Lance Armstrong Gives Up, Stripped of Titles

Lance Armstrong has never been known for throwing in the title. He battled his way to 7 Tour de France titles; but may be even better known for maintaining his battle with cancer, and again emerging victorious. Even after the disease had spread through his body and his doctors offered little hope, Lance fought on. So how is it now that doping allegations are enough to make this American hero give up? Allegations that, according to Lance, he’s been fighting for over a decade? Apparently, he’s simply had enough.

Armstrong made the announcement on his website www.lancearmstrong on Wednesday saying, “There comes a point in every man’s life when he has to say, ‘Enough is enough.’ For me that time is now. I have been dealing with claims that I cheated and had an unfair advantage in winning my seven Tours since 1999.

Over the past three years, I have been subjected to a two-year federal criminal investigation by Travis Tygart’s unconstitutional witch hunt. The toll this has taken on my family, and my work for our foundation and on me leads to where I am today — finished with this nonsense.”

Almost immediately after Armstrong made the announcement on his website, the USADA made an announcement of their own; that Armstrong had been stripped of his titles.

“This is a heartbreaking example of how the win-at-all-costs culture of sports, if left unchecked, will overtake fair, safe and honest competition,” said chief executive officer of USADA, Travis Tygart in an official statement. “But for clean athletes, it is a reassuring reminder that there is hope for future generations to compete on a level playing field without the use of performance-enhancing drugs.”

In addition to taking his titles away, Armstrong has also been banned from professional cycling for life.

But no matter how much he wants to wash his hands of the whole matter, Armstrong may not be ‘finished with this nonsense’ just yet. If the International Olympics Committee steps in, they could also strip him of the bronze medal he won during the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Armstrong continues to maintain that he has never used performance-enhancing drugs while the USADA have said that they have clear evidence indicating otherwise. This withdrawal of the fight from Armstrong certainly seems to prove that they may.

Do you think Armstrong should have had his titles taken away? Should his bronze medal be called into question as well?

Categorized in: Cycling