Tour de France - Armstrong expecting Tour ban
Eurosport - Sat, 11 Apr 18:37:00 2009
Seven-times Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong has said that he expects the French Anti-Doping Agency will prevent him from riding in this year's race.
"There is a very high likelihood they will prohibit me from riding on the Tour," the 37-year-old American said on his website.
The AFLD had earlier said Armstrong could face disciplinary action because he "did not respect the obligation to stay under (the) direct and permanent observation" of a drugs tester who came to his southern France residence last month.
Armstrong said he went to shower while Astana team manager Johan Bruyneel was checking the tester's credentials with the International Cycling Union.
"He (the tester) was odd, he was alone. He seemed suspicious," said Armstrong.
The Texan, who fought testicular cancer before coming back in 1998, was asked to provide urine, blood and hair samples when returning from a training ride around Beaulieu-sur-Mer last month.
Any sanction imposed on Armstrong would be valid on French territory only.
"It's too bad. The Tour is something I love dearly, something I wanted to ride, to race in, to be competitive in, either go for a victory or help Albert (Contador) or Levi (Leipheimer) get a victory," he said.
"We shall see. The comeback has been important to me for two main reasons.
"Obviously I have a passion for cycling still, but more importantly I have a passion for the global fight against cancer.
"I wanted to tell that story in France but if we can't do that we can't do that it's their call, it's their country, their event, their rules so we have to play by those."
Armstrong has had a difficult relationship with Tour organisers, the Amaury Sport Organisation, who said last year the 37-year-old's return to the race would be "embarrassing".
In 2005, the French sports daily L'Equipe, owned by ASO's parent company Editions Philippe Amaury, claimed samples of Armstrong's urine from the 1999 race showed traces of the banned blood-boosting substance erythropoietin.
However, Armstrong, who has never tested positive, was cleared by a Dutch investigator appointed by UCI.
AFLD president Pierre Bordry last year invited Armstrong to have his 1999 samples re-tested but the Texan declined, arguing they could have been compromised.
This site is Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! and Eurosport. All rights reserved.
- Terms of Service
- Updated Privacy Policy
- Copyright/IP Policy
- Remarks and Suggestions
- Corporate info
- Jobs at Eurosport
Notice: We collect personal information on this site. To learn more about how we use your information, see our Privacy Policy.
Comment 46 - 65 of 85
Lance still remains a threat to the French and their governing bodies.....
Wanting to test him 6 years after his 1999 victory is proof they are scared.
Go LANCE...you are the greatest competitor the Tour De France has ever known...
This changes nothing for Armstrong and his Global Fight Against Cancer sure he will be disappointed if he can not take his message to France one of the most unhealthy modern country's per capita. He will probably just make adjustments to his schedule and take his message to a country he can reach or a country who care about the health of their people. Besides that France obviously does not need the Millions of extra dollars he will bring to the country.
not since 1985!!! nd der tryin der jealous best to get another one soon!!
When did a frog last win the tour!
French so pissed off for Lance dominating 7 years in a row, simple is that. Jealous mother#ckrs
I don't think it is important that Lance is American the point is he is not French. I do not remember the French Authorities persecuting Jaques Anquetil (multi tour winner) when he led the anti testing strike in the 1960's. Has there ever been a nation so obsessed with foreigners?
Lance knows the rules, he knows he has to be in the company of the tester untill he "The Tester" is finished with his business. "Opps i took a shower" W.T.F is that all about. Its not the French that are stupid here is it?
Lance is a great cyclist along with all the other pros but you have to play by the rules today and you cant just say after "Opps I did not know I had to be in his company at all times". Lance your a pro and you know the rules its not worth crying about it now if you cant ride its your own fault. I dont think Albert (Contador) or Levi (Leipheimer) need you as much as you would have needed them.
Phalcobuenas is the voice of wisdom here. Lance is made to win bike races
Media hype. Poor testing practices. An element of attention-seeking. Comical levels of 'Francophobia' in so many of the preceding comments (how can you label 'the French' when there are 60m French people of whom probably less than 100 work in cycle sport administration or drug testing?). No wonder our beloved sport is in the mess it is with egos, paranoia and hysterical attitudes like we see here all vying to shout the loudest. I'm off out to ride.
From gcapd.white, on Sat 11 Apr 11:07AM ..said Armstrong avoids Europe.
Armstrong raced in France as preparation for the Tour!! He spends Jan to Jun with occasional trips home training and racing!!!
Franklin b concience, on Sat 11 Apr 11:05A is right. He is simply designed better than any other athlete, a phenomena, an enigma. Like Usain Bolt (Tall and can sprint) ..he is simply blessed with a body that deals with lactate better. Mind you ..if you started cycling age 8 (Tiger woods started age 5) ..and rode around in a windy area like Plano,Texas ..I am sure your body would develop accordingly to cope with the stresses. He even has the perfect thigh lenght for cycling!! Its simple his training at a young age shaped the man into a sporting monster!!
Lindsey R: there is no proof or, indeed, legitimate evidence of Lance Armstrong ever having used performance enhancing drugs. If you are talking about the alleged EPO use in 1999 you might like to get your facts straight. The testing of those samples was incredibly dodgy and, therefore, the case didn't have a leg to stand on in court. Other then that the only real 'evidence' is a skin cream (cortisone, I think) that he was cleared to use.
The gentleman (I do dispute that face, just look at his record with the ladies) doth protest too much
This french guys are unbelievable...may be the tester also wanted to take the shower with Lance...with this french you never know...
No doubt ASO will do everything to prevent Lance winning the Tour by a 8th time.
I don't care to rant about the French. However I simply get the feeling that Armstrong is being singled out for testing. He has been tested so many times, always been negative (this time too) and now he is being nailed on a technicality. It's as if they are shooting the arrow and then painting the bulls eye.
Lindsey R: your point bout all the top ten being tested positive is a made up fact!! there has been a year when a lot of the top ten tested positive in future years, but still not all of them.
why dont they just have french riders in the tour de france, then they could expect a french win and a boring race.
beware of frgs with backpacks
hes just so so good is LA - one year when he won, all the top 10 were banned for doping but not him yet he managed to finish before them all!! hes just super amazing or american??????
dont blame the french for doing a good job - they proved he was doping along with the majority of cyclists (including some of his very good friends ) he just had too much of a good friend in gw bush! dont comment on something you know nothing about!
There is a lot of anger here for something that hasn’t happened yet. No one has been banned from the Tour. It is interesting that the Americas complain about the French being so willing to surrender; when at first site of danger they pick up their toys and want to go home. Patience is a virtue, I believe your man would agree to that.
wat a joke!!! the french need to find a gd rider nd get over the fact that foreighners are better!!!
Please login to post a comment
Not already a Yahoo! user ? Sign up to get a free Yahoo! Account