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Armstrong Scraps Plans to Enter Swimming Competition Armstrong Scraps Plans to Enter Swimming Competition
(35 minutes later)
Lance Armstrong, who is serving a lifetime ban from Olympic sports because of serious doping violations, planned to return to athletic competition this week at a masters swimming event that does not test its athletes for drugs. But after learning of Armstrong’s entry, the International Swimming Federation on Thursday put a stop to his plans.Lance Armstrong, who is serving a lifetime ban from Olympic sports because of serious doping violations, planned to return to athletic competition this week at a masters swimming event that does not test its athletes for drugs. But after learning of Armstrong’s entry, the International Swimming Federation on Thursday put a stop to his plans.
Armstrong, who in January confessed to doping for each of his record seven Tour de France victories, was barred from this weekend’s event and future events sanctioned by U.S. Masters Swimming because that organization is overseen by swimming’s international federation, which adheres to World Anti-Doping Agency’s rules. Armstrong, 41, received his lifetime ban and was stripped of his Tour titles under those rules. Armstrong, who in January confessed to doping for each of his record seven Tour de France victories, was barred from this weekend’s event and future events sanctioned by U.S. Masters Swimming because that organization is overseen by swimming’s international federation, which adheres to World Anti-Doping Agency’s rules. Armstrong, 41, received his ban and was stripped of his Tour titles under those rules.
Armstrong, who came clean about his doping partly in an effort reduce his lifetime ban because he so badly wants to compete again, did not respond to a text message seeking comment.Armstrong, who came clean about his doping partly in an effort reduce his lifetime ban because he so badly wants to compete again, did not respond to a text message seeking comment.
Rob Butcher, the executive director of U.S. Masters Swimming, said he contacted Armstrong’s agent Thursday to tell him that Armstrong could not compete. In turn, Armstrong withdrew from the competition. Rob Butcher, the executive director of U.S. Masters Swimming, said he contacted Armstrong’s agent Thursday to tell him that Armstrong could not compete. Armstrong then withdrew from the competition.
“They said, listen, we don’t want to create a P.R. nightmare for you guys, Lance just thought it would be fun to swim with the teammates he has been training with down there in Austin, in his own backyard,” Butcher said.“They said, listen, we don’t want to create a P.R. nightmare for you guys, Lance just thought it would be fun to swim with the teammates he has been training with down there in Austin, in his own backyard,” Butcher said.
As soon as Armstrong’s entry into the event -- Masters South Central Zone Swimming Championships -- was made public on Wednesday, officials from the United States Anti-Doping Agency reached out to USA Swimming to make sure Armstrong’s lifetime ban was upheld. USA Swimming then contacted United States Aquatic Sports, which oversees U.S. Masters Swimming. Eventually, the International Swimming Federation, the international governing body for aquatic sports, was made aware of the situation. As soon as Armstrong’s entry into the event — Masters South Central Zone Swimming Championships — was made public Wednesday, officials from the United States Anti-Doping Agency reached out to USA Swimming to make sure Armstrong’s lifetime ban was upheld. USA Swimming then contacted United States Aquatic Sports, which oversees U.S. Masters Swimming. Eventually, the International Swimming Federation, the international governing body for aquatic sports, was made aware of the situation.
On Thursday, officials from the International Swimming Federation met to discuss the issue and decided that Armstrong should be barred from this weekend’s swimming event and all future U.S. Masters Swimming events.On Thursday, officials from the International Swimming Federation met to discuss the issue and decided that Armstrong should be barred from this weekend’s swimming event and all future U.S. Masters Swimming events.
Armstrong, who has competed as a swimmer since he was child, had planned to compete in the three longest events of the meet, the 500-, 1,000- and 1,650-yard freestyles. He was among the top seeds in his events and would have competed in the 40-44 age category.Armstrong, who has competed as a swimmer since he was child, had planned to compete in the three longest events of the meet, the 500-, 1,000- and 1,650-yard freestyles. He was among the top seeds in his events and would have competed in the 40-44 age category.
Butcher said Armstrong has been a member of U.S. Masters Swimming for several years and is still eligible to practice with his Western Hills Athletic Club team in Austin. But there will be no official races for Armstrong, and some masters swimmers welcome that.Butcher said Armstrong has been a member of U.S. Masters Swimming for several years and is still eligible to practice with his Western Hills Athletic Club team in Austin. But there will be no official races for Armstrong, and some masters swimmers welcome that.
Armstrong’s participation in this weekend’s meet drew an angry reaction. Butcher said he received several emails from people complaining about Armstrong, arguing against him being allowed to compete. Readers who commented on an article in The Austin American-Statesman about Armstrong’s competitive comeback also expressed ire. Armstrong’s participation in this weekend’s meet drew an angry reaction. Butcher said he received several e-mails from people complaining about Armstrong, arguing against his being allowed to compete. Readers who commented on an article in The Austin American-Statesman about Armstrong’s competitive comeback also expressed ire.
“Hey Lance, no matter what you do, you will always be a liar and a dishonest cheat with no character,” said someone going by the name LcplDevildog. “They should not allow him to dirty another sport.” “Hey, Lance, no matter what you do, you will always be a liar and a dishonest cheat with no character,” said someone going by the name LcplDevildog. “They should not allow him to dirty another sport.”
After more than a decade of lying about his performance-enhancing drug use, Armstrong came clean and admitted using banned drugs like EPO and testosterone. He also confessed to using banned blood transfusions to gain an edge in endurance, and was accused by the United States Anti-Doping Agency and former teammates of being the kingpin of the doping on his Tour-winning teams.After more than a decade of lying about his performance-enhancing drug use, Armstrong came clean and admitted using banned drugs like EPO and testosterone. He also confessed to using banned blood transfusions to gain an edge in endurance, and was accused by the United States Anti-Doping Agency and former teammates of being the kingpin of the doping on his Tour-winning teams.
His reputation is in tatters. He is no longer officially involved with the Livestrong Foundation, the cancer charity he founded after surviving testicular cancer, after stepping down from his roles there. Apart from a trip to Los Angeles, where paparazzi shot photos of him dining at a popular restaurant, he has remained out of the public eye. Until now.His reputation is in tatters. He is no longer officially involved with the Livestrong Foundation, the cancer charity he founded after surviving testicular cancer, after stepping down from his roles there. Apart from a trip to Los Angeles, where paparazzi shot photos of him dining at a popular restaurant, he has remained out of the public eye. Until now.
Earlier this week, he sent an e-mail to the swimming event’s registrar, Liz Mason, who saw the name on the note and said she thought to herself, “This poor guy has the same name as Lance Armstrong the cyclist. Oh, how unfortunate.” Earlier this week, he sent an e-mail to the swimming event’s registrar, Liz Mason, who saw the name on the note and said she thought to herself: “This poor guy has the same name as Lance Armstrong, the cyclist. Oh, how unfortunate.”