Lance is done fighting

Linky no worky. Here

http://msn.foxsports.com/cycling/story/lance-armstrong-will-not-fight-us-anti-doping-agency-charges-082312

His staement:

http://lancearmstrong.com/news-events/lance-armstongs-statement-of-august-23-2012

Or follow the thread in "Tri Talk"

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=457388&posts=18&start=1

He's not done fighting. He's just not going to respond to some allegations which are being pushed by some government agency which has no authority over international cycling. What's more, they're doing this without any concrete evidence.

I don't like the guy much. But as a lawyer, I believe in his case. 

They're not stripping him of his titles because of that. According to USADA they may strip you off your titles if you're not coming to the tests. Lance said he's not going to be taking those tests anymore.

Look, you have to understand something. Lance got tested for at least 500 times in the last 13 years. He never failed any of those. Fighting these allegations cost money and time. He has to deal with lawyer fees, court dates, press statements and he still is pretty busy by his training and the foundation. I believe that is the reason he's done fighting with the claims of the USADA.

He probably took EPO in his time, when EPO was rampant in cycling. I don't believe he could win those races if he was clean against a whole field of athletes who were doping. But at the end of the day, even though USADA claims that they had some positive tests in 2009-2010 somehow they're not using those results as evidence. Instead, they rely on his former rivals' testimonies, which are uncredible since those witnesses are surely going to benefit from his fall.

These are my opinions and I just hope that he's clean.

Those samples were tested to validate a new test to find EPO. When the samples were turned over, they were with the stipulation that they could not be used. They tested LAs B sample... but somehow it was leaked and the French press got a hold of it.... the problem with all that is that a chain of custody can't be proven, and any "positive" test has to be positive on both "A" and "B" sample, but they no longer have the "A" sample.... so it is not a legitimate testing protocol and even the ICU does not recognise the results. May be true, but can't be used as evidence or for sanctions.

They can strip his titles for refusing to go to arbitration... just like not showing up for court, you are ruled guilty in your absence.

He has fought for 10 years and never complained about all the lawyer fees or time when he was busy winning 7 tours AND running a foundation. He certainly didn't mind lawyer fees when he sued people for defamation and liable. He is not fighting more than likely because he did it and he knows the outcome. It is the only play he has left.

And USADA is most certainly using the failed passport tests from 2010. That is current evidence of doping. They are using that evidence to therfore say all the other past evidence is now valid... and part of that evidence is eye wittness testimony.

You can't say in one instance Lance doped , but then in the next say USADA has no case. More than likely "some" of all the old evidence is true... but not enough to "convict" at the time. But USADA is making a case based on ALL the evidence.

BUT, the USADA should be worried about and looking at the current information and current athletes.  What is way in the past is done and over with.  Worry about the current athletes and the current testing as that is what the USADA was created for.  Maybe we can find some 60 year old urine sample of an olympic athlete that has a world record in the books and take those also.  Hell, as far as that goes, maybe they can find that Jesus used some enhancer to walk on water and strip him of that also.

Did he have a positive test during those years using the testing procedures that were in place during that time frame following the guidelines or rules that were in place during those years?  The answer to that is no, otherwise he would not have received the title.  Was he and many other people smarter than the rules and testing procedures at the time, very possible.  But, they were following the testing protocol at that time.

Is he passing the current testing protocols that are in place currently?  Is he still smarter than the technology and protocols?   If he and many others are testing clean during the times of their particular wins and following the guidelines and rules with the technology and protocols of the timeframe.  They are doing everything within the rules at that time.

MOVE ON!!!!

Not sure if that is in reference to me... I don't like the case, but you have to look at it objectively. I do not agree with the past. Let it be. He did fail the passport... it isn't pass/fail positive/negative... "results consistent with blood doping".... just go with that. Show your case, suspend him for two years, get the guilty, let people think what they will. But no.. that's not good enough. Striping his titles is nonsense.

Not a reference to anyone, and I don't know honestly how my post actually posted as my internet connection died and I had to go back and finish what I was posting after a computer reboot also.

Agreed.  He might be guilty, he may not be.  The point is the USADA has not provided ANY proof of guilt.  In this country I thought that meant you were innocent.

I don't blame the guy for quitting.  And he's not admitting guilt.  He just refuses to play their crooked game.  He could spend his entire fortune and in the end, the USADA is probably going to still find him "guilty".  In reality I think this is probably the best move.

I think the comment that Eddy Merckx made today was very appropriate:

"Lance was always very correct during his career.  What more can he do?  All the test he's undertaken, more than 500 since 2000, have come back negative.  So, either the tests don't count for anything, or Armstrong is Legit."

How many tests did Marion Jones pass?  Hundreds.  

Honestly, are the Lance loyalists really thinking scads of money-hungry former competitors are all making up stories for profit?  Really?  Is it an elaborate hoax in which they're all in on the witchhunt together, or are they just all lying to make a buck independently?

How many witnesses needed to come forward to establish their credibility?  

Lance is done fighting in my opinion because he knows he cheated...and now too many folks have called him out on his wrongdoing.  He knows he can't clear his name.  

This has been a fight from day one. I don't really blame LA for how it unfolded.. I mean from day one it was an issue, what else is he suppoed to say... of course he was doping, along with every other pro rider and GC contender. He just started his foundation, something I really think he did for the right reasons. Who knew he was going to win 7 straight? So of course, he has to continue to deny, he has to continue the story, he has to stick to his guns... who knew that every other pro rider was eventually going to be caught doping some how?

So now that we know everyone else doped, that there is no way he is such a freak of nature that he can dominate the TDF for 7 straight years against other gifted athletes that doped, and now the house of cards is coming down... who knew USADA would continue going after him after retirment? But now that is is what it is... I think Lance is playing the only card he has left to control damage. Say it's all unfair and take his ball and go home.

BUT! If he truly is an inspiration to millions, if he really does love his foundation and the is worried about the impact this will have, if he is the Champion we have all come to admire... then he really had the chance to do something very incredible... just admit it. Throw himself on the mercy of the court. Agree to keep his titles in exchange for COMPLETE immunity and COMPLETE disclosure of the whole sordid affair of cyclings doping era. He could have become a vehicle for change. He could have done a lot more with this opportunity than a middle finger.

Obviously, this opens him up to probably decades of litigation. Tons of people are going to be coming out wanting their money back. I can't find one positive thing about any of this.

So why the lifetime ban?  Has any other athlete received a lifetime ban?

Heck, even Contrador's ban was post dated back to the day of the infraction essentially shortening it by a almost a year.