I don´t recall Lance ever failing a major drug screening test while cycling and winning races during his many year career. I do recall the agencies who authored those drug screening tests using "state of the art" methods and equipment.

They just "knew" Lance was "drugging" some way or the other, only their "brain trusts" were not as smart as what Lance put together (in their minds)! They had to bring Lance down...one way or the other.

It´s the right thing to do in America these days...bring down the "top dog" any way you can.

Ask General Petraeus...

Armstrong failed at least six blood tests in the early 2000s and his bio passport data indicated doping in 2009-2010. There were 26 witnesses with first hand knowledge of his doping program.

Marion Jones never tested positive.

Sandusky was convicted with no DNA evidence.

Read USADA´s report; it is a fascinating read.

It´s official -- Lance Armstrong is now an Unperson.

#2 has the facts. I´ve read and read and read and read all about this and I´m convinced of a few things:

1. Lance Armstrong has been doping his entire career

2. Most Americans have NO IDEA how much money is poured into cycling.

3. Everyone else was doping too (and many were caught and punished, or sadly, died).

4. The reason they persisted after Armstrong is that he is a nasty, nasty, vindicative, petty, egotistical jerk. He didn´t just dispute charges against him, he methodically ruined lives and turned on people. Remember, he left his wife and 3 children just ´cuz...and while I´m certainly NO FAN of Cheryl Crow, remember that cancer survivor, Livestrong Lance, dumped her after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Everyone else was doping, but he was a dope and d!ck in his every day life.

#2 I believe the facts are these:

"´Armstrong never failed a drug test. He was tested in competition, out of competition. He was tested at the Olympics, at the Tour de France, at dozens if not hundreds of other events. And he never failed a test.´ Instead Travis Tygart, chief executive officer of the USADA, gathered a group of people who swear they saw Armstrong doping."

The USADA, with better testing analysis now, has gone back to 1999-2000 and re-tested samples, and there is speculation that EPO is present. So here are the facts:

1. At the time they were given, all his tests were negative
2. Everyone in the cycling profession "probably" used drugs
3. Most likely, the advertisers and the regulators KNOW THIS
4. The business of cycling benefits from everyone turning their heads away from the facts

It is hypocritical to think that WWE professional wrestlers, 350# NFL linemen, most Olympic athletes, etc, do not use drugs. It´s good for business !

I suggest we allow all pro athletes to use drugs if they want, and stop fooling ourselves that "Just say no" is a valid alternative.

#1- So the innocent general and the innocent Armstromg have both been brought down huh? Who wouda thunk it?

Ted in Michigan

#5 - The problem with the "everyone does it, so just let them do it" mentality is that at some point, after a few deaths or after a dozen deaths, there starts to be a public outcry to regulate the doping and put rules in place to keep people from doping. It´s the way of the world.

BTW, after reading all I´ve read, I´m also convinced that Armstrong (and his doctor) paid off quite a few people to keep positive tests under wraps.