test. Judging by all the claims of innocence from cyclists, either the NFL is right or the cyclists are all liars.

greg63 · 08-14-2006, 03:33 PM

Just hand out a questionnaire and rely on their honesty.

JBucc · 08-14-2006, 03:35 PM

I don't know a whole lot about cycling's drug policy or how much money they make but I think one of the reasons more cyclists get caught is because most of them aren't million dollar athletes that can afford the latest and greatest in drug test dodging chemicals, not because of cycling's great drug policy. See Landis using regular old testosterone. If HGH was any good to cyclists they'd all be on it and there'd be nothing cycling's governing body could do about it just like the NFL and MLB can do nothing about it now as far as testing.

SBK · 08-14-2006, 04:26 PM

I saw a guy on espn say that Landis's test made no sense. He said you couldn't have that high of elevated testosterone unless you'd been jamming into your system like a herion junky for a week.

Landis passed all the other tests as well. He didn't say there was a conspiracy or anything, but he said that the positive test made no sense to him.

**morphius** · 08-14-2006, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shortbuskid

I saw a guy on espn say that Landis's test made no sense. He said you couldn't have that high of elevated testosterone unless you'd been jamming into your system like a herion junky for a week.

Landis passed all the other tests as well. He didn't say there was a conspiracy or anything, but he said that the positive test made no sense to him.

Yeah, it is sort of odd, as it has also been said that one dose would not have helped him that day either. It would not shock me that some bitter frenchie did something to the test.

Halfcan · 08-14-2006, 05:18 PM

jspchief · 08-14-2006, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shortbuskid

I saw a guy on espn say that Landis's test made no sense. He said you couldn't have that high of elevated testosterone unless you'd been jamming into your system like a herion junky for a week.

Landis passed all the other tests as well. He didn't say there was a conspiracy or anything, but he said that the positive test made no sense to him.

He didn't have a high level of testosterone, he had a high ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone.

His tes. levels were fairly normal, but his epites. levels were very low, making for a ratio beyond the 4 to 1 alloew by the Tour De France.

There'e a lot of misinformation and differing opinions on this subject. Personally, I hope the NFL stays away from this type of testing until they get it perfected.

**TinyEvel** · 08-14-2006, 06:42 PM

Drug testing in Eurpoean cycling is like McCarthyism in America in the 50's.
You only need to be implicated (as in the case of Jan Ulrich, Basso et al, before the race) and you are on the black list. Guilty until proven innocent.

I will agree with Lance that Floyd totally botched his handling of the media. He went on the major defensive, making himself look, well, defensive.

I can't believe the riders still do it. My guess is that there is an "everyone does it, so I have to" mentality. And they fugure they can regulate it around the testing.
The thing that made Lance so dominant is his biological/physiological advantage. His femur is longer, heart bigger, lungs bigger, Miguel Indurain (won five tours) was the same way.
Like being a basketball player and being 7'6" tall.

chief2000 · 08-14-2006, 06:53 PM

Armstrong should know.

He's a cheater.

Ultra Peanut · 08-14-2006, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jspchief

He's right. If the NFL had cycling's policy, players would be getting busted left and right.

However, the NFL has been a leader in steroids testing in comparison to the other major pro sports, so it's not like they are ignoring the issue. The reason the NFL hasn't cracked down on things like HGH is because they don't feel there is an accurate test. Judging by all the claims of innocence from cyclists, either the NFL is right or the cyclists are all liars.

08-14-2006, 03:21 PM
tk13 ... Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $2072500	Lance Armstrong knocks NFL testing policy Armstrong urges Landis to use lower gear with media Posted 8/12/2006 4:35 PM ET INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Lance Armstrong believes Floyd Landis has said too much in public in his attempt to disprove the positive drug test that cost him the Tour de France title. "In this day and age, you're not going to get a fair shake in the media," said Armstrong, who rode his bike for charity Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "And the more you get out there and talk about it, I have to talk about it. The best is just to let the process play out and get out of the media. ... I would have encouraged him just to lay low." Landis, a Pennsylvania native who once competed on Armstrong's team, appeared on the "Tonight Show" this week and has given interviews on all four major network morning shows. Landis has cited a variety of possible reasons for his failed test: ingesting something that raised his testosterone, cortisone shots for pain in his degenerating hip, drinking beer and whiskey the night before the test, thyroid medication, his natural metabolism and dehydration. Armstrong, who overcame testicular cancer to win the Tour a record seven consecutive times from 1999 to 2005, faced constant doping allegations toward the end of his career. Landis has tested positive for elevated testosterone and synthetic testosterone, leaving Armstrong to answer more questions about performance-enhancing drugs. The Tour de France said it no longer considers Landis its champion. "It's obviously not a good situation for cycling," Armstrong said. "Everybody would admit that. Floyd would admit that. It's certainly not a good situation for American cycling. But I am a fan and supporter of Floyd Landis. I believe in him." Armstrong said cycling's testing policies are among the strictest in sports. "That's why so many people are out there getting caught, or supposedly getting caught, because we're really aggressive," he said. "If the NFL had the same policy that cycling has, we'd be talking about something different than Floyd Landis right now. It would be a huge story."
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08-14-2006, 03:27 PM	#2
jspchief BAMF Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Your Face Casino cash: $9998710	He's right. If the NFL had cycling's policy, players would be getting busted left and right. However, the NFL has been a leader in steroids testing in comparison to the other major pro sports, so it's not like they are ignoring the issue. The reason the NFL hasn't cracked down on things like HGH is because they don't feel there is an accurate test. Judging by all the claims of innocence from cyclists, either the NFL is right or the cyclists are all liars. __________________ Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all.
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08-14-2006, 03:33 PM	#3
greg63 Homer go crazy!!! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: SE Kansas Casino cash: $9324990	Just hand out a questionnaire and rely on their honesty. __________________
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08-14-2006, 03:35 PM	#4
JBucc MVP Join Date: Oct 2005 Casino cash: $10004952	I don't know a whole lot about cycling's drug policy or how much money they make but I think one of the reasons more cyclists get caught is because most of them aren't million dollar athletes that can afford the latest and greatest in drug test dodging chemicals, not because of cycling's great drug policy. See Landis using regular old testosterone. If HGH was any good to cyclists they'd all be on it and there'd be nothing cycling's governing body could do about it just like the NFL and MLB can do nothing about it now as far as testing.
Posts: 12,016

08-14-2006, 04:26 PM	#5
SBK Curry is the pick??? Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Georgia Casino cash: $10004900	I saw a guy on espn say that Landis's test made no sense. He said you couldn't have that high of elevated testosterone unless you'd been jamming into your system like a herion junky for a week. Landis passed all the other tests as well. He didn't say there was a conspiracy or anything, but he said that the positive test made no sense to him.
Posts: 8,153

08-14-2006, 05:18 PM	#7
Halfcan In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2005 Casino cash: $7327995	????
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08-14-2006, 06:42 PM	#9
TinyEvel Just a li'l Evel Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bald. Goatee. Jorts. Casino cash: $5477131	Drug testing in Eurpoean cycling is like McCarthyism in America in the 50's. You only need to be implicated (as in the case of Jan Ulrich, Basso et al, before the race) and you are on the black list. Guilty until proven innocent. I will agree with Lance that Floyd totally botched his handling of the media. He went on the major defensive, making himself look, well, defensive. I can't believe the riders still do it. My guess is that there is an "everyone does it, so I have to" mentality. And they fugure they can regulate it around the testing. The thing that made Lance so dominant is his biological/physiological advantage. His femur is longer, heart bigger, lungs bigger, Miguel Indurain (won five tours) was the same way. Like being a basketball player and being 7'6" tall.
Posts: 11,800

08-14-2006, 06:53 PM	#10
chief2000 Starter Join Date: Apr 2006 Casino cash: $10004900	Armstrong should know. He's a cheater.
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