breaking News!!! Pharmstrong case closed

Well I think that is a bit of a surprise!

http://espn.go.com/olympics/cycling...ose-lance-armstrong-doping-case-press-charges

Sorry for the big link but the link tab ain't working.

It's not that surprising really. Tracks seem to have been pretty thoroughly covered.

Not surprised, really? I was surprised when they started it and am equally surprised now.

This is what Betsy Andreu had to say
""Our legal system failed us," she said. "This is what happens when you have a lot of money and you can buy attorneys who have people in high places in the Department of Justice."

And it's probably not over yet.....
"The case may not be concluded for Armstrong, however, as the US Anti-doping Agency (USADA) has announced that it is "looking forward to obtaining the information" which was gathered through the grand jury investigation.
CEO of USADA, Travis Tygart indicated that today's decision by the US Attorney may help his agency pursue Armstrong on doping violations..
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/lance-armstrong-inquiry-concludes-with-no-charges-filed

Has the fat lady sung? In so far as criminal charges being brought perhaps but this isn't over yet. I hope USADA move master than Armstrong on dope USFDA!

Whilst I can understand Betsy Andreu's disappointment (believe me, I can ), I wouldn't run so far as to suggest corrupt "people in high places". I'm sure there was pressure brought to bear 'up high' but I'm naive enough to believe that nobody was actually bought.

...and Bertie gets off in an unlikely win double?
If Ricco gets away with it I'll eat my helmet again.

Personally I'm pleased, but then I admit I was a bit of a Lance fanboy.

Don't think the French will ever let this lie though.

"the French"....... arrrrgh!!!

Believe me, there are as many fanboys as haterz in France! That 'the French' thing is (yet another) Armstrong creation.

Perhaps there are more journalists with long memories here but, again, they're not exclusive to France.

WTF have "the French" got to do with it?

"The investigation into systematic doping within the team arose partly out of allegations made by former rider Floyd Landis in 2010.The federal government's interest arose from the possibility that doping programs, funded through government-supplied sponsorship dollars, could constitute fraud. The Food and Drug Adminstration's Jeff Novitzky was appointed to head up the investigation"

So now the case is closed L'equipe will just let it lie will they?

I can't see L'Equipe having much to add. The only hope of justice being done seems to lie with USADA.

Sorry, my post is an over generalisation. To be clear, I should have said certain sections of the French Press.

So we've gone from "the French" to l'Equipe in 20 odd minutes... I call that progress! (Edit: cross post, apology noted )

But, yes, I'm sure that France's most famous sporting paper will have something to say. They're probably going to cover the 6 Nations as well.... and the NHL, NBA etc etc etc

Whilst cycling is France's national sport, and the nation does love their TdF and cheeky chappy Tommy is a national hero, I'd say that at grass roots level that football and even basketball are more popular. I don't know others take on it but my gut feel is that there isn't really a huge interest in pro cycling beyond the circus that is the TdF.

People in France might know the name 'Lance Armstrong' but he is held in as much adoration as he is in any other countries. His story resonates everywhere.

Lance is a strange phenomenon really. He certainly polarizes opinion. If I really ask myself the question of why I choose to try and stick up for him on an internet forum I'm not sure I can give a valid answer. I of course don't know the guy and can only go by what I have read, press opinion, anecdote and hearsay etc, and TBH, I actually don't think I'd like him very much if I met him. He doesn't come across as a particularly nice person. I think Yello you have hit the nail on the head - he has a story which resonates, coupled with the fact that he was at the top of his sport for a number of years. I guess I like to believe in fairy stories.

if Novitzky couldn't find anything there may not be anything to find.........

The focus of the investigation "wasn't so much to prove whether any particular cyclist used drugs, but to determine if Armstrong and other team members violated federal conspiracy, fraud or racketeering charges"... which for me still leaves a huge amount of investigation options in relation to Armstrong having doped during his career.

Let's just wait and see...this ain't a 2 hour training ride investigation, it a Grand Tour investigation.

I still believe he doped, and I cannot think why/how anyone who has read even 50% of the information available comes to any other conclusion.

That is an entirely possible explanation. One I wouldn't for a moment dismiss. There could equally be corpses but no smoking gun. Equally possible is the 'weight of evidence' argument; that is, there are bits and pieces provable but nothing worthy of court time and expense - and I'm sure such balancing decisions are made, after considering lobbying pressures etc. I suspect we'll never know but it certainly wont stop the conjecture, in forums and the press.

re Armstrong, no man is ever one thing - saint or sinner. One can believe the story - be he doper or no, TdF winner or no - because it IS inspirational. That he and Livestrong do some practical good for cancer sufferers is undeniable. But none of that means he did or didn't dope.

Personally speaking, and total prejudice admitted, I wanted to see him jailed. I wanted there to be proof of trafficking, money laundering, fraud.... the whole shabang. I'll never be convinced it's not there, only that it wasn't found.

So clearly now I want USADA to find proof of doping. Truth be told, that's always been more my desire than any criminal charges.... those would have been just icing on the cake

Fair enough, there has been a lot of information doing the rounds over the years which could certainly sway opinion. Hopefully the USADA investigation will be resolved quickly and fairly.

I am British and believe in the British way of innocent until proven guilty. Unlike many on here, let us hope we never get tried under their rules.