Just weeks ahead of the international Ironman triathlon tournaments, Lance Armstrong has been suspended on account of doping charges. The World Triathlon Corporation made this announcement on Thursday, June 14. This move breaks Armstrong from competing in the Ironman France Competition in Nice to be held on June 24th.
The USADA (U. S. Anti-Doping Agency) confirmed that proceedings against the retired cyclist had been opened and this would bar him from taking part in the future triathlons as long as they were still running.
Of course the ace cyclist has been denying all charges and saying that this was all to hinder his future races and jeopardize his seven Tour de France titles. He said that all allegations were false and he has never taken any drugs in his entire career.
Ever since drug allegations made the news against Armstrong, his competitors have been adding to the controversy. There have been several compatriots who say that they are sure Armstrong has had been under the influence of banned substances from years ago when he started his career. The sport star has however never failed a drug test.
Those allegations were suppressed for a whole and Armstrong has had new winning titles to his name such as the half-Ironman in Hawaii that took place just a few weeks back. Fresh controversies however have sprung up against him yet another time bringing back the same round of difficulties as they did before.
With new investigations now opened, the World Triathlon Federation had no choice but to suspend the player until the charges have been cleared.
“Unlike many of my accusers, I have competed as an endurance athlete for 25 years with no spike in performance, passed more than 500 drug tests and never failed one,” Armstrong said on his website. “That USADA ignores this fundamental distinction and charges me instead of the admitted dopers says far more about USADA, its lack of fairness and this vendetta than it does about my guilt or innocence.”
Floyd Landis, a fellow competitor alleges that he saw Armstrong try out blood boosting back in the year 1999. He said that it was in his refrigerator and Armstrong along with Landis himself has tried it many times. Armstrong however has publicly announced, tweeted and confessed that all such allegations are baseless and just in efforts to strip him off his credentials.
Tags: Lance Armstrong, Triathlons, USADA