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.
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