The party is over for the phoniest most nauseating ratbag in modern sport
11 teammates blow whistle on Lance Armstrong
USADA probe reveals 'most sophisticated ... successful doping program sport has ever seen"
Lance Armstrong talks to reporters following the Power of Four Mountain Bike Race on Aug. 25
The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency says 11 of Lance Armstrong's former teammates testified against him in its investigation of the cyclist, revealing "the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen."
USADA will deliver its reasoned decision against Armstrong later Wednesday, a summary of the facts it used to hand him a lifetime suspension and erase his seven Tour de France titles.
In a news release previewing the decision, USADA CEO Travis Tygart listed 11 of Armstrong's former teammates, including George Hincapie, Floyd Landis and Tyler Hamilton, as among those providing evidence that led to the sanction.
In delivering the report to the International Cycling Union, Tygart called for the federation to create a program to help clean up the sport.
Cycling authorities who backed Armstrong's legal fight to block the case have said they want to see the material before deciding whether to appeal the American agency's sanctions to the world Court of Arbitration for Sport.
In question-and-answer form, here's a look at where things stand:
Q: WHAT EVIDENCE WILL BE IN THE REPORT?
A: Armstrong strongly denies doping, but USADA officials have said their report will back up the move to sanction one of the most popular athletes in America.
USADA has said it had 10 former teammates ready to testify against Armstrong before he chose not to take his case to an arbitration hearing. The list likely includes previous Armstrong accusers Floyd Landis and Tyler Hamilton. The sport will be watching closely to learn who else was willing to testify.
Exactly how detailed the evidence will be is unknown. One complicating factor: Former U.S. Postal Service team director Johan Bruyneel also has been charged with participating in the alleged doping conspiracy and has elected to take his case to arbitration. A USADA spokeswoman has declined to say if the Bruyneel case includes the same witnesses and if the pending hearing limits what can be included in the Armstrong report.
Q: WHO HAS AUTHORITY TO STRIP TOUR DE FRANCE TITLES?
A: USADA says it does under the authority of the World Anti-Doping Code. The UCI says it wants to see USADA's report.
The World Anti-Doping Code gives the cycling union the right to appeal the sanctions against Armstrong that impact the world's most prestigious bike race — and some fireworks between the agencies are expected. The UCI has clashed with USADA over the Armstrong case, even challenging its authority to bring charges.
Q: ONCE UCI GETS THE REPORT, WHAT HAPPENS?
A: UCI has been critical of USADA for taking so long, but once the report arrives, the cycling union will have 21 days to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The report also will go to the World Anti-Doping Agency, which also has the right to appeal, but so far has supported USADA's position in the Armstrong case.
"We've got no problem with the process they have followed," WADA general director David Howman said. "We've just got to be patient and be quiet until the decision comes to hand."
Armstrong's lawyers say USADA should send UCI its entire case file, not just a streamlined report packaged to support USADA's decision. In a letter to the agency on Tuesday, Armstrong attorney Tim Herman accused USADA of "still trying to create evidence and put it in the file now," long after it supposedly had an airtight case.
Alberto Contador tested positive for clenbuterol during the 2010 race, the UCI first left the case to the Spanish Cycling Federation. The Spanish body exonerated him, so UCI and WADA appealed and won a two-year ban and annulment of results, including the Tour title.
In 2006, Floyd Landis was stripped of his title by an American arbitration panel.
Q: WILL ARMSTRONG PUSH FOR UCI TO APPEAL?
A: It depends on how determined he is to see his name in the record books. Armstrong built worldwide brands for himself and his cancer-fighting foundation on the strength of those Tour victories.
But an appeal could mean many more months or years defending himself against constant allegations. He chose to drop his fight in August and may be willing to give it up forever.
Armstrong continues to introduce himself as a seven-time Tour de France winner, but has also said the public will remember his as a champion even if his titles are stripped.
11 teammates blow whistle on Lance Armstrong
USADA probe reveals 'most sophisticated ... successful doping program sport has ever seen"
Lance Armstrong talks to reporters following the Power of Four Mountain Bike Race on Aug. 25
The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency says 11 of Lance Armstrong's former teammates testified against him in its investigation of the cyclist, revealing "the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen."
USADA will deliver its reasoned decision against Armstrong later Wednesday, a summary of the facts it used to hand him a lifetime suspension and erase his seven Tour de France titles.
In a news release previewing the decision, USADA CEO Travis Tygart listed 11 of Armstrong's former teammates, including George Hincapie, Floyd Landis and Tyler Hamilton, as among those providing evidence that led to the sanction.
In delivering the report to the International Cycling Union, Tygart called for the federation to create a program to help clean up the sport.
Cycling authorities who backed Armstrong's legal fight to block the case have said they want to see the material before deciding whether to appeal the American agency's sanctions to the world Court of Arbitration for Sport.
In question-and-answer form, here's a look at where things stand:
Q: WHAT EVIDENCE WILL BE IN THE REPORT?
A: Armstrong strongly denies doping, but USADA officials have said their report will back up the move to sanction one of the most popular athletes in America.
USADA has said it had 10 former teammates ready to testify against Armstrong before he chose not to take his case to an arbitration hearing. The list likely includes previous Armstrong accusers Floyd Landis and Tyler Hamilton. The sport will be watching closely to learn who else was willing to testify.
Exactly how detailed the evidence will be is unknown. One complicating factor: Former U.S. Postal Service team director Johan Bruyneel also has been charged with participating in the alleged doping conspiracy and has elected to take his case to arbitration. A USADA spokeswoman has declined to say if the Bruyneel case includes the same witnesses and if the pending hearing limits what can be included in the Armstrong report.
Q: WHO HAS AUTHORITY TO STRIP TOUR DE FRANCE TITLES?
A: USADA says it does under the authority of the World Anti-Doping Code. The UCI says it wants to see USADA's report.
The World Anti-Doping Code gives the cycling union the right to appeal the sanctions against Armstrong that impact the world's most prestigious bike race — and some fireworks between the agencies are expected. The UCI has clashed with USADA over the Armstrong case, even challenging its authority to bring charges.
Q: ONCE UCI GETS THE REPORT, WHAT HAPPENS?
A: UCI has been critical of USADA for taking so long, but once the report arrives, the cycling union will have 21 days to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The report also will go to the World Anti-Doping Agency, which also has the right to appeal, but so far has supported USADA's position in the Armstrong case.
"We've got no problem with the process they have followed," WADA general director David Howman said. "We've just got to be patient and be quiet until the decision comes to hand."
Armstrong's lawyers say USADA should send UCI its entire case file, not just a streamlined report packaged to support USADA's decision. In a letter to the agency on Tuesday, Armstrong attorney Tim Herman accused USADA of "still trying to create evidence and put it in the file now," long after it supposedly had an airtight case.
Alberto Contador tested positive for clenbuterol during the 2010 race, the UCI first left the case to the Spanish Cycling Federation. The Spanish body exonerated him, so UCI and WADA appealed and won a two-year ban and annulment of results, including the Tour title.
In 2006, Floyd Landis was stripped of his title by an American arbitration panel.
Q: WILL ARMSTRONG PUSH FOR UCI TO APPEAL?
A: It depends on how determined he is to see his name in the record books. Armstrong built worldwide brands for himself and his cancer-fighting foundation on the strength of those Tour victories.
But an appeal could mean many more months or years defending himself against constant allegations. He chose to drop his fight in August and may be willing to give it up forever.
Armstrong continues to introduce himself as a seven-time Tour de France winner, but has also said the public will remember his as a champion even if his titles are stripped.
