Is Lance Armstrong guilty?

I wanted to live, but whether I would or not was mystery, and in the midst of confronting that fact, even at that moment, I was beginning to sense that to stare into the heart of such a fearful mystery wasn't a bad thing. To be afraid is a priceless education.

Lance Armstrong

Lance Armstrong has been a motivating personality in my life.  He has written several books including “It’s not about the bike: My journey back to lIfe” which I have read, my kids have read and it still sits in my bookshelf as a reminder of a story of one man’s battle against all odds.

At 24 years old, Lance Armstrong was already well on his way to becoming a cycling legend.  Then in 1995, he was diagnosed with stage four testicular cancer – doctors gave him a 40% chance of survival.  On that day, Armstrong’s life changed forever and he met the challenge head on – this was one fight he was determined not to lose.

As he battled against the cancer invading his body and the chemotherapy that drained all his energy, he focused on his training and drew strength from the people around him who never gave up.  Just 16 months after Armstrong was discharged from hospital, he entered the Tour de France and won.  A few months later, he became a father.   

He went on to win the Tour de France seven times.  Earlier this year, he was stripped of all his titles for apparent drug use during his races which forced him to make a decision to resign from racing forever. 

The allegations have now turned out for the worst reports “The Fix”, a recovery and addiction online magazine:

While Armstrong still denies ever doping, The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) claims that Armstrong was at the centre of the most sophisticated doping program in recent history. The file against him includes sworn testimony from 26 people—including 11 former US Postal Service teammates who have admitted to doping and say that Armstrong not only doped himself but encouraged others to do it, and administered doping products on the team. “The USPS Team doping conspiracy was professionally designed to groom and pressure athletes to use dangerous drugs, to evade detection, to ensure its secrecy and ultimately gain an unfair competitive advantage through superior doping practices,” the USADA reports, “a program organized by individuals who thought they were above the rules and who still play a major and active role in sport today.” The file contains more than 1,000 pages of evidence, which the agency calls “conclusive and undeniable proof that brings to the light of day for the first time this systemic, sustained and highly professionalized team-run doping conspiracy.”

Armstrong has refused to comment on the report, but one of his lawyers, Timothy J. Herman, has called the case a farce: “USADA, the prosecutor, now pretends to issue its own ‘reasoned decision,’ even though there was no judge, no jury and no hearing,” he wrote in a letter to the agency’s lawyer. Armstrong was stripped of his titles back in August when he gave up the fight against the doping allegations.

The questions that come to mind here is why they waited so long to bring up these allegations – why were his blood tests not confirmed years earlier?  Could it be jealousy or a conspiracy to stop him competing?  Why are the other 26 people making the allegations not banned from racing too?

What do you think?  Your input would be welcome in unfolding the fairness behind this matter.  Leaving a comment would be most appreciated.

This is my body, and I can do whatever I want to it. I can push it; Study it; Tweak it; Listen to it. Everybody wants to know what I am on. What am I on? I am on my bike busting my ass six hours a day. What are YOU on?

Lance Armstrong