Lance Armstrong Banned From Racing Ironman and Thriatlon Events

Lance Armstrong is in big trouble again with doping charges over him threatening to take his 7 Tour de France titles away from him. But this time -doping charges are more serious because the USADA accuses him of promoting the use of many drugs that should only be used by doctors for patients in medical need of them, like steroids (many kinds), blood booster EPO, blood transfusions, human growth hormone (HGH) and others.

I have been an admirer of Lance’s for long time, and I don´t want to bashing either, but these “rumors” have been around for too long already, about 16 to 17 years and now I really wonder how much involvement Mr. Armstrong has in these charges. The worst thing of all is the promoting the use of drugs accusation. He knows the truth, the real truth.

I know that Lance has never tested positive, so the laboratory reports say, but we know that when millions of Euros or US dollars are involved in a cover up, everything negative could be easily erased in some corrupt companies and agencies. But who knows, really who cares by now, not me, certainly,  not anymore, and this is it for me:  no more Lance Armstrong. There are other cyclists that deserve our attention and praise to be wasting it on Lance.

Many people could be sadly affected if the LIVESTRONG Foundation gets hurt financially, but there are many others in the US and around the world that could and can continue the great work of supporting cancer research, I am sure of that.

The World Triathlon Corporation’s board of directors decided to keep a rule that prevents seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong from competing in Ironman events, ESPN.com reported Saturday.

The rule states that athletes “under investigation” for alleged doping offenses cannot participate in WTC-sanctioned triathlons.

Therefore, Armstrong will not be allowed to compete at a June 24 Ironman event in France. It may also prevent him from qualifying for the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii this fall.

The ban came Wednesday after the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency told Armstrong that it intends to file charges against him that could result in him losing his Tour de France titles. The charges are not based on positive drug tests, but witness testimony and other evidence going back to the mid-1990s.

“There were 815 athletes who agreed to the rule that is currently standing, and there’s no ambiguity about it,” WTC CEO Andrew Messick told ESPN.com Saturday. “Even if it has unintended consequences, (rescinding) it isn’t the right thing to do for the integrity of the sport.”

Some competitors do not like the rule. Among them is four-time Ironman event winner Jordan Rapp, who wrote in an e-mail to ESPN.com that he disagrees with it.

Lance Armstrong Banned

Andy Schleck 2010 Tour De France Winner

Andy Schleck of team RadioShack-Nissan is to receive official honours for the 2010 Tour de France victory, following the disqualification of Alberto Contador because of a doping-related suspension. Race director Christian Prudhomme has told Belgian newspaper Le Soir that he was planning to hold an official ceremony in Luxembourg, awarding Schleck with the title.

“We want the world to know about this, even though we know that Andy Schleck had much rather won on his bike,” Prudhomme was quoted as saying.

It is not yet known when or where the ceremony will take place.

From: http://ping.fm/Iycwz