IOC ready to take away Lance medal
LONDON, Nov 30, (AP): His seven Tour de France titles erased from cycling’s record books, Lance Armstrong still holds claim to one piece of sports silverware: an Olympic medal. But for how much longer?
Twelve years after Armstrong won bronze in the road time trial at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the IOC wants the medal back because of his involvement in a wide-reaching doping scandal. The fate of Armstrong’s medal will be addressed when the International Olympic Committee executive board meets next week in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The board could decide to strip the medal then and there, or wait another few weeks until cycling’s governing body has officially notified Armstrong of the loss of his Tour titles. Washington Redskins (5-6) and Dallas Cowboys (5-6) all sit in front of the Saints in the battle for two wildcard berths.
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was 18 for 33 for 165 yards and a touchdown.
“Playing New Orleans has been difficult for us the last couple of years, we’ve been in close games, and we just haven’t been able to pull them out. Tonight feels good,” Ryan said.
“It was a great game played by our defence. Our defence came out here and created five turnovers.
“We started off hot on offence and got some points early, kind of struggled the rest of the game but our defence kept us in it and it was a good team win.”
With the division title just a Tampa Bay loss or another win away, focus is already turning to whether the Falcons can reverse their run of poor playoff performances. In 2008, 2010 and 2011 the Falcons bombed out of the playoffs with big losses.
“It’s not something we can worry about right now,” Ryan said. “I think if you’re worried about January in September, October, November and December you’re wasting your time.”
Ryan did admit past disappointment was a big factor in the impressive 11-1 record.
“I think everybody is a little bit hungrier,” he explained.
“We have had some disappointments at the end of our seasons the last couple of years but I think those disappointments have stuck with everybody and motivated everybody and we have latched on to that momentum and built on it.”
The Oakland Raiders suspended linebacker Rolando McClain on Friday for two games for conduct detrimental to the team after sending him home from practice earlier in the week.
Coach Dennis Allen announced the suspension but has not said publicly what McClain did to warrant the punishment other than calling it a team- related issue.
McClain was present at the start of practice Wednesday before being asked to leave amid speculation he might be released. Allen asked McClain to stay home from the facility on Thursday, saying there needed to be ‘’consequences to his actions.’’