Lance Armstrong’s Boston Marathon result likely to be erased
Tom Grilk, the executive director of the Boston Athletic Association, said Wednesday it’s likely that cyclist Lance Armstrong’s 2008 finish in the Boston Marathon will join his seven Tour De France titles on a growing list of vacated results.
“The probability is that [Armstrong’s] result will be vacated,’’ Grilk said. “We just haven’t heard final word yet from the higher powers as to what specific time periods they have results for. But if 2008 is in their time frame, then there’s no question his result will be expunged.’’
Armstrong finished the Boston Marathon in a time of 2:50.58.
New York Marathon organizers also said it is likely Armstrong’s results will be erased from their record books. Armstrong finished in 868th-place finish at the 2006 New York City Marathon.
Grilk explained that the Boston Marathon, like many other major marathons — including the New York Marathon — abide by the decisions of the United States Anti-Doping Agency. The USADA and the International Cycling Union have stripped Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles and banned him for life from the sport of cycling for using performance-enhancing drugs.
“We follow what the USADA does,’’ Grilk said. “Whatever they decide we will recognize.
New York Road Runners, which runs the New York Marathon, said in a statement Wednesday it expected to wipe out his times once any potential appeals play out, since the race also follows USADA rulings.
Paced by running greats Alberto Salazar, Joan Benoit Samuelson, and Hicham El Guerrouj, Armstrong finished in 2 hours, 59 minutes, 36 seconds in his first marathon. After training more the following year, he completed the 26.2 miles in 2:46:43 to place 232nd in 2007.
NYRR said cancer foundation Livestrong will still be a part of the marathon ‘‘and we will always remember the support and encouragement Lance gave to (nine-time NYC Marathon champ) Grete Waitz through her courageous five-year fight against this hideous illness.’’
An Associated Press report was included in this story.
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