Case closed Lance

Idag släpper USADA hela dopingrapporten med vars bevis de stängde av Lance Armstrong på livstid och tog alla resultat från 98 och framåt. Bevisen som släpps i sin helhet senare idag lär göra även den sista tvivlaren och Armstrong romantikern svarslös. Har själv läst en del i ämnet och visste ungefär vad som skulle släppas men det här lär vara en makalös uppställning av bevis, läs nedan från USADAS hemsida. 15 cyklister från US Postal som vittnat enhetligt, flera av dom fortfarande aktiva som nu tar smällen och avstängning, och snacka om upprättelse för Landis och Hamilton som fått så mycket spott och spe tidigare som "lögnare". Skrivit om den tidigare men det tål att upprepas. Har ni minsta sport och cykelintresse (och det har ni ju om ni läser det här:-) så läs Tyler Hamiltons bok The Secret Race som släpptes i september, oerhört bra tidsdokument om hur det gick till i proffklungan i allmänhet och i US Postal i synnerhet under denna era.

Bra att allt kommer fram så kan sporten fortsätta den antidopingriktning som fått fäste senaste åren med team Sky, Garmin o andra som inte bara snackar skenheligt mot doping utan också kraftfullt agerar.

Delar från USADAS första publicering idag, kraftfulla statements från Travis Tygart.

http://www.usada.org/cyclinginvestigationstatement.html

"Today, we are sending the ‘Reasoned Decision’ in the Lance Armstrong case and supporting information to the Union Cycliste International (UCI), the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), and the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC). The evidence shows beyond any doubt that the US Postal Service Pro Cycling Team ran the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen.  

The evidence of the US Postal Service Pro Cycling Team-run scheme is overwhelming and is in excess of 1000 pages, and includes sworn testimony from 26 people, including 15 riders with knowledge of the US Postal Service Team (USPS Team) and its participants’ doping activities. The evidence also includes direct documentary evidence including financial payments, emails, scientific data and laboratory test results that further prove the use, possession and distribution of performance enhancing drugs by Lance Armstrong and confirm the disappointing truth about the deceptive activities of the USPS Team, a team that received tens of millions of American taxpayer dollars in funding

It took tremendous courage for the riders on the USPS Team and others to come forward and speak truthfully. It is not easy to admit your mistakes and accept your punishment. But that is what these riders have done for the good of the sport, and for the young riders who hope to one day reach their dreams without using dangerous drugs or methods.

These eleven (11) teammates of Lance Armstrong, in alphabetical order, are Frankie Andreu, Michael Barry, Tom Danielson, Tyler Hamilton, George Hincapie, Floyd Landis, Levi Leipheimer, Stephen Swart, Christian Vande Velde, Jonathan Vaughters and David Zabriskie.

The riders who participated in the USPS Team doping conspiracy and truthfully assisted have been courageous in making the choice to stop perpetuating the sporting fraud, and they have suffered greatly. In addition to the public revelations, the active riders have been suspended and disqualified appropriately in line with the rules. In some part, it would have been easier for them if it all would just go away; however, they love the sport, and they want to help young athletes have hope that they are not put in the position they were -- to face the reality that in order to climb to the heights of their sport they had to sink to the depths of dangerous cheating.

I have personally talked with and heard these athletes’ stories and firmly believe that, collectively, these athletes, if forgiven and embraced, have a chance to leave a legacy far greater for the good of the sport than anything they ever did on a bike.

Lance Armstrong was given the same opportunity to come forward and be part of the solution. He rejected it."