Lance Armstrong drops fight against doping charges; title losses & lifetime ban pending

[Dpantherman]

Yes, they want Lance for no reason. He's the victim and he's done nothing wrong. Got it.

[mmmbeans]

Had he gotten caught this would be moot. But he's NEVER been caught. He's passed every test. And the USADA guy just keeps coming. When is enough, enough?

it really isn't that clear cut.

[Dpantherman]

what? Founded on a lie? That implies that bicycling takes moral precedent to cancer research. It also implies that he's somehow betraying the people that donated money to fight cancer by cheating in cycling.

Frankly, Americans never gave a shiat about the Tour until Armstrong started winning and nobody watches now that he's gone... Even amongst people that LOVE cycling, in every objective sense bicycle racing doesn't matter, cancer research does.

There is NO foundation if he doesn't win get sponsors. There is NOTHING. What don't you understand about that? A lie is a lie no matter how you spin it. IF he cheated.

[mmmbeans]

Yes, they want Lance for no reason. He's the victim and he's done nothing wrong. Got it.

NM

[mmmbeans]

There is NO foundation if he doesn't win get sponsors. There is NOTHING. What don't you understand about that? A lie is a lie no matter how you spin it. IF he cheated.

there have been many people throughout history who have done good things with ill-gotten gains.

life isn't always black and white. I don't love it but I don't think he's some kind of awful person.

I do believe he cheated.

[Dpantherman]

Some of you are acting like I'm saying that foundation is a sham. That is NOT what I am saying. That foundation was founded on him as a cyclist who beat cancer, and won despite his obstacles. IF ( IF IF IF) he cheated, he had help. There is your lie.

Its great that something good came out of it.

[mmmbeans]

you're talking about the myth. I don't give a shiat about the myth.

Ghandi beat his wife, Washington embezzled money and Armstrong doped in bicycle racing.

I guess I'm just surprised that other people are so surprised.

[Cyberjag]

Every TDF champion for the past several decades has been accused of cheating, and they've taken a LOT of measures to control it. Every year, Armstrong was accused, thoroughly tested, and found innocent.

Floyd Landis got busted for PEDs, and eventually he confessed and was stripped of his title. Then he comes out and said that everyone did it, and was roundly ignored. Then he said that Lance Armstrong doped, and suddenly people wanted to listen. More investigations followed, Armstrong was found innocent again, and then the USADA decided to get involved.

There's no better way to make a name for yourself than tearing down someone big, and there's no one bigger in cycling than Armstrong. Given all he's been through, and how often he's had to clear his name, and how successful he has been at clearing his name, at this point the burden of proof weighs heavily on the USADA, and they haven't delivered anything other than "he said" and "might be" evidence. And they have a blank check to prosecute as much as they want without repurcussion.

This isn't about finding out what happened. It's about finding Armstrong guilty no matter what, and then the USADA crowing about how influential they are. They're already saying, "Take his titles" to a foreign government. Do you really think this is about honesty or integrity? I sure don't.

[GAme]

Of course he cheated. 7 Tours in a row on one ball? I don't think they have hard evidence though. Just a lot of money

[Dpantherman]

I think I've said all I have to say about it.

[Iceberg Slim]

^^Well put

[Zod]

I can see why he is giving up defending his name against a group that will never stop trying to tear it down.

He knows he won. His friends and team know he won. No point in losing more sleep over it. Must be a huge daily headache for him.

[Mrs Pantherfan]

I'd still let him tap this...even with one ball...RAWR!

[Kramerica]

Whether or not he cheated, I hope he can find some peace now by letting all of this go. Hopefully now he can focus completely on his family and any future work with supporting cancer research without these people hounding him in the background.