Local Cycling Experts React To Armstrong Doping Charges
By Steve Tawa
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong is once again fighting doping charges. He maintains he never did, and unlike many of his accusers, has passed more than 500-drug tests. Two pro-cycling figures with local connections hope the new allegations do not create a negative atmosphere for current riders.
Former professional racer and cycling analyst John Eustice, who was raised in Bucks County, says the sport is trying to move forward and away from past accusations of performance-enhancing drug use.
"We've got this wonderful generation of young clean riders."
The US Anti-Doping Agency contends more than ten cyclists as well as team employees could testify they saw Armstrong use drugs or talk about using them, dating to 1996.
"I think whatever Lance did or didn't do was common currency in that generation, that era's professional sports world."
David Chauner, the organizer of the annual pro-cycling race in Philadelphia, which Armstrong won in 1993, says young racers, including his son, want nothing to do with it.
"They're learning that you can do this clean, and the people transgressing and crossing the line, are not getting away with it."
