Lance Armstrong challenged by Greg LeMond over drug testing

September 26, 12:04 PMSports ExaminerPaula Duffy

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A few days ago I wrote about Lance Armstrong's announcement of the team he's chosen to ride with and how he will be drug tested when he returns to competitive cycling.

I received a comment from a reader who took exception to my refusal to be wowed about Team Anstana's hiring of a noted expert in the field of performance drug testing.

Yesterday in Las Vegas, Armstrong faced the press at a cycling trade show and his nemesis, three-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond, was in the front row. Armstrong called on him for the first question.

LeMond asked if Armstrong will reveal certain blood and urine values that are indicators of illicit drug use. Don Catlin, the scientist chosen to work with Armstrong, told LeMond that his area of expertise doesn't include the analysis he suggested. LeMond went on to cite an Australian scientist who has worked in that area.

Armstrong's response sounded somewhat familiar to me and now I remember why. Lance looked at LeMond and after acknowledging he had achieved his purpose of introducing the topic then remarked, "It's time for everyone to move on." Remember the mantra repeated ad nauseum by Mark McGwire in front of Congress during the first hearings on the use of steroids in baseball? "I'm not hear to talk about the past," said the slugger. It will forever haunt him as he stays in retirement and wonders if his inability to discuss his use of performance enhancers will keep him out of the Hall of Fame.

In the area of steroids and blood boosters we are all too familiar with the tactics of denial and obfuscation. Armstrong may look at this opportunity to get it right and change the aura around him from one of suspicion to openness. It's left to people like LeMond and those of us who report the stories to remind everyone of the open questions that don't look like they'll be answered anytime soon.