Lance Armstrong Banned from Triathlons Thanks To New Doping Allegations
Lance Armstrong has spent the better part of the year battling serious doping allegations. Now, new allegations regarding what has been called a “massive doping conspiracy” have resulted in Armstrong being banned from competing in triathlons, maybe for life.
TMZ reports that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency has slammed Armstrong with some pretty serious charges – primary among them, a charge that Armstrong and five fellow cyclists conspired together to use and also distribute illegal substances between 1998 and 2011. According to Newsday, if Armstrong is found to have used illegal performance enhancers, he could face a lifetime ban. As it stands, the charges immediately stop him from competing in triathlons, which he turned to following his retirement from cycling last year.
Armstrong, a seven-time Tour de France winner, faces charges from the USADA that he has used EPO, blood transfusions, testosterone, corticosteroids and masking agents. The USADA claims that blood samples from Armstrong dating back to 2009 and 2010 show his blood is “fully consistent with blood manipulation including EPO use and/or blood transfusions.”
Armstrong has fired back, releasing an official statement in which he calls the accusations of the USADA “baseless, motivated by spite and advanced through testimony bought and paid for by promises of anonymity and immunity.”
Armstrong clarifies, once again, “I have never doped, and, unlike many of my accusers, I have competed as an endurance athlete for 25 years with no spike in performance, passed more than 500 drug tests and never failed one. That USADA ignores this fundamental distinction and charges me instead of the admitted dopers says far more about USADA, its lack of fairness and this vendetta than it does about my guilt or innocence.”
The USADA has also said that they will pursue charges against Armstrong if and when federal criminal investigators close their case. Thus far, no one from the USADA has responded to Armstrong’s rebuttal.
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