A lot of you probably saw this one coming.
The much ballyhooed personal anti-doping program proposed for Lance Armstrong has been scrapped because it's just too complicated.
Don Catlin, the anti-doping scientist chosen to run the program, told the New York Times:
“In the real world, when you try to implement a program as grandiose as what you had in mind, it just becomes so complicated that it’s better not to try. We’re all disappointed, but it’s just not going to be possible.”
Announcement
Armstrong disclosed his plans for the anti-doping program back in September in conjunction with his announcement that he was returning to professional cycling. It was an attempt to quiet skeptics who have hinted that he has used performance-enhancing drugs, an allegation he has vehemently denied.
The 37-year-old cyclist has been repeatedly tested by the US Anti-Doping Agency and UCI since he announced his return. According to his Twitter website, he was last visited by doping control a week ago. He's also tested by his Astana cycling team.
But the Catlin program was supposed to go beyond that, even going so far as posting the results online for public perusal. Last month, however, Armstrong hinted that publishing all the biological data might lead to false assumptions by the public and media.
Statement
A statement from Armstrong's attorney, Bill Stapleton, reads in part:
“After a thorough review of the efficiency of a separate testing program the decision has been made to transfer the comprehensive program we had planned to do with Don Catlin to Ramsus Damsgaard, a renowned anti-doping expert who runs the Astana team’s internal testing program.
“Lance is the most tested athlete in sports history and he is certainly the most tested cyclist in the world since his return to the sport last year evidenced by no fewer than 16 unannounced out-of-competition tests since August all over the world. We will continue to do everything we can do to ensure transparency and honesty in his testing results.”
Lemond questions
The Armstrong drug-testing program was controversial almost from the start.
A few days after the first announcement, 3-time Tour de France winner Greg Lemond showed up at his Las Vegas press conference with questions about the details.
According to VeloNews, Lemond said that VO2 max, oxygen intake and power output can be used as indicators of whether a rider has used illicit performance-enhancing methods. Catlin, whose background is in laboratory testing for banned substances, answered Lemond by saying, “that’s not my area of expertise.”
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