it.

Transfusing blood from a foreign source is dangerous business. We know this because our dog Tugboat faced the need for a transfusion in June. He had been bleeding internally and had lost over half his blood supply. When the veterinarian recommended a transfusion we agonized over the option for the better part of week. We feared contamination and disease. Only when the situation became "life or death" did we opt to move forward.

When a second transfusion was needed, we reluctantly moved forward again. This time, the effects were devastating. Tugboat was left paralyzed on the left side of his face in reaction to the blood. He never recovered. His final days were more uncomfortable as a result.

With the dangers of transfusing blood so fresh in our minds, it is ridiculous to think
Tyler would consider taking another person's blood.

When
Tyler won his gold medal in
Athens he achieved a life long dream. That medal is his payback for years of hard work and dedication.

Tyler was asked to participate in the Vuelta because one of his teammates had an injury that prevented him from going. Tyler and his team stated many times, prior to the race, that there was no pressure on him to lead the team.

His win in the individual time trial there was justification that the time trial training he had done for
Athens was right on. That he would go on to lose ten minutes the next day, and an additional 40+ minutes in the days ahead prove once again how human
Tyler is.

He could have dropped out of the race after falling out of contention for the general classification, but he wanted to be there for his teammates; to go on riding in support of them, like they have done so often for him. After all, this was why he was there in the first place. This is the essence of bike racing and good sportsmanship. And
Tyler has proven many times over that he can weather the ups and downs of competition. He can succeed and fail without making excuses. At the end of the day he knows how lucky he is just to have the opportunity to do what he does for a living. He accepts the highs and lows as if they are both gifts that teach him to take nothing for granted.

Tyler is devastated to be accused of being dishonest. After all the years of hard work he has devoted to his racing career, he feels as though he is being stabbed in the back. He is angry. If we have to drain our bank accounts to get to the bottom of this we will. And when
Tyler can speak freely about all of this, he will.

There are a number of questions that have to be answered regarding the situation
Tyler now faces in light of the charges against him. We will do everything in our power to address them. Tyler's family, friends, supporters, team and sponsors deserve answers as much as he does. We'll get