Chelsea seek to crank up title pressure after Moses deal takes summer spending past £80m

Chelsea may have taken their summer spending past the £80million mark but manager Roberto Di Matteo claimed his spectacular transfer spree has not put him under added pressure.

Chelsea sealed the £7m capture of Spanish right back Cesar Azpilicueta, 22, from Marseille on Friday and finalised the £9m transfer of Wigan forward Victor Moses after he passed a medical.

New recruit: Victor Moses with his Chelsea shirt after completing his move

 

The European champions admitted in a statement that the  21-year-old’s display against them last week had impressed and he was unveiled before the Newcastle match on Saturday.

The Moses deal takes Chelsea’s spending just past 80m — owner Roman Abramovich’s biggest outlay in a single transfer window since he sanctioned a £112m spree in 2003, his first summer in charge.
Di Matteo said: ‘I already have enough pressure. I think the pressure is always there, new signings or not.’
Chelsea have spent more than any other Premier League club this summer but Di Matteo insisted champions Manchester City and runners-up Manchester United remain the favourites for the title.

Audition: Wigan forward Victor Moses (left) in action against Chelsea last Sunday

He said: ‘We need to make up 25 points and I don’t think any team have done that in the history of the Premier League. They are still the two teams you need to beat.’

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s hopes of off-loading Florent Malouda are being scuppered by the midfielder’s wage demands. He is in the last year of his £70,000-a-week contract and has been told he can leave Stamford Bridge by Di Matteo but he does not want to take a pay cut.
The 32-year-old has attracted interest from Brazil but no clubs are willing to meet his current wages, leaving the Frenchman in limbo ahead of the close of the transfer window next Friday.

Transfer saga: Moses' protracted move has rumbled on for most of the summer

Malouda knows he could possibly earn a lucrative free transfer when his contract expires next season.
However, Malouda, who has not featured in Chelsea’s opening two fixtures, is facing up to an entire season on the sidelines if he digs his heels in to stay.
Di Matteo also insisted defender David Luiz, 25, was not for sale at any price and claimed Chelsea are big enough and successful enough to keep him after Barcelona were rumoured to be interested.

Raging Mancini may quit champions City over lack of summer signings

Roberto Mancini could quit as Manchester City boss inside a year if he doesn’t receive the backing he requires.

Sportsmail understands he is unlikely to see out his recently-signed contract if he continues to be left high and dry over new signings.
A source close to Mancini said: ‘He has three targets before the window closes — Daniele De Rossi, Maicon and Stevan Jovetic.

Furious: Roberto Mancini (left) is not happy with City's transfer policy

Lone signing: Jack Rodwell (left) is the only player to have joined City

 

'We will see what happens in the next few days. He feels there is no one at the club doing the transfer dealing for him and he has been left with just 19 players for the new season. He is angry, as you can imagine.

‘He is ambitious, he has just won the Premier League and wants to win the Champions League. But he can’t do that without the right support.

Target: Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi is wanted by City

England bound? Inter Milan's Maicon (right) is also on City's wishlist

‘He isn’t about to walk out on City but if nothing else happens before the transfer window closes this could be his last season at City. I wouldn’t rule out a move elsewhere next season.’
There is still tension between Mancini and City chief executive Brian Marwood. 
The Italian will want to see some of his targets realised in the next five days if he is to be pacified.

Cole revels in Chelsea's new-look side after Blues maintain perfect start

Ashley Cole believes the new-look Chelsea are off to the perfect start after a 2-0 home win over Newcastle moved them back to the top of the Barclays Premier League.

Eden Hazard got his first Blues goal from the penalty spot after Fernando Torres tumbled in the area, and the revitalised Spain striker added the second in first-half stoppage time.
Chelsea have changed their style this summer, but Cole is delighted with how quickly they have gelled.

Star of the show: Eden Hazard was at his best for Chelsea against Newcastle

 

'We've lost Didier (Drogba), a big powerful presence up front and sometimes we just used to knock it up to him,' the England left-back told ESPN.

'But now we've signed some smaller players so we've got to get the ball down a play a little bit more now.
'The second goal today was a great goal for the whole team.'
It was Torres' third goal of the season, counting his strike in the Community Shield, and Cole reckons the frontman's new-found confidence is as much a result of Spain's triumph at Euro 2012 as his new role in a Drogba-less Chelsea team.

Main men: Hazard and Fernando Torres

'Of course it was really hard for him to (only) get that many games (last season),' he said. 'But when he did play he worked really hard for the team.
'Now he's the main man, like you say. But he's full of confidence after the European Championships and he scored a great goal today.'
Hazard turned in another fine performance to add to his growing reputation since his big-money move from Lille this summer.
'I think he deserves a lot of credit for the start to the season we've had,' Cole said.
'He's won two penalties, got two assists and now a goal - it's phenomenal.
'We're proud to have this guy in the team and hopefully he can keep doing it.'
Hazard added: 'I'm very happy to get my first goal at Stamford Bridge.'
Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo believes all of his players deserve credit for the club's unbeaten start to the new season despite Eden Hazard once again grabbing the headlines in a 2-0 win at home to Newcastle.
The Blues returned to the top of the Barclays Premier League thanks to a third win in a week.
Summer signing Hazard opened the scoring from the penalty spot and then provided an assist for Fernando Torres to seal the points in first-half stoppage time.
The Belgium international has been central to the wins over Newcastle, Reading and Wigan and Torres has started to look more like the £50million man brought in from Liverpool in January 2011, but Di Matteo feels the whole team deserve praise.

Hitting form: Torres scores Chelsea's second goal against Newcastle

'It's not just them two, they have a good link-up with (Juan) Mata and the other midfield players,' he said.
'Thanks to the team he (Hazard) has been able to slide in and play very comfortably with the others.
'I know you focus on the goalscorers but I think it was a good performance considering it was our third game in six days. The demand was high playing against tough opposition today.'
Torres, 28, was brought down for the penalty and scored a tremendous goal from the edge of the box and Di Matteo is pleased that he has started to add goals to his game once more.
'He was very important for us last season, maybe not scoring as much but providing and working hard for the team,' he said.
'He is a great team player as well but it is great to see him scoring and the second goal I think was terrific play from us.'

Liverpool boss Rodgers has mentor Mourinho to thank after completing Sahin deal

Liverpool have completed the season-long loan deal for Real Madrid midfielder Nuri Sahin, who revealed Bernabeu team-mate Xabi Alonso played a key role in his decision to head to Anfield.

The 23-year-old Turkey international becomes new Reds boss Brendan Rodgers' fourth new arrival following Joe Allen, Fabio Borini and Oussama Assaidi.
The Merseysiders saw off competition from Arsenal for Sahin, who helped Madrid win the Primera Division title last season, and the player said former Liverpool midfielder Alonso's passion for the club convinced him it was the right move.

Welcome aboard: Brendan Rodgers and new loan signing Nuri Sahin

Asked whether he spoke with Alonso before making his mind up, he told the club's website: 'Yes, of course. A lot of times. Xabi is a person who really cares about football. He's in love with football. I'm the same, and that's why we had a lot of conversations.
'When I arrived at Real Madrid, we spoke about German football and Italian football. He likes football! When he heard Liverpool were interested in me, he started telling me about Liverpool.
'He is still in love with Liverpool Football Club, I think. It's crazy how he was telling me about Liverpool. He was saying, 'Go there - you will love it. The fans will take care of you and love you' and things like that.
'He said Anfield is the best stadium in the world. Xabi won a lot of trophies here, and hopefully we can do that too.'
Madrid coach Jose Mourinho also advised Sahin the Barclays Premier League would be good for his development.
'We spoke and he told me that English football, especially the Premier League, is the best to enjoy as a footballer,' the former Borussia Dortmund man said.
'Every weekend you can enjoy football. He also told me about how he and Brendan Rodgers worked together at Chelsea and that he's a good coach and person. That's important for me. It's not only football, it was very important for me to have someone who I can speak with.'
Sahin becomes the first Turkish player to sign for the Reds, and he cannot wait to get to work for his new club under the guidance of former Swansea boss Rodgers.

Done deal! Liverpool boss Rodgers has Mourinho to thank after completing loan deal for star Sahin

'We've had a lot of conversations,' he said. 'We spoke and he told me about his ideas for how he wants to play football and where he sees me on the field in the team. I was impressed at how he loves football.'
He added: 'Of course it makes me proud to play for such a big club like Liverpool Football Club as the first Turkish player. Now it is up to me to make the people in Turkey proud.
'It feels great. I am happy to be here and I am looking forward to playing for Liverpool.'
Sahin joined Madrid last summer after catching the eye during a successful spell with Dortmund, with whom he won the Bundesliga title in 2010/11.
'I had a difficult season last year because of a lot of injuries,' said the player, who has also won 31 caps with Turkey, scoring his first national goal aged just 17 against Germany in 2005.
'I had three injuries last year. The team played very well, but I didn't play too many games, so that's why I spoke to Real Madrid and told them I wanted to go out for a year.
'I want to play football - and it was important for me to be at a club where the manager really wants me. I wanted to play for a club on the same level as Dortmund and Madrid - that's why I chose Liverpool.
'This year, it is very important for me to play. I have to play, improve my game and help the team. If I stay in good condition, I am sure I can help the team and Liverpool Football Club, and Brendan Rodgers and my new team-mates can help me.'

Old pals: Brendan Rodgers (left) and Jose Mourinho (right)

Rodgers has admitted turning to his mentor Mourinho to try to bring the feelgood factor back to Anfield.
‘Jose has been fantastic in talking about his qualities and strengths,’ said Rodgers. ‘It’s a great opportunity to bring in a top technician.
‘For me it’s important players can technically participate in the game. I’ve got some outstanding players here but this guy has got experience as well for a young player of 23.
‘He’s a master technician and that’s something important, that I’ve got players who can cope with the game.’
Sahin, who has 31 caps and was voted the Bundesliga Player of the Year with Dortmund two seasons ago, turned down the chance of Champions League football at Arsenal to be at Liverpool.
‘When we knew of his availability, our task was to wrestle away the momentum of him joining Arsenal,’ added Rodgers.
‘As you can imagine that’s very difficult because Arsenal are a wonderful club and play a style of football suited to his qualities. But we’ve been able to persuade him to come here. He’s a very clever guy, he’s done a lot of homework on myself as a manager and the club itself.

Check up: Sahin undergoes a medical at Melwood training ground

‘I promise players three things. The first is my communication. I won’t bluff players, I’ll be totally honest and open with them.
‘The second is that they’ll become better, that the quality of work will improve them as players. And thirdly I promise ambition. I want to be the very very best I possibly can. I grew from nothing into something through sheer ambition and work and determination.’
Sahin’s arrival will hasten the departure of Jay Spearing to Bolton on loan while Scotland international Charlie Adam is also available at £5million though the player has said he wants to stay and fight for his place at Anfield.
Luis Suarez and Steve Gerrard will return to face City after missing the midweek Europa League win against Hearts.
Ironically, City manager Roberto Mancini once tried to appoint Rodgers as his No2 when he was out the game having been sacked by Reading.
‘I got a call and there was a possibility about going to Manchester City and flew to Milan to meet Roberto,’ said Rodgers.
‘They were excited about what was happening there but then all of a sudden I got the opportunity to go to Swansea so to be the No1. Irrespective of money and whatever contract, being the manager at a great club like Swansea was always going to be too good to turn down.’

Spurs on alert as Man United prepare to offload Nani and Anderson

Manchester United are prepared to consider offers of £15million for Brazil midfielder Anderson and winger Nani as they seek to recoup some money after a summer of heavy spending.

Tottenham are among the clubs who could be interested in the 24-year-old Anderson should they fail to land top target Joao Moutinho from Porto.

Market value: United would consider offers for Anderson (left)

Sir Alex Ferguson has splashed out £45m on five players, including Robin van Persie, and club owners the Glazers are keen to trim the squad. With so many options in midfield, Anderson is considered disposable.

  Nani is also vulnerable, having failed to agree a new contract with two years left on his deal. The Portugal winger was left out of the win over Fulham. 

Anderson, an £18m signing from Porto in 2007, has netted only four Premier League goals. Benfica have expressed an interest but United would be prepared to sell him to a Premier League rival and Spurs are monitoring the situation, even though they also have other targets, with manager Andre Villas-Boas making a top-quality midfielder his priority.

Missing: Nani was left out of Fulham clash

Blackburn and Sheffield Wednesday have asked about a loan deal for QPR striker Jay Bothroyd, although his £40,000-a-week wages may be a problem.
Crystal Palace are also possibilities but they would prefer to take his team-mate, DJ Campbell.
Blackpool are bracing themselves to lose Scotland winger Matt Phillips, who is wanted by Everton.

Ready, set... DRINK! Olympic runner Nick Symmonds chugs brews as he chases the world record in the 'beer mile'

The 'beer mile,' which requires competitors chug brews as they race around a track  isn't quite an Olympic event. But, it has attracted some top-tier Olympic talent.
Nick Symmonds, who took fifth place in the 800 meter race in London, chased a world record in the bizarre sport on Tuesday and came up just short.
The 28-year-old Oregon native's efforts -- 5 minutes, 19 seconds -- were enough to set the American record and came in third in the world.

Run and chug: Nick Symmonds had to finish a can of beer between each lap of his one mile run

Powerful:Mr Symmonds is America's fastest middle-distance running and he placed fifth in the 800 meter run in London

The fastest beer mile on record was set in 2007 by Canadian marathoner Jim Finlayson, who completed the race in 5.09.
The rules make the 'beer mile' one part athletic feat, one part liver abuse. Runners must begin by chugging a beer at the start line and cannot run until it is finished.

The runner must then drink a beer after each of the first three quarter mine laps -- meaning 48 ounces of beer are consumed in a matter of just a few minutes.
Throwing up during the race results in a penalty lap.
Mr Symmonds' beer of choice was Coors. The running didn't seem to trouble the Olympian -- but the drinking did. He had to pause, out of breath, as he chugged his last beer.

Big gulp: Mr Symmonds pounded 48 ounces of beer in five minutes as he ran the beer mile

TMZ, which was there to film the event, reported that friends cheered him along as he woofed down the brew.
'C'mon, big deep breaths,' his coach encouraged.
Afterwards, Mr Symmonds summed up his athletic accomplishment as though he had just completed an Olympic race.
'I feel tired, I feel full of beer. I'm not inebriated by any means yet. But, 5.19... It's a good first mark, I've got some training to do,' he said. 
It's not entirely clear why TMZ, known for celebrity news, was on hand to record the event. However, it could have something to do with his date with Paris Hilton in June, just before the Olympic trials.

BREAKING NEWS: Lance Armstrong to be STRIPPED of seven Tour de France titles and banned for life as he stops fight against doping charges

• Armstrong was considered one of the greatest cyclists in history and was an American sports hero just a few years ago
• US Anti-Doping Agency acted with an hour of Armstrong announcing he would stop opposing the charges
• Armstrong maintains he is innocent and did not use blood doping
• Won seven Tour de France titles between 1999 and 2005

Lance Armstrong will be stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned for life from cycling -- the sport that rose to popularity in the United States after his extraordinary success between 1999 and 2005, it was revealed on Thursday.
The announcement from the US Anti-Doping Agency effectively destroys his legacy as one of the greatest cyclists in history and rubs a black smudge on a sports hero who was one of the most prominent athletes in America just a few years ago.
The USADA acted within an hour of Armstrong's announcement that he would stop fighting charges that he used blood doping to illegitimately enhance his performance.
Despite the action, Armstrong maintains his innocence and called the USADA's case a 'witch hunt.'
Scroll down for Armstrong's full statement

Done: Lance Armstrong's decision is likely to be viewed as an admission of guilt by the US Anti-Doping Agency and could result in a lifetime ban from cycling

Armstrong says USADA doesn't have the authority to vacate his Tour titles. However, USADA chief executive Travis Tygart told The Associated Press that USADA can do it.
Tygart called the Armstrong case a heartbreaking example of a win-at-all costs approach to sports.
Armstrong, who retired last year, declined to enter arbitration -- his last option -- because he said he was weary of fighting accusations that have dogged him for years. He has consistently pointed to the hundreds of drug tests that he has passed as proof he was clean.
'There comes a point in every man's life when he has to say, "Enough is enough." For me, that time is now,' Armstrong said in a statement sent to The Associated Press. He called the USADA investigation an 'unconstitutional witch hunt.'
'I have been dealing with claims that I cheated and had an unfair advantage in winning my seven Tours since 1999,' he said.
'The toll this has taken on my family and my work for our foundation and on me leads me to where I am today -- finished with this nonsense.'
USADA will almost certainly treat Armstrong's decision as an admission of guilt, and hang the label of drug cheat on an athlete who was a hero to thousands for overcoming life-threatening testicular cancer and for his foundation's support for cancer research.
The agency can impose a lifetime ban and recommend Armstrong be stripped of his titles. That would put the question in the hands of the International Cycling Union, which has disputed USADA's authority to pursue the investigation and Tour de France officials, who have had a prickly relationship with Armstrong over the years.

'Innocent': Armstrong still claims he did not use performance enhancing drugs and says the charges against him are 'unconstitutional'

Armstrong insisted his decision is not an admission of drug use, but a refusal to enter an arbitration process he believes is improper and unfair to athletes facing charges.
'USADA cannot assert control of a professional international sport and attempt to strip my seven Tour de France titles,' he said.
'I know who won those seven Tours, my teammates know who won those seven Tours, and everyone I competed against knows who won those seven Tours.'
USADA maintains that Armstrong has used banned substances as far back as 1996, including the blood-booster EPO and steroids as well as blood transfusions - all to boost his performance.
The 40-year-old Armstrong walked away from the sport in 2011 without being charged following a two-year federal criminal investigation into many of the same accusations he faces from USADA. The federal probe was closed in February, but USADA announced in June it had evidence Armstrong used banned substances and methods -- and encouraged their use by teammates. The agency also said it had blood tests from 2009 and 2010 that were 'fully consistent' with blood doping.
Included in USADA's evidence were emails written by Armstrong's former US Postal Service teammate Floyd Landis, who was stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title after a positive drug test. Landis' emails to a USA Cycling official detailed allegations of a complex doping program on the team.
USADA also said it had 10 former Armstrong teammates ready to testify against him. Other than suggesting they include Landis and Tyler Hamilton, both of whom have admitted to doping offenses, the agency has refused to say who they are or specifically what they would say.
'There is zero physical evidence to support (the) outlandish and heinous claims. The only physical evidence here is the hundreds of (doping) controls I have passed with flying colors,' Armstrong said.

Critic: Armstrong blasted the USADA as a 'bully' and claimed dozens of previous blood and urine samples prove he was not doping

Armstrong sued USADA in Austin, where he lives, in an attempt to block the case and was supported by the UCI, the sport's governing body. A judge threw out the case on Monday, siding with USADA despite questioning the agency's pursuit of Armstrong in his retirement.
'USADA's conduct raises serious questions about whether its real interest in charging Armstrong is to combat doping, or if it is acting according to less noble motives,' such as politics or publicity, US District Judge Sam Sparks wrote.
Now the ultra-competitive Armstrong has done something virtually unthinkable for him: He has quit before a fight is over.
'Today I turn the page. I will no longer address this issue, regardless of the circumstances. I will commit myself to the work I began before ever winning a single Tour de France title: serving people and families affected by cancer, especially those in underserved communities,' Armstrong said.
Armstrong could have pressed his innocence in USADA's arbitration process, but the cyclist has said he believes most people have already made up their minds about whether he's a fraud or a persecuted hero.
It's a stunning move for an athlete who built his reputation on not only beating cancer, but forcing himself through grueling offseason workouts no one else could match, then crushing his rivals in the Alps and the Pyrenees.
Although he had already been crowned a world champion and won individual stages at the Tour de France, Armstrong was still relatively unknown in the US until he won the epic race for the first time in 1999. It was the ultimate comeback tale: When diagnosed with cancer, doctors had given him less than a 50 percent chance of survival before surgery and brutal cycles of chemotherapy saved his life.

Extraordinary: Armstrong's seven straight Tour de France titles led to a surge in the interest in cycling in America and made him an sports icon

Armstrong's riveting victories, his work for cancer awareness and his gossip-page romances with rocker Sheryl Crow, fashion designer Tory Burch and actress Kate Hudson made him a figure who transcended sports.
His dominance of the Tour de France elevated the sport's popularity in America to unprecedented levels. His story and success helped sell millions of the "Livestrong" plastic yellow wrist bracelets, and enabled him to enlist lawmakers and global policymakers to promote cancer awareness and research. His Lance Armstrong Foundation has raised nearly $500 million since its founding in 1997.
Created in 2000, USADA is recognized by Congress as the official anti-doping agency for Olympic sports in the United States. Its investigators joined US agents during the federal probe, and USADA chief executive Travis Tygart had dismissed Armstrong's lawsuit as an attempt at 'concealing the truth.' He said the agency is motivated by one goal - exposing cheaters in sport.
Others close to Armstrong were caught up in the charges: Johan Bruyneel, the coach of Armstrong's teams, and three members of the medical staff and a consultant were also charged. Bruyneel is taking his case to arbitration, while two medical team staffers and consulting doctor Michele Ferrari didn't formally contest the charges and were issued lifetime ban by USADA. Ferrari later said he was innocent.
In a sport rife with cheaters, Armstrong has been under constant suspicion since the 1990s from those who refused to believe he was a clean rider winning cycling's premier event against a field of doped-up competition.
He had tense public disputes with USADA, the World Anti-Doping Agency, some former teammates and assistants and even Greg LeMond, the first American to win the Tour de France.

Turning: Former teammate Tyler Hamilton accused Armstrong of blood doping and said he had encouraged other members of his cycling team to dope, as well

Through it all, Armstrong vigorously denied any and all hints, rumors and direct accusations he was cheating. He had the blazing personality, celebrity and personal wealth needed to fight back with legal and public relations battles to clear his name - and he did, time after time.
Armstrong won his first Tour at a time when doping scandals had rocked the race. He was leading the race when a trace amount of a banned anti-inflammatory corticosteroid was found in his urine; cycling officials said he was authorized to use a small amount of a cream to treat saddle sores.
After Armstrong's second victory in 2000, French judicial officials investigated his Postal Service team for drug use. That investigation ended with no charges, but the allegations kept coming.
Armstrong was criticized for his relationship with Ferrari, who was banned by Italian authorities over doping charges in 2002. Former personal and team assistants accused Armstrong of having steroids in an apartment in Spain and disposing of syringes that were used for injections.
In 2004, a Dallas-based promotions company initially refused to pay him a $5 million bonus for winning his sixth Tour de France because it wanted to investigate allegations raised by media in Europe. Testimony in that case included former teammate Frankie Andreu and his wife, Betsy, saying Armstrong told doctors during his 1996 cancer treatments that he had taken a cornucopia of steroids and performance-enhancing drugs.
Two books published in Europe, 'LA Confidential' and 'LA Official,' also raised doping allegations and, in 2005, French magazine L'Equipe reported that retested urine samples from the 1999 Tour showed EPO use.
Armstrong fought every accusation with denials and, in some cases, lawsuits against the European media outlets that reported them.
But he showed signs that he was tiring of the never-ending questions. Armstrong retired (for the first time) in 2005 and almost immediately considered a comeback before deciding to stay on the sidelines, in part, because he didn't want to keep answering doping questions.
'I'm sick of this,' Armstrong said in 2005. 'Sitting here today, dealing with all this stuff again, knowing if I were to go back, there's no way I could get a fair shake - on the roadside, in doping control, or the labs.'
But three years later, Armstrong was 36 and itching to ride again. He came back to finish third in the 2009 Tour de France.
Armstrong raced in the Tour again in 2010, under the cloud of the federal criminal investigation. Early last year, he quit the sport for good, but made a brief return as a triathlete until the USADA investigation shut him down.
During his sworn testimony in the dispute over the $5 million bonus, Armstrong said he wouldn't take performance enhancing drugs because he had too much to lose.
'(The) faith of all the cancer survivors around the world. Everything I do off the bike would go away, too,' Armstrong said then.
'And don't think for a second I don't understand that. It's not about money for me. Everything. It's also about the faith that people have put in me over the years. So all of that would be erased.'

LANCE ARMSTRONG MAINTAINS HE IS INNOCENT

Full statement by Lance Armstrong:

There comes a point in every man's life when he has to say, 'Enough is enough.' For me, that time is now.  I have been dealing with claims that I cheated and had an unfair advantage in winning my seven Tours since 1999.  Over the past three years, I have been subjected to a two-year federal criminal investigation followed by Travis Tygart's
unconstitutional witch hunt. The toll this has taken on my family, and my work for our foundation and on me leads me to where I am today -- finished with this nonsense.
I had hoped that a federal court would stop USADA's charade.  Although the court was sympathetic to my concerns and recognized the many improprieties and deficiencies in USADA's motives, its conduct, and its process, the court ultimately decided that it could not intervene. 
If I thought for one moment that by participating in USADA's process, I could confront these allegations in a fair setting and - once and for all - put these charges to rest, I would jump at the chance. But I refuse to participate in a process that is so one-sided and unfair. Regardless of what Travis Tygart says, there is zero physical evidence to
support his outlandish and heinous claims. The only physical evidence here is the hundreds of controls I have passed with flying colors. I made myself available around the clock and around the world.  In-competition.  Out of competition. Blood. Urine. Whatever they asked for I provided. What is the point of all this testing if, in the end, USADA will not stand by it?
From the beginning, however, this investigation has not been about learning the truth or cleaning up cycling, but about punishing me at all costs. I am a retired cyclist, yet USADA has lodged charges over 17 years old despite its own 8-year limitation. As respected organizations such as UCI and USA Cycling have made clear, USADA lacks jurisdiction even to bring these charges.The international bodies governing cycling have ordered USADA to stop, have given notice that no one should participate in USADA's improper proceedings, and have made it clear the pronouncements by USADA that it has banned people for life or stripped them of their accomplishments are made without authority. And as many others, including USADA's own arbitrators, have found, there is nothing even remotely fair about its process. USADA has broken the law, turned its back on its own rules, and stiff-armed those who have tried to persuade USADA to honor its obligations. At every turn, USADA has played the role of a bully,
threatening everyone in its way and challenging the good faith of anyone who questions its motives or its methods, all at US taxpayers' expense. For the last two months, USADA has endlessly repeated the mantra that there should be a single set of rules, applicable to all, but they have arrogantly refused to practice what they preach. On top
of all that, USADA has allegedly made deals with other riders that circumvent their own rules as long as they said I cheated. Many of those riders continue to race today.
The bottom line is I played by the rules that were put in place by the UCI, WADA and USADA when I raced. The idea that athletes can be convicted today without positive A and B samples, under the same rules and procedures that apply to athletes with positive tests, perverts the system and creates a process where any begrudged ex-teammate can open a USADA case out of spite or for personal gain or a cheating cyclist can cut a sweetheart deal for themselves. It's an unfair approach, applied selectively, in opposition to all the rules. It's just not right.
USADA cannot assert control of a professional international sport and attempt to strip my seven Tour de France titles. I know who won those seven Tours, my teammates know who won those seven Tours, and everyone I competed against knows who won those seven Tours. We all raced together. For three weeks over the same roads, the same mountains, and against all the weather and elements that we had to confront. There were no shortcuts, there was no special treatment. The same courses, the same rules. The toughest event in the world where the strongest man wins. Nobody can ever change that. Especially not Travis Tygart. 
Today I turn the page. I will no longer address this issue, regardless of the circumstances. I will commit myself to the work I began before ever winning a single Tour de France title: serving people and families affected by cancer, especially those in underserved communities. This October, my Foundation will celebrate 15 years of service to cancer survivors and the milestone of raising nearly $500 million. We have a lot of work to do and I'm looking forward to an end to this pointless distraction. I have a responsibility to all those who have stepped forward to devote their time and energy to the cancer cause. I will not stop fighting for that mission. Going forward, I am going to devote myself to raising my five beautiful (and energetic) kids, fighting cancer, and attempting to be the fittest 40-year old on the planet.