USADA files charges against Lance (Page 8)

Here's what I don't understand.  I get that there may have been a culture of doping in 2000-06.  But by 09-10, there was clearly a crack down.  You would have to be a moron to continue using these techniques by that point.  I can't imagine that LA would be quite that stupid, particularly since he's jokingly called himself "the most tested athlete in the world" going back to at least 2007 or so.  By that point, he clearly was wearing a big yellow target, so why in the world would he do anything to jeopardize his cash cow?

Am I missing something about the long term effects on blood profile?  Is it possible to be so fit that you just DO have more red blood cells, for example, without the doping?  I mean, he has been competing on this elite level for a looong time -- since his early teens, and he's 40 -- and that has to have long term effects on body chemistry as well.

It just doesn't make sense to me that tests from 09-10 would show anything, given the history.

That's been the issue all along -- the blood test results only "suggest" PED use, but can never prove it.

Although passing a drug test does not mean he's innocent, just because he can do workouts that you and I cannot do, does not mean he's guilty either.  Just a thought from reading your post. 

https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions/#!/petition/stop-investigation-usada-lance-armstrong/FX0pVTLL

Signed the petition.  Let the Man Race!!

You're missing the point.  With these rules (not saying that the WTC enforcing the rule is wrong, I'm saying that this unique circumstance exposes a major flaw in the rule) - the WTC puts themselves in a position where an outside agency's investigation (that can come about simply by allegations, etc) can prevent an athlete from competing.

So what happens when Triathlete A is favored to win Kona and Triathlete B needs to place high in an upcoming race to qualify - and Triathlete A has people who accuse Triathlete B of doping and manages to get an investigation going?

You're 100% right - it's stretched, but if the possibility exists (and it's far from remote imo) - the rule needs to be mended and updated.  That's why rules change - you DO change the system for an individual if they expose an unfair flaw in the system.

Also, it's against the spirit of the rule.  The rule was never intended for someone who had an accusation against them to be suspended until it was solved (with no time table for resolution).  

Yeah, it's just hard for me to get up in arms about this whole Lance/USADA/WTC thing when 99% of the cookies are being eaten by 1% of the monsters.  Enough already!

On the flip side of the coin - you mean to tell me that Lance Armstrong is the ONLY guy smart enough to pass tests?  He was the ONLY guy who had access to the "better drugs that were undetectable?"  His doctors ONLY worked with him or gave him special treatment?

I'm more inclined to believe that Armstrong is clean than I am to believe that he some sort of Lex Luthor genius/super chemist who has everyone bought off with the exception of a few bitter people that work for a French newspaper.

I'm of the opinion that if the guy passes tests (and supposedly he's been tested before and after and with random in betweens by the WTC ever since he started doing pro tris), then he's clean.  If he's cheating and finds a way to mask/beat those tests when no one else can - then there's nothing anyone can do about it imo.  

It's a VERY slippery slope when you say "Hey - he's better than the rest and is the best - that must mean he's cheating!"

So then what is your solution... this is what I don't get. All cyclists dope... nobody can do what they do naturally. The teams that have got busted were breaking laws... only a few actually got caught by doping controls.... so then, what good does it do to expose Lance, or to take away his titles. If everyone dopes, then the titles just go to the next doper that didn't get caught.

So how is this going to help "clean up cycling", when even today yhey still try to get around it. If every one stoped doping today, we would still have the same races, just at a slower speed. If EVERYONE is doping, then the field is level. Same race, just faster.