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Video: Armstrong speaks of 'difficult couple of weeks' after doping scandal

The disgraced cyclist only alluded to the scandal when he spoke of tough times at a gala fundraiser for his charity Livestrong.

LANCE ARMSTRONG, MAKING his first public remarks since he was branded the key figure in a massive doping scandal, alluded to recent tough times yesterday but made no other concession to controversy.

“It’s been a difficult couple of weeks for me and my family, my friends and this foundation,” Armstrong told some 1,500 supporters at a gala fundraiser for cancer charity Livestrong.

On a more defiant note he added: “We will not be deterred. We will move forward.”

Armstrong, a cancer survivor, founded Livestrong 15 years ago. But on Wednesday he stepped down as chairman in an effort to protect the foundation from the scandal swirling around him.

That was the same day that corporate sponsors, including sportswear giant Nike, stampeded away from him in the uproar over the US Anti-Doping Agency’s damning report, which accused Armstrong of being at the heart of “the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping programme” ever seen in sport.

On Monday, the International Cycling Union is to announce its response to the report, and whether it backs the American agency’s demand that Armstrong be banned for life and stripped of the seven Tour de France titles that made him a sports icon.

An outcast now in cycling, Armstrong said it was imperative that Livestrong continue to fulfill its aims.

YouTube:

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    Mute Cy hendrix
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    Oct 20th 2012, 8:14 AM

    He has taken denial to a new level.Somebody should explain the case against him ,too him.He is delusional as far as the facts go.He appears to just ignore their existence.He would make a (another ) fortune from a tell all book.Might need it yet for the retirement fund.

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    Mute mattoid
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    Oct 20th 2012, 9:38 AM

    Sounds a bit like the Quinn supporters! ;-)

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    Mute Richard Day
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    Oct 20th 2012, 1:09 PM

    Armstrong is symptomatic of all that is wrong when the rich and powerful get caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Denial, delusion, blame transfer and ultimately entitlement ie I deserve this after all I’ve done attitude. We dint need to look far to see similar. What we as a society has to do is so clearly it is never acceptableand their is and should be repercussions.

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    Mute John Carolan
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    Oct 20th 2012, 8:20 AM

    on your bike Armstrong!…oh wait…

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    Mute Eoj McGovern
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    Oct 20th 2012, 8:00 AM

    My heart bleeds

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    Mute Andy Murray
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    Oct 20th 2012, 9:19 AM

    To be honest, if he’s raised millions for cancer survivors, he’s alright in my book. I don’t really give a hoot about the cheating at cycling. I stopped riding a bike when I was 14.

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    Mute Dmc
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    Oct 20th 2012, 9:45 AM

    Well said Andy. Most of them were cheaters anyway so he was on a level playing field

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    Mute Niall
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    Oct 20th 2012, 9:48 AM

    Like the tennis player, a kn**head.

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    Mute Jay funk
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    Oct 20th 2012, 11:20 AM

    He didn’t raise money for charity, he raised money for his PR campaign and to bribe doctors, his charity is a fake

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    Mute stevie mc manus
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    Oct 20th 2012, 8:14 AM

    I’d say his bled a few times with all the shit he put in his body.

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    Mute Cormac Garvey
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    Oct 20th 2012, 8:30 AM

    No denying that his foundation is carrying out great work around the world and raising a lot of money for a great cause. My problem is that he has built everything on a foundation of lies. When you peal away the layers that he is now hiding behind (his charity), he is just a plain cheat and not one of the best athletes the world has ever seen.

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    Mute Jay funk
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    Oct 20th 2012, 11:15 AM

    The charity doesn’t even do that much good work, it spends 40% of its money on PR. it funded doctors on the UCI doping panel to do research on cancer (or help him pass the tests) .
    His charity is just part of his bullying tactics.

    In my eyes it’s a shame that should be closed down.

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    Mute Sean Mac Gabhann
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    Oct 20th 2012, 8:24 AM

    What if, im only putting it out there, he really is innocent. Remember the evidence against him is on the testamony of a group of 15 – 20 withnesses ( please correct me on the numbers) that themseilfs were done or are being investagated for dopping and cut deals so not to be banned for life. There isnt smoke without fire but I do think there is a little more to this than meets the eye.

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    Mute Ferg Breen
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    Oct 20th 2012, 8:38 AM

    He has failed at least one test before.
    He is a psychological case study if I’ve ever seen one. Narcissism and denial in this fella are off the charts.

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    Mute hughsheehy
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    Oct 20th 2012, 8:39 AM

    There are also witnesses who were not under investigation and who were not even cyclists. The Irish soigneur, for instance.

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    Mute Niall
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    Oct 20th 2012, 9:47 AM

    Witnesses were interviewed by the Feds and if they perjured themselves they were going to do serious jail time. So they told the truth. Simples.

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    Mute James regan
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    Oct 20th 2012, 1:26 PM

    true. cycling today would not be where it is were it not for him. what about all the other five time winners? did they come after the badger or indurain after they retired? no way. and rightly so. if they didn’t catch him in the act during his reign should have left him alone after retirement.

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    Mute Jesus O'Shea
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    Oct 20th 2012, 10:35 AM

    There’ll always be immense respect for this man for being the first to land on the moon.

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    Mute Gis Bayertz
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    Oct 20th 2012, 10:41 AM

    And he was probably stoned as he took the giant leap for mankind

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    Mute Gis Bayertz
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    Oct 20th 2012, 10:41 AM

    And he was probably stoned as he took the giant leap for mankind

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    Mute Sean Herbert
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    Oct 20th 2012, 7:21 PM

    Wow – nobody has ever made that gag before. Quick wit you got there!

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    Mute Ted Carroll
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    Oct 20th 2012, 8:22 AM

    Is there anything likely to happen that will make him confront this or by refusing that court case against him has he basically allowed himself a life of denial?

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    Mute Lorraine Keane
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    Oct 20th 2012, 11:50 AM

    Boohooooo oh the poor fella.
    A little bit of cop on please lance

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    Mute Aimon Meyler
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    Oct 20th 2012, 11:21 AM

    Once an icon to me, what an assho.., and what idiots behind him. HE’S A CHEAT. HE’S A BULLY, HE’S A LIAR. how can people be so stupid

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