Lemont Cyclist Christian Vande Velde Admits to Doping, Faces 6-Month Ban
Vande Velde was among 11 formers teammates of Lance Armstrong who admitted to using banned substances during an investigation by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.
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Lemont cyclist Christian Vande Velde is one of 11 former teammates of Lance Armstrong who admitted to doping during testimony under oath, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency announced Wednesday.
Vande Velde, 36, testified Sept. 25 that he regularly used testosterone and the blood booster erythropoietin (EPO)—both banned substances—from 1999 through 2005, when he was a member of the U.S. Postal team. He also admitted to receiving injections of human growth hormone (hGH) and a banned corticosteroid, according to the Chicago Tribune.
He received a six-month ban—retroactive to Sept. 1—because he cooperated with investigators, according to the Tribune. The minimum ban for doping is typically two years.
Vande Velde was forced to disqualify all results from June 2004 through April 2006, according to the report. He also agreed not to accept a spot on the 2012 Olympic team.
The names of the 11 riders who admitted to doping were revealed by the USADA on Wednesday, along with details about its decision to strip Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles and ban him for life from all events governed by the World Anti-Doping Code.
Vande Velde, who was part of Armstrong's winning U.S. Postal Service team in 1999, released a statement on his website following the announcement:
"I love cycling, it is and always has been a huge part of who I am. As the son of a track cycling Olympian I was practically born on the bike and my dream, ever since I can remember, was always to be a professional cyclist. I have failed and I have succeeded in one of the most humbling sports in the world. And today is the most humbling moment of my life.
As a young pro rider I competed drug free, not winning but holding my own and achieving decent results. Then, one day, I was presented with a choice that to me, at the time, seemed like the only way to continue to follow my dream at the highest level of the sport. I gave in and crossed the line, a decision that I deeply regret. I was wrong to think I didn’t have a choice—the fact is that I did, and I chose wrong. I won races before doping and after doping. Ironically, I never won while doping, I was more or less just treading water. This does not make it OK. I saw the line and I crossed it, myself. I am deeply sorry for the decisions I made in the past—to my family, my fans, my peers, to the sport that I love and those in and out of —I’m sorry. I always will be."
Vande Velde left the U.S. Postal team in 2003, and went on to complete the Tour de France seven more times. He finished fourth in 2008 and eighth in 2009, and earned the team classification title in 2011 with Team Garmin-Cervelo.
"Today, I am proud of the steps that I and cycling have have made to improve the future of the sport that I love so much," Vande Velde said in the release. "I am proud to be a part of an organization that implemented a no-needle policy ... I continue to be proud of the strides the sport has taken to clean itself up, and the actions our organization has taken to help shape the sport that I love."
The USADA said in its statement that it took "tremendous courage" for the U.S. Postal riders and others to cooperate with the investigation.
"It is not easy to admit your mistakes and accept your punishment. But that is what these riders have done for the good of the sport, and for the young riders who hope to one day reach their dreams without using dangerous drugs or methods," USADA CEO Travis T. Tygart said in the release.
Vande Velde closed his statement by asking his family, friends and fans for forgiveness.
"I’m very sorry for the mistakes I made in my past and I know that forgiveness is a lot to ask for," Vande Velde said. I know that I have to earn it and I will try, every day, to deserve it—as I have, every day, since making the choice to compete clean. I will never give up on this sport, and I will never stop fighting for its future."
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Hank Olenick
8:33 am on Thursday, October 11, 2012
Breaking News!!!
Amanda Luevano
10:20 am on Thursday, October 11, 2012
Hank, I don't believe this was sent out as breaking news, but this is certainly major news not only in Lemont, but nationwide.
RLuds
12:38 pm on Thursday, October 11, 2012
Lemont High School has his picture up on the Wall Of Fame. Are they going to take it
down now they know the truth of him cheating?
Ray
12:46 pm on Thursday, October 11, 2012
They shouldn't. He's probably had more success clean than when he was coerced into "going along with the team program" with his old team, and he has reached some great achievements.
Dion DeLude
1:24 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
No need to apologize Christian! I feel most if put into a similar situation would have made same choice. Under the scientific developments, medical control for safety and given the opportunity to be a part of a program that has done more good than what the individuals have done to themselves is being "over shadowed" just to help disgrace the celebrity of Lance Armstrong. Now that the "witch hunt" has succeeded in getting former teammates to admit to the enhancement use.....Now what? What has been gained? Anyone who follows cycling realizes there is medical/scientific enhancement taking place, and as Christian states, he won while non-use, and didn't while he did use....so this doesn't automatically make you "super human" and guaranteed to win. Similarly to watching Professional body building, WWF, football and did we really think that Sosa and " what's his name" really get that " Big" by taking OTC protein powders and amino acids from their local GNCS? Lance and the USPS Team put cycling on the American Map and created a lot of good that rarely is mentioned when the headlines are too interested in creating only "Negative Press". I've heard countless times since this "witch hunt" had started, from people who no longer want to support the Livestrong Foundation, a Foundation that has done nothing but amazing things for the fight against Cancer and help provide more HOPE to those who have little but HOPE left in their battle. Upsetting that only the "Bad" makes 4 news.
Ben Telemon
3:15 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
There are many organizations that will put your cancer donations to better use than Livestrong. Livestrong funds no cancer research; most of its money goes to "awareness" campaigns. As critics rightfully point out, Livestrong is mainly about promoting Lance.