4 ex-Armstrong Teammates to Testify

This is sad and frustrating.  And could be the worst since these are current riders much in their prime (save Hincapie)...  Looks bad.  I wonder if they have actual proof or more hearsay and assumptions.

I have to admit, a few years ago, I would have said NO WAY did he dope.  Since they could never prove it.  I didn't take much stock in some of the reports.  But as the names kept getting more current and more on the "inside" with Lance, I started to have my doubts.  I would say now that I think he probably did, but can only say that's an assumption based on the climate that was then when EVERYONE was doing it.

I still think that he deserves the 7 wins, and if they are stripped away, it could very well be the biggest scandal in sports EVER.  I can't think of another story bigger and more shocking.  Not the "black sox", gold medals being taken back for drugs, all the steroid use in baseball, etc. 

My thoughts to a "T"...

Let me ALSO add, that as a former cancer patient who used the LiveStrong organization for informationa and help when I was going through it - I don't think LiveStrong would EVER be as big and amazing organization that has done so much to help with the cause if he didn't win 7 times.  I'm not saying that it makes it "ok", but the fact he turned his fame into something helpfull give him a break in my opinion without real evidence to prove otherwise.

It's not like Bary Bonds who doped to bang out a bunch of homers to set records and make money and just wants to be in the Hall of Fame but is otherwise anti-social and stays out of the public eye.  (I'm not a BB fan, if you can tell).

"The story was simultaneously leaked to three European newspapers: De Telegraaf in Amsterdam, El País in Madrid and La Gazzetta dello Sport in Milan.  One of the reporters who wrote the stories said the source came from the United States, but would not disclose its identity."  -Andrew Hood, Velo News

Either its an incredibly elaborate hoax...or it's real.

My gut, as it's been all along, is that Lance doped.  

Does it mean I'll throw away my Livestrong t-shirt?  Heck no.  Even while likely doping, what he did coming back from cancer is amazing to me.  

btw, I think a lot of folks will be owing some apologies to Tyler Hamilton (among others) very soon.

I could not read the links above at work, but on ABC the story has them denying the story. It was also reported Hincapie testified against him to the Grand Jury and that was denied. So far, it is just a leak.

BOTH OF THESE. Exactly. 

My husband and I used Livestrong as a resource, off and on, for several years. Not so much in the last 6 or so months, but when his cancer came back, Stage 3, and the subsequent year of chemo & radiation...his organization is wonderful. 

AND. How many of those other riders had Stage 4 cancer, to come back and do what he's done athletically & professionally (Livestrong)? I don't care who you are, when life hands you those lemons, you work hard to fight. For life and to live after. I've lived it, & live with it every day.

I'm going to be furious if this vendetta is successful. Upset for Lance, and it will hurt his charity. THAT is a bigger disservice. However, I do think he'll still come out on top. Even if they strip him, I bet (hope) he finds a way. 

Here is another report.  Armstrong sent an email, but so far none of the riders are confirming the story, and the sponsors are denying any of this is true.  If you read the statement in there from the USADA, it states: 

USADA wouldn't confirm the De Telegraaf report but released a statement warning that those identified could be subject to "unnecessary scrutiny, threats and intimidation."

So, either participate or find yourself going through the same "vendetta" that Lance is going through.  

My feelings is that he doped.  It was going on, it happened, it is in the past.  It doesn't change my view on him.  It didn't change my view on one of my favorite cyclists of all time Pantani.  He never recovered from it, and had other drug problems, but to me The Pirate is still one of the greatest to me.  Lance will be the same in the end.  He has done great things for the sport, and I will still respect him.  

Yeah saw something similar.  All 5 are saying they have made no such deals.  So who to believe now?

Dude!  Spoilers... watching the stage right now... ggrrrr!

So let me get this straight, you (royal) have a problem with the anti-doping agency investigating an athlete the may have doped (even according to LA fans)?  More to the point, some of you wish ill on the otherwise highly (mostly, especially Hincapie) respected athletes supposedly agreeing to testify against LA based on (supposedly) what they think is the truth?  Let me ask you this, what does Hincapie have to gain by testifying against LA?

No Eco, I think you took it wrong....

USADA wouldn't confirm the De Telegraaf report but released a statement warning that those identified could be subject to "unnecessary scrutiny, threats and intimidation."

"Any attempt to circumvent the proper procedures in order to bully or silence people who may or may not be witnesses cannot be tolerated," the statement said.

They are saying they are not confirming witnesses to keep them from such tactics against them... by Lance which they have always said he does to those going against him.

I'm not saying I agree, just that USADA did not say "cooperate or else".

So this does not add up to me. You have liars testifying, so their credibility is lost. But when the Feds were investigating, and they subpoenaed Hincapie, that was different. One thing to try to keep it in the team, but another thing to be brought up on Federal purgery charges.

So it was leaked Hincapie testified against LA, but he denied it. The U.S. dropped it's case. If Hincapie did testify against LA, that was a slam dunk case.

So here it is again. Yet these four have been supposedly suspended... kind of hard to deny. I mean it is going to happen, they have signed the papers... yet all 4 are denying the report. Not so sure about the leak.

Hincapie is so well respected and LA right hand man. If he testify it's done... but if he didn't do so against LA when he was with the Feds, then why in the world would he do so now? all of this is just assumptions, but it does not really make sense.

If the USADA has "proof" that he did, then it's not a witch hunt to offer immunity to others in order to charge THE GUY WHO WON ALL THE RACES.  That's what happens in these cases.  You go after the big fish.  Sometimes in order to get the big fish you have to let little fish go.  You can like it or hate it, but you kill a snake by cutting off it's head.  Take 7 titles away and watch how much bigger effect your rules have on the rest of the riders.

Lance doped....get used to it.

Regardless of what they have or do not have, this smacks of their typical behavior of leaking stuff to the press in order to smear their target.  I'll believe it when one of the riders confirms it.

No, not if his testimony can be impeached in any way.  

A court of law is much different then sanctions by the USADA....the USADA is certainly not governed by the same rules of law as a Federal Court.

BTW - I don't care if he did or didn't, I like Lance.

"They" may not have leaked anything....."They" are made up of "them"....and you can't control everyone.  Yes, I think there should be more integrity in the organization than to have information leaked prematurely...but it really doesn't change much.  No conspiracy here other than to get the top doper....and the only reason Lance is the top doper is because he won.  I don't think it's very complicated.

How? Hincapie has not said a word ever. Everyone was waiting to see what he would say to the Feds. Sure it's easy to dismiss Tyler and Landis... but Hincapie... they might as well be twins they are so close. Hincapie testifying to a Grand Jury LA doped, he saw it, he knew it, he did it too.... that is open and shut, end of story.

Again, only an assumption, but I'm biased, I think it's right.

And what if it is all true... what the Feds had a case with him telling them the same thing and they drop the case and waste all that money because USADA was going to get him.... ya, that will go over well.

Did you not pay attention to the acquittal of Roger Clemens?  The Feds learned something on those cases.  Juries are not willing to trust the testimony of other "users". Even the Bonds case was a fiasco for the Feds....they got NOTHING from it.  Even the Bonds probation sentence was stayed for appeal....because the reviewing judge knows damn well it won't stand up.  No way they wanted to chance losing another case.  The Feds are OUT of the doping game.  

Nobody cares.