No, Hora, I don't think so - not until the LA story is closed out - lawsuits over, etc.
Mario Cippolini with his line of bikes
There's plenty who'd buy Armstrong bikes in a couple of years I reckon. Mostly in the US but that's a fairly big market.
Anyway, as Dr Hutch posted on twitter, he's complaining that he was targeted. Given limited resources, surely targeting the biggest fish is the right way to go about things.
Many others doped. Not very many behaved the way Lance did (I'm struggling to think who) with targeted threats, bullying, character defamation, etc. He's not being punished so harshly because he doped but rather for all the other things he did around that to keep it quiet.
Either that or he understands the value of the information he has and will only divulge when it can be best monetized
That's my bet. He'll never do anything unless it suits him even if it's the right thing to do.
Only thing is of course that for a time at least, LA was bigger than cycling
this x 1000. He trancended his sport like few other sports stars have, and had massive political influence and connections which no other cyclist (and arguably other sportsman) ever did-first name terms with world leaders etc. He had more power and abused it far more than any other cheating sportsman, setting out to destroy the careers, reputations, livelihoods and lives of anyone (Lemond, Bassons, Simeoni, the Andreus, Emma O'Reilly, David Walsh to name ones of the top of my head) who got in the way of what he now simply refers to as "the narrative", as if it had a life of its own.
No he wasnt the only one doping. No he isnt being singled out unfairly. Recently read Jon Ronson's The Psychopath Test, LA ticks all the boxes.
Say it all.
He won't say it all. He is adamant he didnt dope in his comeback which is still covered by US statutes of limitation, which beggars belief.
The implication that he was the one who nudged the UCI on Tyler (as he saw Tyler as trouble) says it all to me. The man needs to come 100% clean then piss off.
Lance was involved in cycling in some way? Did he race before he got sick or something? 😉
http://www.livestrong.org/Our-Founder
In 2012, Lance resigned his leadership role with the Foundation. He remains the Foundation’s single biggest donor and the progress he has helped generate within the field of cancer survivorship stands as a lasting legacy.
Wow! I wonder why he resigned 😕
clubber - MemberGiven limited resources, surely targeting the biggest fish is the right way to go about things.
For the sake of argument, let's say that maybe if resources are limited, people who're still part of the professional game are the bigger fishes than retired cheats. Your team bosses, doctors, etc etc.
and the progress he has helped generate within the field of cancer survivorship
WT actual F does that mean ?
I asked him if he'd do the SDW with me, he's not answered yet, so he still might.. 8)
For the sake of argument, let's say that maybe if resources are limited, people who're still part of the professional game are the bigger fishes than retired cheats. Your team bosses, doctors, etc etc.
I don't disagree with that actually but really, who? Bruyneel has been done, many older dopers have had to admit to what they did. Riis seems to be clinging on though I'm hopeful that his team's financial struggles are connected to his links to Hamilton, etc. USADA had to go after American teams/riders (the clue's in the name 🙂 ) so who else? JV? He's been a force for good IMO and I can't think of anyone else high profile.
He's basically trying to angle it so that they (USADA/WADA/UCI) allow him permission to compete (at triathlon) in return for him testifying.
He's been given plenty of chances to testify, as his ex colleagues did in order to earn their lenient 6 month sentences, but refused to and thus got banned. Hence the discrepancy.
As to the money angle, I certainly have sympathy with those he sued and slandered (and lost their jobs as a result) and believe they should get their money back.
As for prize money and sponsorship, that's a bit harder to justify, a lot of the other pros still have theirs, along with their reputations.
He's been given plenty of chances to testify, as his ex colleagues did in order to earn their lenient 6 month sentences, but refused to and thus got banned. Hence the discrepancy.
WADA have come out and said just that, he had his chance to come clean, now its too late.
In his latest interview on cyclingnews, LA is claiming that he wasn't actually given that chance...
I know which side I feel is likely to be telling the truth.
I know which side I feel is likely to be telling the truth.
Frankly, I think the truth got lost somewhere in the depths of the doping murk quite a while ago. I think all sides have their own agenda.
LA obviously wants to return to competition.
USADA need to justify the staggering sums of money they spent going after him.
WADA need to try and prove that they're not totally incompetent while explaining away how he and the team passed hundreds of doping controls.
All the sponsors need to explain how they all believed while reaping the profits at the time.
Basically, all sides are telling whatever version of the truth suits them at that particular time while simultaneously trying to avoid perjury, contempt of court, lying under oath and perverting the course of justice.
Should keep everyone occupied for the next couple of years. 😉
clubber - MemberI don't disagree with that actually but really, who?
For myself, pretty much everyone who was in any position of authority through the doping years, tbh.
Well yes but that's rather beyond [b]USA[/b]DA's remit isn't it?
He needs to move to a tax haven with no extradition treaties and give the world a big "F-you" and enjoy the rest of his years....thats what i'd do anyway!
....and if he hasnt stashed some of his money away somewhere that it's untouchable and untraceable then he's been very very silly since retirement.
I read the book about Pantani's decline and despite his personal troubles with PEDs and recreational drugs he had his head screwed on financially and was still raking it in up until his death.
I include them in my list of scalps tbh.
