Cyclists react to Armstrong doping admission
- 11 years ago
Racing icon Lance Armstrong's admission of doping has shaken the world of cycling.
But riders competing in an Australian tour Saturday say they want to focus on positive developments and the future of the sport.
Luxembourg's Andy Schleck, who beat Armstrong to win the 2010 Tour de France, says he believes Armstrong was clean when he made his comeback in 2009.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) 2010 TOUR DE FRANCE WINNER, ANDY SCHLECK, SAYING:
"I know that I always was a clean rider and I keep on riding clean so why should he be doped and be behind me so I believe in his comeback that he was clean."
An Australian rider says recent measures have made cheating more difficult.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) ORICA-GREENEDGE TEAM RIDER, SIMON GERRANS, SAYING:
"I don't think any sport will ever be one hundred percent clean because people cheat. That's human nature, but in saying that, I think one of the positive things that come out of Lance's confession was that he did mention that the biological passport that has been in place now for several years. Basically it made it impossible for him to do the things he was doing in the past, to cheat and win the Tour de France."
After long-denying allegations he used performance-enhancing drugs, Armstrong told U.S. talk show host Oprah Winfrey that he owes a lot of apologies but does not deserve the lifetime ban he received from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.
LANCE ARMSTRONG: "I deserved to be punished. I'm not sure I deserve a death penalty."
Visibly emotional during the interview, he said he decided to come clean after seeing his 13-year-old son defend him.
But riders competing in an Australian tour Saturday say they want to focus on positive developments and the future of the sport.
Luxembourg's Andy Schleck, who beat Armstrong to win the 2010 Tour de France, says he believes Armstrong was clean when he made his comeback in 2009.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) 2010 TOUR DE FRANCE WINNER, ANDY SCHLECK, SAYING:
"I know that I always was a clean rider and I keep on riding clean so why should he be doped and be behind me so I believe in his comeback that he was clean."
An Australian rider says recent measures have made cheating more difficult.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) ORICA-GREENEDGE TEAM RIDER, SIMON GERRANS, SAYING:
"I don't think any sport will ever be one hundred percent clean because people cheat. That's human nature, but in saying that, I think one of the positive things that come out of Lance's confession was that he did mention that the biological passport that has been in place now for several years. Basically it made it impossible for him to do the things he was doing in the past, to cheat and win the Tour de France."
After long-denying allegations he used performance-enhancing drugs, Armstrong told U.S. talk show host Oprah Winfrey that he owes a lot of apologies but does not deserve the lifetime ban he received from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.
LANCE ARMSTRONG: "I deserved to be punished. I'm not sure I deserve a death penalty."
Visibly emotional during the interview, he said he decided to come clean after seeing his 13-year-old son defend him.