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Lance Armstrong is one of the most recognized athletes in the world. Refusing to become a statistic, he fought to beat the slim odds of testicular cancer and then used the same determination to cross the finish line and win the Tour de France seven times in a row.
But in today’s world, it’s believed by some that if you’re a great athlete in any sport then you must be doping. It’s as if we no longer believe that there are those athletes who are born great athletes and whose drive and dedication to maximize their God-given talent simply can not exist. Yes, I’m talking to you Travis Tygart.
Travis Tygart, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s chief executive, announced that Armstrong would be punched with a lifetime ban from cycling. The USADA also said that they will strip Lance Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles, surrender his bronze medal from the 2000 Olympics, and any awards, event titles and cash earning after Armstrong dropped his legal fight against doping charges and accusations.
“It is a sad day for all of us who love sports and athletes,” Tygart said. “It’s a heartbreaking example of win at all costs overtaking the fair and safe option. There’s no success in cheating to win.”
I’m sorry, what did Tygart just say? He’s been on a witch hunt to take down Armstrong for years. He is not sad; he’s taking steroid shots to his ego. Tygart tests positive for being a jealous bully, driven by dollar signs and the realization that he wasn’t blessed with the physical attributes to make him a world famous athlete.
This crusade to take down the unparalleled seven time Tour de France title holder at all cost and for allegedly making deals with other riders that skirt around their own rules just as long as those riders say Armstrong cheated is simply sick. These are positive signs of mental illness for Tygart and entire USADA.
IF YOU HAVE NO PROVEN EVIDENCE YOU ARE NOT GUILTY!
“USADA has broken the law, turned its back on its own rules, and stiff-armed those who have tried to persuade USADA to honor its obligations. At every turn, USADA has played the role of a bully, threatening everyone in its way and challenging the good faith of anyone who questions its motives or its methods, all at U.S. taxpayers’ expense.”
“The idea that athletes can be convicted today without positive A and B samples, under the same rules and procedures that apply to athletes with positive tests, perverts the system and creates a process where any begrudged ex-teammate can open a USADA case out of spite or for personal gain or a cheating cyclist can cut a sweetheart deal for themselves. It’s an unfair approach, applied selectively, in opposition to all the rules. It’s just not right.”
1999-2005 is now marked with an asterisk according to the USADA, but we all know that Lance Armstrong is still the greatest cyclist of all time.
On Thursday, Armstrong made a public statement that enough was enough and he would end his battle with Tygart and the USADA. But his real fight is now focusing on his cancer foundation which has raised nearly $500 million for the fight against cancer. The symbolic yellow LIVESTRONG wristband has been a world symbol of hope and inspiration to those affected by cancer.
Individuals like Tygart take joy out of stripping away titles. And then there are individuals like Lance Armstrong who commit their life to beating the odds and believing that we can all LIVESTRONG.