After Lance Armstrong's public confession to Oprah Winfrey that he had used performance-enhancing drugs, organizations connected to the one-time cycling star expressed disappointment and those involved in the doping investigation were quick to issue we-told-you-so reminders.
One of the first to react was Armstrong's charity organization Livestrong, which he founded in 1997. It issued this carefully-worded statement:
"We at the LIVESTRONG Foundation are disappointed by the news that Lance Armstrong misled people during and after his cycling career, including us. Earlier this week, Lance apologized to our staff and we accepted his apology in order to move on and chart a strong, independent course. We look forward to devoting our full energy to our mission of helping people not only fight and survive cancer, but also thrive in life after cancer."
"Even in the wake of our disappointment, we also express our gratitude to Lance as a survivor for the drive, devotion and spirit he brought to serving cancer patients and the entire cancer community. Lance is no longer on the Foundation’s board, but he is our founder and we will always be grateful to him for creating and helping to build a Foundation that has served millions struggling with cancer."
John Fahey, president of the World Anti-Doping Agency, reacted to the confession on Fox Sports.
"All he did was affirm what the US Anti-Doping Agency had put out in a very substantial and irrefutable judgment some months ago – that this man had taken all sorts of substances for performance purposes," Fahey said. "He denied that until this point, but there was little doubt he was doing that, and all he did was confirm that today in a very controlled manner."
Pat McQuaid, the president of Union Cycliste International, issued a statement:
"Lance Armstrong's decision finally to confront his past is an important step forward on the long road to repairing the damage that has been caused to cycling and to restoring confidence in the sport. Lance Armstrong has confirmed there was no collusion or conspiracy between the UCI and Lance Armstrong. There were no positive tests which were covered up and he has confirmed that the donations made to the UCI were to assist in the fight against doping."
Cycling commentator Phil Liggett spoke to the Australian Broadcasting Corp.
"He's gone halfway, he's told us he took drugs, he's told us how long he took drugs. He swears categorically he's never taken drugs since '05, since his comeback period. But that's all behind us now. Where did he get the drugs from? Where did all the big money go to pay for those drugs? Because it's very, very expensive to buy EPO. Who gave him the knowhow, the wherewithal to do it?"
And Travis Tygart, President of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, said this:
"Tonight, Lance Armstrong finally acknowledged that his cycling career was built on a powerful combination of doping and deceit. His admission that he doped throughout his career is a small step in the right direction. But if he is sincere in his desire to correct his past mistakes, he will testify under oath about the full extent of his doping activities."
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