Lance Armstrong is the only professional cyclist in modern
history to become an American icon, to break out of the obscurity of cycling
and cross over into popular culture. If I were to mention the name Greg Lemond,
some would say they recognize the name, but few could tell you he was the first
American to win the Tour de France or that he too came back from a near death
experience to win France’s prestigious race. Mention Lance Armstrong however,
and suddenly the Tour de France becomes the realm of everyday Americans. It is
probably no coincidence that passions become so involved because Lance’s
victories coincided with a period of time that French fries became freedom
fries. An American secured victory in
Paris and with those victories, he not only secured his place in sports, he
secured his spot as an American hero, at least for the time. Combine the
patriots with the hearts of millions of cancer survivors as his story inspired
hope in them, if he could beat cancer and return strong enough to defeat the
toughest race in the world, perhaps they too could beat cancer! It is all these
new fans that Lance has hoodwinked with his tired mantra of “I am the most
tested athlete ever and I have never failed a drug test”; they form the body of
the cult of Armstrong.
This is the biggest fallacy of the cult and the favorite
thing Lance likes to say is “I have never failed a drug test”. Fact of the
matter is that Lance Armstrong has indeed failed at least one drug test and
only after the fact produced a doctor’s prescription. Additionally, there remain
the accusations of at least one failed test covered up by the UCI, as well as evidence
uncovered that linked EPO tainted blood to Lance Armstrong. Anyone who has followed the news and recent
history of drug cheats would know that the lack of a positive drug test only
means they weren’t smart enough to not get caught. Marion Jones, Barry Bonds, Jan
Ulrich, many athletes never failed a drug test and yet were found guilty of
doping. However, all this is easily
negated in the minds of the cult with two words, “French conspiracy”.
Despite the hundreds of passed tests that Armstrong claims
in his palmarès, the reported evidence that has been accumulated by the USADA
is astounding. At least ten eye witness
accounts to doping or admissions of doping by Lance Armstrong. Now if you’re a
member of the cult of Armstrong, you’ll first dismiss this by pointing out that
the two most notorious of these witnesses, Floyd Landis and Tyler Hamilton are
admitted dopers and lied about their doping for years. What they overlook is
this; Floyd and Tyler began lying (as did Lance Armstrong) the moment they
first began using performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) to race. However, until
the point they were under oath, there was no legal jeopardy to this deception. Sure
they could be busted for doping and both were, but cheating in sports is
nothing when compared to doing time in the slammer. Then there are those reported ready to
testify against Lance who haven’t been busted for doping. Riders like George
Hincapie, one of the most respected members of the peloton and Lance
Armstrong’s right hand man throughout his seven TDF wins. These witness
accounts are the crux of USADA’s case against Lance Armstrong.
One of the biggest complaints I hear is “this all happened
in the past, let’s move on” or “he wasn’t caught back then, how can they go
after him now”. But the fact of the
matter is that USADA was given a pile of evidence and really had no option but
to look into it. When presented with such damning evidence of one of the
greatest doping frauds in American sports history, for them to ignore this
would be a major failure in their duty.
I became a fan of cycling in 1988 and have followed the Tour
de France and professional cycling since. I was fifteen when Greg Lemond stormed
down the Champs
Elysees to win the Tour by eight seconds. When Lance broke into the cycling
world in the 90’s and began dominating; I quickly became a fan of his and was devastated
when he was diagnosed with cancer. He
was a hero to me and soon a hero to millions worldwide. This is probably why it bugs me so much to
hear people and their defense of Lance. I knew who he was and was a fan, long
before probably 99% of his current defenders are. I’ve followed his story since
the early 90’s, have coffee table books on Lance, every TDF on DVD or video
since 86’, and have TDF posters in my office and house. Yes, everyone is
entitled to their own opinion, but most people currently defending him are
misguided and are basing their defense of Lance on his talking points, they’ve
unfortunately drunk the cool aid…
If you disagree with me, but have made it this far, I challenge you to
read the information at the following link with an objective mind. It is the
most powerful and through article I’ve read on the subject.
