Pound backs Armstrong decision

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Dick Pound says even Lance Armstrong's staunchest US supporters couldn't brush aside the investigation and subsequent lifetime cycling ban handed down by an American-backed anti-doping agency.

"The good thing about this is it's a made-in-America conclusion," said Pound, the former head of the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Pound says in order for Armstrong to be branded a dope cheat in his homeland, the probe and penalties needed to be spearheaded by the United States Anti-Doping Agency.

"The biggest thing about all this is it's a US organization that did the investigation and laid the charges and it is coming up with the sentence," Pound, a Canadian told AFP from his home in Montreal. "If it happened in Switzerland or something like that the United States wouldn't have believed it at all.

"What doesn't happen in the US never happened."

Pound says Armstrong knew he was in a no-win situation and that is why he made the decision to drop his fight against the drug charges levied by the USADA.

"I guess the thought of all of this coming out was enough to have him say 'alright I will declare a victory and pull out.'"

Pound wonders why it took so long before Armstrong decided to give up fighting the doping charges. Armstrong, who retired from cycling last year, said he passed hundreds of drug tests during his career and adhered to the rules in place at the time of his seven

Tour de France wins.

Armstrong's deep pockets and access to a US court system that can get bogged down in counter-suits and never-ending appeals helped prolong the event.

USADA claims Armstrong used banned substances, including blood-booster EPO and steroids as well as blood transfusions dating back to 1996. It also says it has 10 former Armstrong teammates who were ready to testify against him.

Armstrong argued the USADA was usurping its jurisdiction and the case should have been turned over to the International Cycling Union.

Questions:

1. Who is the former head of the World Anti-Doping Agency?

2. What does USADA stand for?

3. Does Pound think the charges against Armstrong were fair?

Answers:

1. Dick Pound.

2. United States Anti-Doping Agency.

3. Yes.

About the broadcaster:

CJ Henderson is a foreign expert for China Daily's online culture department. CJ is a graduate of the University of Sydney where she completed a Bachelors degree in Media and Communications, Government and International Relations, and American Studies. CJ has four years of experience working across media platforms, including work for 21st Century Newspapers in Beijing, and a variety of media in Australia and the US.