USA TODAY: …On Friday, USADA hit Armstrong with a lifetime ban and stripped him of all cycling results since 1998, which includes his seven titles in the Tour de France from 1999-2005. USADA charged that Armstrong used banned drugs and blood transfusions to gain an advantage, and sanctioned him when he declined to fight the case.
The statute of limitations for such charges is eight years, but it can be extended in cases involving a cover-up. USADA determined that Armstrong and others fraudulently concealed their doping, dating to the 1990s.
The agency would’ve reduced Armstrong’s punishment “if he would have been truthful and willing to meet to help the sport move forward for the good,” [USADA head Travis Tygart] says. “Of course, this is still possible and we always remain open, because while the truth hurts, ultimately, from what we have seen in these types of cases, acknowledging the truth is the best way forward.”… (more)
EDITOR: Of what value would the titles be if Armstrong conceded that he used drugs? As it is, it is a matter of “He say, they say”, especially since he passed all of the drug tests at the time. The whole thing is history now and history has plenty of warts and ambivalences.
