Wow, what a crazy, sad ending to this whole Lance Armstrong saga. After winning all of our hearts (who didn't own one of those yellow LIVESTRONG bracelets?) by defying all the odds, beating cancer, and going on to win seven Tour de France titles, he's now being stripped of those titles and banned from the sport for the rest of his life by the USADA. He's also disqualified from all competitive results obtained on and since August 1, 1998. He'll have to give up his medals, titles, winnings, finishes, points, and prizes.
Now that the USADA has stripped Armstrong of everything he's worked for, due to charges of consuming performance enhancing dugs, I'm experiencing a multitude of feelings, especially as a fan who once really believed in him. He was an easy guy to cheer for, and looking back, it's difficult to believe that in one day, the USADA has essentially taken away and eliminated his entire, storied career.
From making headlines for being an up-and-coming amateur cyclist to his battle and ultimately defeat of cancer to winning (and now losing) a historic seven Tour de France titles, I'm still trying to come to terms with the fact that Lance's journey has ended this way. After more than a decade of court battles and accusations from teammates and other competitors, Lance has thrown in the towel, and who knows what's next for him and when he'll make headlines again.
As of now, let's take a quick look back at everything Lance has accomplished and what he's ultimately lost.
Are you a Lance Armstrong fan? What do you think about him not fighting the USADA?
Image via Bensmcc/Flickr
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Comments 15
It seems very clear to me that there is NO actual evidence of any cheating on Armstrong's part. The USADA has no authority to strip him of any winnings, only those in charge of the race can do that.
This really, really angers me. It must have been costing him a fortune to fight the USADA, and he just can't keep it up. I want to know how the USADA believes it has the authority to strip him of his titles, because they were NOT the awarding body. Lance was right, it's an unfounded witchunt. If he never failed a drug test, what grounds do they have???
I still stand behind Lance 100%. Is it really so hard tobelieve that every once in a while there just happens to be an AMAZINGLY talented, and naturally gifted athlete? One that is THAT good WITH out DRUGS? It happens. They never did prove that he did anything wrong, and if they haven't after all this time, they never will. And honestly, I don't think he did it. Hats off to Lance for all he has done in his career.
Last I checked, "Innocent until PROVEN GUILTY, beyond a reasonable doubt" still exists in this country. But perhaps that only applies in a little tiny corner of the USA, and certainly not when the Federal Government is involved.
Armstrong has repeatedly proclaimed his innocence, and passed every single drug test ever put to him, this "governing body" continues to pursue him over the course of 13 years, using what appears (to them, not to me) to be an unlimited well of taxpayer money. Armstrong, on the other hand, has had to spend probably millions of his own money to defend himself, when the burden of proof SHOULD be on the USADA to show his guilt. But no, it has always been, "Prove that you are innocent... oh, no, those 500 tests you've passed aren't enough!"
I wonder how the USADA has the authority to strip him of his TDF awards when that is a French competition. I notice that they backed off, very quickly, from the announcement that they would strip him of Olympic Gold, when the IOC said "show us the proof".
And they may be able to ban him from biking, but I think he's over that now. Hasn't he started triathloning? Way to go, Armstrong.
He was tested before EVERY race. How the hell can they do this NOW?! Disgraceful! I feel SO bad for him. I think he gave up because it was too expensive to fight anymore. My heart goes out to him.
The USADA should be disqualified from overseeing anymore athletic competitions.