The guy’s a champ. The tests were negative. The testimonies are strong. So which way to vote?
It’s easy to go with US Anti Doping Agency (USADA). They’ve produced a 1000 page report on Lance and his doping ways. Wow, someone must have it really in for him. Why him? Why take away the fame and attention from cyclists and athletes who are not doping?
It’s very easy to point a finger and judge. I’ve noticed that a lot lately. The older I get the more I see people judging left, right and centre before looking at themselves. Life is not just black and white. Neither is sport. Certain decision are made and until we are in a similar position we should not feel as if we have the right to judge. We don’t.
I like Lance Armstrong. He’s one tough bastard. He sacrificed a lot to be the champ he is today. He fought for his life. He battled against the devil known as cancer. He beat it when doctors told him he wouldn’t live past his twenties. Then he kicked butt in the Tour. Did he use performance enhancing drugs? I don’t know. If he did then shame on him. However, it was ten years ago, and with the USADA trying to prove something that may or may not have happened a decade ago seems like a waste of money, resources and time that could be used for much more beneficial means.
Armstrong’s name has been tarnished. Cycling as a sport has too. The attention has been taken away from present day champs like Cadel Evans, last year’s Australian Tour de France winner and many others. Are all winner’s of the tour going to be suspected of doping now? Will they all be looked at with suspicion each time they race?
I’m not sure, but USADA is not doing the sport many favours. Don’t get me wrong, doping is wrong. It’s illegal in the sporting community and should be avoided. But so should drink driving, taking recreational drugs and pointing fingers. Many are guilty of these. As some will continue to risk doping. That’s not to say that I condone such behaviour. I don’t. But there are much bigger issues at hand with Lance.
What’s more important is what Lance Armstrong has done for the community and for cancer patients. He’s brought awareness to the disease. He’s given people hope and showed that it’s possible to defy odds. Take cycling out of the equation and you can see that he has done a lot of good. Some have claimed that the money has not gone for cancer research. Well cancer support is not just about funding drug research. It’s also about helping families by other means, encouraging better lifestyles and providing a support system. Today it’s no longer about him as a cyclist, but something much larger for the worldwide community.
I’m not saying that one or even a few good deeds can erase all the bad ones. They can’t, but they gives you something to think about. Everyone makes mistakes, some are big, others are small. The important thing is to learn from these mistakes and move on. No one should be judged on one thing they did wrong when it’s clear they’ve made amends.
It’s unfortunate there will always be people who will try to use those mistakes against you, try to make you feel like shit so they can feel better about themselves. It happens every day.
Whether Lance Armstrong took performance enhancing drugs in his 7 tour reign is a question that only he can answer. Looking at the various comments in the online news it seems to be a 50/50 split between his supporters and those who side with USADA.
His tests during the tours came back negative. It should have stopped at that. I don’t think USADA’s report and investigation will have a positive outcome, rather it will have numerous detrimental effects including destroying a man who has done a lot of good, tarnishing cycling as a sport and arousing suspicion against athletes who are clean and always have been.
This was a witch hunt against Lance regardless of his guilt or innocence. Even more so, if the other parties who claim they were all involved in the suspected cover up get a slap on the wrist or a reduced ban because they testified against him. But hey that’s just my opinion.
What are your thoughts?
