http://www.spyns.com/
 |
| Armstrong: Too cool for California? |
The switch, which sees USADA handle competition tests as well as pre-event random drug tests that start February 15, led the US race to rescind a practice used last year that barred competitors who were being investigated for doping. A US grand jury has spent months looking into doping in pro cycling. Armstrong and several of his associates were compelled to testify since Floyd Landis, an admitted dope cheat who forfeited his 2006 Tour de France title, accused Armstrong of doping. Spyns clients have seen Landis go from A-list pro rider to the cycling world's equivalent of a crack whore, turning tricks streetside, and telling anyone with a microphone he was abducted by aliens and, oh yeah, Lance is also a crack whore!
Armstrong, who was thought to be looking at the Tour of California as a possible close to his fabled career, has continuously denied taking performance-enhancing drugs but might have been banned under the old under-investigation restriction. "Every athlete is entitled to full and due process before being removed from the playing field," said US Anti-Doping Agency chief executive Travis Tygart. Andrew Messick, the Tour of California president, said there is no entry from Armstrong or his RadioShack team. This isn't very good news for an event that requires Lance's star power to attract A-list advertisers. If we've learned anything over Lance's long Tour de France career, Armstrong = ratings.
Armstrong, 39, is coming off a 67th-place showing in last week's Tour Down Under in Australia, what he says was his final race outside the United States. Three months of out-of-competition random drug testing for blood and urine is part of the tougher drug test plans implemented in the switch to USADA testing, Messick said. "It is our intention to be a positive force in the sport of cycling and fighting to ensure that our race is clean is an essential step," Messick said. "The Tour is taking great strides in supporting clean athletes and actively advancing efforts for the integrity of competition," Tygart said.
Cycling has been dogged by doping scandals much too long. I vote to leave Lance Armstrong's legacy in peace and move on. Hopefully the 2011 Tour de France will be a squeaky clean event. Just tell Andy Schleck to stay away from Contador's famous tainted meat.
Spyns is an active travel company based in Whister, BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. Spyns specializes in 2011 Tour de France packages for both riders and non-riders. We specialize in providing clients with Tour de France bike and non-biking packages with Paris grandstand seats and VIP access. Spyns offers active holidays to Europe including trips to the 2011 Tour de France. For more information about Spyns 2011 Tour de France tours, please go to http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or http://www.spyns.com/. You can also call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.
