Opinion

US should ignore World Anti-Doping Agency request on Lance Armstrong evidence

Eric McErlain Sports Blogger
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I’m sure at some level that American cycling champion Lance Armstrong knows that he’ll never be able to escape allegations that he used performance-enhancing drugs in order to win the Tour de France a record seven straight times.

Meanwhile, news comes from Paris that the Inspector Javert-like pursuit of Armstrong will continue. Earlier today World Anti-Doping Agency President John Fahey suggested that U.S. federal prosecutors share any evidence they uncovered during their two-year investigation into whether Armstrong and his U.S. Postal Service cycling team engaged in a doping program.

Here’s hoping that U.S. Attorney Andre Birotte Jr., the prosecutor who decided to close the criminal investigation into Armstrong and his cycling team, politely declines the request.

Lord knows that if I were in Birotte’s position I’d probably use more colorful language in communicating that message to the Paris-based foundation. Because no matter what you might think about the use of performance-enhancing drugs in international sports, one ought to be alarmed at the prospect of a private organization like the WADA being allowed to piggyback on the criminal investigative power of a U.S. attorney.

Eric McErlain blogs at Off Wing Opinion, a Forbes “Best of the Web” winner. In 2006 he wrote a “bloggers bill of rights” to help integrate bloggers into the Washington Capitals’ press box. Eric has also written for Deadspin, NBC Sports and the Sporting News, and covers sports television for The TV News. Follow Eric on Twitter.