Re: Armstrong cleared of doping charge

Evidence is valid only if evidence has been authenticated.

In this case, in order to substantiate such an irresponsible claim, one
would need to have proof ... positive proof... that there was no
possiblity that the specimens could have been adulterated or
mislabeled. There were certainly a great many people with a motive to
adulterate or mislable the specimens in question. Without a strict
protocol for collecting, archiving, storing, thawing, testing,
reporting...over an 8 year period...the allegations were outrageously
irresponsible.

Look again at Pound's initial reactions...in the first 24 hours that
the story broke. He was positively giddy; positively gloating.

This proves that there were people up to the highest levels in sports
who had a strong bias against Armstrong and that there were people down
to the level of laboratory employees who were entirely capable of
sabotage.

Recall again the Los Angeles police "Ramparts" scandal. Evidence was
planted in literally hundreds of cases in which the LA police were
convinced of the guilt of the suspects, but had insufficient proof to
convict. So they fabricated evidence. With no motive beyond wanting
someone they believed to be guilty to be convicted and punished.
People do these things without needing to be bribed and without any
criminal intent, beyond their personal motivation to see a guilty
person convicted and punished. Tampering with evidence. Without a
strict protocol and without proof that the protocol was observed from
beginning to end over the entire 8 years, the "evidence" is worthless.

And it is outrageous that these charges were ever deemed to be
credible, much less conclusive.

- Larry Weisenthal

On Wed, 31 May 2006 15:52:21 -0700, [email hidden] (Larry Weisenthal)

Quoted message said:

Evidence is valid only if evidence has been authenticated.

The ends never justifies the means. In the case of an ethical dispute this
becomes only more important. The high road might be lonely but it's the
only way to travel.

--Mike