“Never failed a drug test” The Lance Armstrong Claim tagged:

“Never failed a drug test” The Lance Armstrong Claim

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The name of this site is run sub 4, which is a reference to breaking 4 minutes in the mile, or more broadly, attaining a high level of performance in running and sport.

Now, as I’ve stated before, you don’t need to dope to run sub 4 for a mile.  However, if you did, remember, there are two different issues at hand.

1.  Taking a performance enhancing drug or using a banned method to increase performance (blood doping).

2.  Testing positive for one of these methods.

On July 14th, Lance Armstrong was quoted as saying:

“I will cooperate with a credible and fair investigation”  Source

His Texas based attorney indicated he would cooperate in an investigation that did not resemble a “witch hunt.” Source

Ok, so for those of you who aren’t lawyers, he has an out.   Lance is essentially saying if at anytime he feels the investigation is not credible, OR fair, he has not committed to cooperate.

Keep in mind as this article states, Lance may not have a choice but to cooperate.  This isn’t likely to be a “optional” exercise for Mr. Armstrong.  These are the Feds, and this isn’t the peloton who you can shake your finger at if they don’t slow down when you say.

Now, let’s get to the meat of the argument.  Mr. Armstrong is consistently quoted as saying.

“I’ve never failed a doping test.”

Ok, that’s fantastic, and while not completely true, as L’equipe published rumblings of a positive test that he indicated was possibly “tampered” with.

What will be interesting, is if Lance Armstrong will say the following under oath.

“I have never, utilized or been involved with the use of performance enhancing drugs, or doping methods of any sort.”

Now, let me be clear on the language above.   Lance needs to, under oath, state that he has never used any of the following:

1.  Steriods.

2.  Human Growth Hormone

3.  Insulin

4.  EPO

5.  Blood doping (your own blood or a donor’s blood)

6.  Testosterone

7.  Received an infusion of concentrated red blood cells.

Let’s keep this very clear, there is a difference  between what you know and what you can prove.   I would suggest that Lance is very nervous about what people know.   The key is, what can you prove?

So at the moment, 7/26/2010, it seems that here is where Lance stands:

1.  I’ve never tested positive (but that doesn’t rule out use of doping).

2.  I will cooperate with an investigation if I feel that it’s fair.

Also, let’s try to keep two things separate.   Let’s keep Lance’s great work with and for people who are dealing with cancer completely separate from Lance the athlete.