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^ This can become one of the best deterrents to doping. Put a rigorous system in place and notify athletes that their samples will be re-tested for 'new' drugs

by tswartz 11y ago

^ This can become one of the best deterrents to doping. Put a rigorous system in place and notify athletes that their samples will be re-tested for 'new' drugs every 5 years for the next 20 years. Some athletes may be too focused on the immediate fame and wealth to care, but if enough high profile athletes, like Armstrong, eventually get busted, then perhaps that will help deter the younger generation from trying new drugs.

at-fates-hands 11y ago
The interesting thing about Armstrong wasn't the testing that got him - it was Floyd Landis. The scary thing is had Armstrong not tried to come back to cycling the last time he would've been in the clear. The reason Landis turned him in was Armstrong refused to let him on his team.
- tswartz 11y ago
  Yes, it's true that Armstrong didn't get admit doping because by of the retesting of old samples. It all unraveled with Landis. But Armstrong is a good example of how people will eventually get caught. In 2005, L'Équipe reported that 6 of his urine samples from the 1999 Tour de France that had been frozen had tested positive for EPO. But since it was part of a research project and had not been properly controlled it couldn't be used against Armstrong. It did add fuel to the speculation that he used drugs.
- deleted 11y ago
  [deleted]
- solutionyogi 11y ago
  Agreed. 'Stop At Nothing' [1] documentary captures this and more in a gripping fashion. It's available on Netflix and a must watch if you want to understand the whole Armstrong saga. [1] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3511812/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3511812/
  - Lio 11y ago
    Great documentary. Watching someone as charismatic as Armstrong look straight at the camera and lie so convincingly, over and over is illuminating to say the least.
    - meatysnapper 11y ago
      What, you've never watched a politician or an actor on TV?
- mikestew 11y ago
  > The interesting thing about Armstrong wasn't the testing that got him - it was Floyd Landis. Which reminds me: Mr. Landis still owes me $35 for that book of his that I bought. [0] His book did highlight what an unprofessional ass Dick Pound (head of WADA at the time) is, and how loosy-goosy some of the testing was. But in the end, Floyd doped just like the rest of them and deserved to be stripped of his TdF title. Once Landis' story broke, I can say that's the point at which I just gave up on pro cycling. That's when it all became clear that cheating also includes lots of lying, and regrets only come when they're caught. I gave the whole lot the benefit of the doubt, and now feel foolish for doing so. I'm a former Cat 2 racer, USAC race official, paid loads of money for pay-per-view races, loads of money on gear; now I don't do any of it, and if I watch sports on TV it's MotoGP. Sports participation is now trail running, where the most insidious drug I see evidence of is the cloud of pot smoke rolling out of some dude's car right before the start. If Armstrong had just left well enough alone, as you mention, he would have walked away a hero. But I'm guessing his cockiness caught up with him, and he just didn't know when to leave well enough alone, convinced that if he hadn't been caught before he'd continue to not get caught. Which seems to be the downfall of many criminals that get caught. And as unprofessional as Dick Pound's behavior might have been, it turns out he was right. That's where I'm conflicted. Not "innocent until proven guilty", but "I'm convinced you're guilty, and whether you're guilty or not I'm going to dig until I find dirt". But he was right, at least this time. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positively_False https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positively_False
  - wycx 11y ago
    Despite all of that, Floyd's attack to regain the yellow jersey after his bad day in the 2006 tour is still one of my favourite tour memories. Drugs or no, his ride that day was really entertaining.
    - mikestew 11y ago
      Oh, no doubt. Drugs or not, that was an amazing ride with a large amount of risk that paid off. Even knowing what I know now, if it showed up on my TV screen I'd watch it again. Because even if Landis was pumped to the gills with testosterone, he still had to put out a huge amount of effort to pull it off.

by tswartz 11y ago

at-fates-hands 11y ago

The interesting thing about Armstrong wasn't the testing that got him - it was Floyd Landis. The scary thing is had Armstrong not tried to come back to cycling the last time he would've been in the clear. The reason Landis turned him in was Armstrong refused to let him on his team.

tswartz 11y ago
Yes, it's true that Armstrong didn't get admit doping because by of the retesting of old samples. It all unraveled with Landis. But Armstrong is a good example of how people will eventually get caught. In 2005, L'Équipe reported that 6 of his urine samples from the 1999 Tour de France that had been frozen had tested positive for EPO. But since it was part of a research project and had not been properly controlled it couldn't be used against Armstrong. It did add fuel to the speculation that he used drugs.
deleted 11y ago
[deleted]
solutionyogi 11y ago
Agreed. 'Stop At Nothing' [1] documentary captures this and more in a gripping fashion. It's available on Netflix and a must watch if you want to understand the whole Armstrong saga. [1] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3511812/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3511812/
- Lio 11y ago
  Great documentary. Watching someone as charismatic as Armstrong look straight at the camera and lie so convincingly, over and over is illuminating to say the least.
  - meatysnapper 11y ago
    What, you've never watched a politician or an actor on TV?
mikestew 11y ago
> The interesting thing about Armstrong wasn't the testing that got him - it was Floyd Landis. Which reminds me: Mr. Landis still owes me $35 for that book of his that I bought. [0] His book did highlight what an unprofessional ass Dick Pound (head of WADA at the time) is, and how loosy-goosy some of the testing was. But in the end, Floyd doped just like the rest of them and deserved to be stripped of his TdF title. Once Landis' story broke, I can say that's the point at which I just gave up on pro cycling. That's when it all became clear that cheating also includes lots of lying, and regrets only come when they're caught. I gave the whole lot the benefit of the doubt, and now feel foolish for doing so. I'm a former Cat 2 racer, USAC race official, paid loads of money for pay-per-view races, loads of money on gear; now I don't do any of it, and if I watch sports on TV it's MotoGP. Sports participation is now trail running, where the most insidious drug I see evidence of is the cloud of pot smoke rolling out of some dude's car right before the start. If Armstrong had just left well enough alone, as you mention, he would have walked away a hero. But I'm guessing his cockiness caught up with him, and he just didn't know when to leave well enough alone, convinced that if he hadn't been caught before he'd continue to not get caught. Which seems to be the downfall of many criminals that get caught. And as unprofessional as Dick Pound's behavior might have been, it turns out he was right. That's where I'm conflicted. Not "innocent until proven guilty", but "I'm convinced you're guilty, and whether you're guilty or not I'm going to dig until I find dirt". But he was right, at least this time. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positively_False https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positively_False
- wycx 11y ago
  Despite all of that, Floyd's attack to regain the yellow jersey after his bad day in the 2006 tour is still one of my favourite tour memories. Drugs or no, his ride that day was really entertaining.
  - mikestew 11y ago
    Oh, no doubt. Drugs or not, that was an amazing ride with a large amount of risk that paid off. Even knowing what I know now, if it showed up on my TV screen I'd watch it again. Because even if Landis was pumped to the gills with testosterone, he still had to put out a huge amount of effort to pull it off.