Lance and EPO?!?!

Make that "some" French. There are also quite a few who recognize this as the BS tabloid headline grabbing/whining that it is. 

Bla bla bla.  Every time I start to feel bad about pissing in the Seine, the French go ahead and make me feel better.  Show me some real evidence or just shut the hell up already.  I don't care how much of a tool he is (never met him, just what I hear) the guy is freakin' amazing.  His story is truly awe inspiring and what he has done for cycling/cancer research is immeasurable.  In a professional sports world of steroid abuse and convicted criminals (think baseball, football, and basketball) the man is a shining star.

Of course, if he is ever proven to be a doper I will bash him mercilessly.

They are testing over 6 year old piss....Like someone has been storing this stuff in a secure and tamper proof area?    The only doper was your own rider Richard Virenqe...

Get over it France and start to groom your riders for 07.  Still won't have a win.  A German or Italian will probably win.

The difference between Lance and some of these other people (who HAVE tested positive) is that all of these stories are basically rumors.  If this was true - they would suspend him in a heartbeat.  They practically tested the guy every day of the Tour - he is one of the most tested people in the world.

Something I read about him said that he would never do performance enhancing drugs because he feels that his life and his body are a gift - he came so close to dying.  I believe that.  He is, bottom line, an amazing athlete and has done some pretty cool things that shows he is someone who "walks the walk" for things he believes in. 

On a personal level - again based on what I've read - I'd think he could be abrasive and high-handed - but that doesn't diminish my respect for the guy.

If he's ever proven to take drugs, then yeah, let's villify him but until then - it's all a lot of baseless gossip.

Yeah, and that bums me out.  Just such a downer.

Hey did you all hear that Michael Jackson is pregnant by a space alien?  It's true!!!!

I read it in the Star magazine!

Pierre Ballester has been throwing these accusations around for years, apparently he still has friends at L'Equipe willing to play dirty.  I think that this is pure maliciousness on the part of L'Equipe to publish an accusation that can never be definitively proven or disproven. Since the "A" samples are all long gone, all they can do is cast a cloud over LA's reputation, but they can't prove he was guilty, and and there is nothing he can do to clear his name. 

I really, really, really hope he doesn't turn out to be another Rafael Palmiero

Also, L'Equipe may have it in for him, but not all the French agree:

"Raymond Poulidor, a popular French cycling hero and three-time Tour runner-up, was clear about his position: 'This is ridiculous. Why not retroactively test all the way back to 1903?"'

Todays Stories: humorous

Report: Tour director says Armstrong fooled world

http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news?slug=ap-armstrong-doping&prov=ap&type=lgns

French lab cannot confirm tests were Armstrong's

http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news?slug=reu-armstronglab&prov=reuters&type=lgns

IMHO, even if Armstrong at one point used EPO (it was very common in the late '90's and still could be for all we know), so did a ton of other riders. Some got caught some didn't. I still support and believe Lance until its proven otherwise, BUT again, even if he did, he still won 7 tours. Other riders have admitted to using it, and they didnt win tours, much less 7. I still think what he has been able to do with his career is still amazing. EPO or not.

Anyone know how to say "wah wah wah" in French? This is brilliant. Make allegations that can't the be defended because the only remaining sample was used for the incriminating test. Puh-lease.

How much vinegar do you think they'll get out of these sour grapes?

Even if he is guilty of using EPO in 99 (which I for the record don't think that he is) and they didn't start testing till 2001 then throw out those Tour victories and he STILL HAS 5 (that would be the same number as that French backstabber double crosser A$$hole Bernard Hinault)

Face it you bunch of ungrateful FROGS...Armstrong is clean, won your national race 7 (SEVEN) times, and French cycling sucks so badly you may never have another Tour winner!! Maybe you should just restrict it to a FROGS only race, or not have it all together.

Ok......I feel better now....vent is over.