photo Tara Benwell Listen to News with Tara Benwell - Instructions:
1. Preview the vocabulary and read the gapfill text.
2. Play the news report and try to fill in the blanks.
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dateline: 28 August 2012

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Lance Armstrong Gives Up Doping Fight

Pre-Listening Vocabulary

  • doping: using drugs to enhance performance in sports
  • innocent: not guilty
  • evidence: proof
  • testify: to speak the truth before a court
  • potential: possible

Lance Armstrong Gives Up Doping Fight

After years of investigations related to doping, seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong has his fight with the USADA, an American anti-doping agency. The world-famous cyclist continues to that he’s innocent, but says that he no longer wants to fighting to prove it. The USADA says it has strong evidence that Armstrong used performance-enhancing drugs including steroids during his . The agency also says it has at least ten of Armstrong’s teammates who are willing to testify against him. Having given up the fight, Armstrong is now facing the potential loss of all of his titles, as well as a lifelong cycling competition ban. Armstrong believes the agency has no power to strip him of his titles. He says he is going to concentrate on being with his kids, staying healthy, and helping people with .

Comprehension Questions

  1. What is the USADA?
  2. What major decision did Lance Armstrong recently make?
  3. What does the report say about some of Armstrong’s teammates?

Discussion Question: Do you think an athlete who is innocent would give up a fight like this, or do you think this decision suggests that Armstrong is guilty?

Lance Armstrong Gives Up Doping Fight
After years of investigations related to doping, seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong has given up his fight with the USADA, an American anti-doping agency. The world-famous cyclist continues to insist that he’s innocent, but says that he no longer wants to waste energy fighting to prove it. The USADA says it has strong evidence that Armstrong used performance-enhancing drugs including steroids during his career. The agency also says it has at least ten of Armstrong’s teammates who are willing to testify against him. Having given up the fight, Armstrong is now facing the potential loss of all of his titles, as well as a lifelong cycling competition ban. Armstrong believes the agency has no power to strip him of his titles. He says he is going to concentrate on being with his kids, staying healthy, and helping people with cancer.

  1. The USADA is an American anti-doping agency.
  2. Lance Armstrong recently decided to stop fighting allegations against him for doping.
  3. The report says that the USADA knows some of Armstrong’s teammates who are willing to testify against him.
Written and recorded by Tara Benwell for EnglishClub
Tara Benwell is a Canadian freelance writer and editor who specializes in materials and articles for the ELT industry.
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