This & That, Ceci et Cela

These are some of the facts:
The French national anti-doping laboratory tested urine samples taken from riders in the 1999 Tour de France, the first of seven that Lance Armstrong won, in an effort to refine its detection methods for the banned drug EPO. The original test, developed at the laboratory, was introduced in 2000 at the Olympic Games in Sydney and in 2001 in the sport of bicycle racing. When a rider gives a urine sample in a race, it is divided into two samples, the A and the B. If the A sample proves positive, the B sample must confirm the finding for the result to be conclusive. In the new tests, which began late last year, there were no A samples, since they had been used in developing the test six years ago.

“In their work, the laboratory technicians had flasks marked with six-digit identification numbers, but not with names. Forms filled out by the riders carried both their names and the six digits, but they were not furnished to the laboratory. Instead, they were filed with the International Cycling Union, which governs the sport, and with French sports authorities.  A reporter for L’Équipe heard about the new tests and managed, presumably through the cycling union, to get the forms with names and numbers.  When the laboratory gave its report to the World Anti-Doping Agency on Aug. 21, he immediately obtained a copy, compared the numbers of the samples that allegedly showed the use of EPO, or erythropoietin, with the forms identifying the rider, and published the results.  In six cases, the donor of the tainted urine specimen was said to be Armstrong, the 33-year-old American leader of the Discovery Channel team. In six other cases, the rider or riders were not identified.”

His denial/defenses is kinda weak:
“Armstrong vigorously denied the charge, calling it unfair and malicious. … “A guy in a Parisian laboratory opens up your sample, you know, Jean-François so-and-so, and he tests it - nobody’s there to observe, no protocol was followed”.
Er, the testers are trained lab technicians who know how to do their jobs without supervision. What protocol? Red carpet and royal proclamations of “Behold, the peepee of Sir Lance” before commencing testing? The testing was anonymous geddit? You may question just how the reporter for L’Équipe got his info or why he may not have revealed other guilty parties if any, but you cannot fault the testing. Besides, the report says in 6 out of 12 cases of tainted specimens, the urine was found to be yours.

… “Armstrong further said, in an international television interview, that the accusations against him might be based on tense U.S.-French relations. “If we consider the landscape between Americans and the French right now, obviously relations are strained,” he remarked.”
That’s right, it’s a conspiracy: zoze crazy French are after you because zey propose to use you to punish ze foolish US. *snort*

I’m inclined to agree with the writers point:
“While his standard defense - that he is the most frequently tested athlete in the world - is true, the fact that he has never failed a drug test is irrelevant. Richard Virenque, the French king of the Tour de France’s mountains, never failed a drug test but finally admitted in court that he had long used illegal performance-enhancing drugs. David Millar, the Briton who won the world time trial championship in 2003 and passed a drug test immediately afterward, later admitted that he had used EPO before that race.  The analogy here is the person who says he has never been caught cheating on his taxes. That does not necessarily mean he has never cheated; it means he has never been caught. On the other hand - a clause that marks this case countless times - perhaps he never has cheated.”

I say admit and move on Lancy… Unless of course, you’re afraid they’d take back those medals… In that case count yourself lucky that there are apparently no more samples left for more testing…