Great podcast about LA and PEDs on Planet Money

Joe Matchette

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2012/11/21/165593480/lance-armstrong-and-the-business-of-doping

I admit to not having read the entire USADA report....that being said, I find this to be in line with the reports (e.g. from CoachR and others) about Tyler Hamilton's book.

What amazes me is that it was able to be kept under wraps for so long.  I guess that is what Omerta will get you.

Al Truscott

Posted By Joe Matchette on 24 Nov 2012 07:17 PM

...What amazes me is that it was able to be kept under wraps for so long.  I guess that is what Omerta will get you.

By 2002-3 (Tours 4/5), reports were becoming widely circulated from entourage members and journalists about PED use in the Postal camp. What changed in the past few months was the ability/willingness of the principles to fight them off. Once USADA put all the reports in one place, showed their consistency and included paerticipants, the LA defense machine was no longer able to fight the battles one-on-one, where they had more $ and power.

Joe Matchette

Posted By Al Truscott on 25 Nov 2012 10:29 AM

...... Once USADA put all the reports in one place, showed their consistency and included paerticipants, the LA defense machine was no longer able to fight the battles one-on-one, where they had more $ and power.

Granted that USADA is not a de facto, but rather de jure governmental organization, it is very difficult to have more $, power, and staying power than the State.

At first, second, and third, I thought LA was being railroaded.  Now, though, I do not.

So, the question begs itself, is the 'cat-and-mouse game' over?  Or does is it the same, only different?



 

William Jenks

One of the things that has struck me through all this is that I remember feeling all resentful that THOSE FRENCH TURDS were attacking Lance Armstrong again...

That Planet Money podcast did frame the whole situation interestingly. Did like that way of looking at it.

Ian Kurth

I think there is plenty more carnage to come to the Armstrong machine. I hope it won't, but I suspect it will ultimately have an ending that parallels a greek tragedy.

benvanmarcke

I think Lance has some control over the damages. He's been smart and stayed off the grid the last few weeks, this thing is starting to blow over. THe key part for him would be if any company (such as the insurance company that had to pay him for winning the Tour) decides to sue him. If they do he'll have to come to a settlement agreement because he already has committed perjury and it won't take much for anyone to put him in jail.

Dino Sarti

He is still training like a madman. His Strava account t looks like a guy driving a car! On the bike and the run. He is Kona right now putting up PRs....