Lance Armstrong's legacy raises the disturbing question of the ethics of winning at any cost and society’s response to it
Lance Armstrong was scorned this week as a dope cheat whoseseven Tour de France cycling triumphs are forever tainted. Next weekend, hewill be hailed in his Texas hometown as an inspiration to people fightingcancer, his victories a symbol of how cancer can be overcome.
And there's plenty of evidence to support both portraits ofthe 41-year-old American, the yin and yang of a man who has proclaimed hisinnocence even as former teammates have tarnished their own reputations totestify against him. The US Anti-Doping Agency unveiled its report to theInternational Cycling Union on why it banned Armstrong for life in August andstripped him of his Tour de France titles, which the UCI could yet challenge.
The move came after Armstrong decided not to fight USADAcharges in an arbitration hearing, having lost a US federal court fightobjecting to the system in which athletes can appeal the accusations. There iseven talk the evidence might spark legal court cases, although the US JusticeDepartment conducted its own 18-month investigation earlier this year anddecided not to file any charges against Armstrong.
"The federal government spent a considerable amount ofhours and manpower on its case, and if one tenth of what USADA is saying wastrue, the federal government would've brought charges against Lance a long timeago" said Mark Fabiani, Armstrong spokesman.
Armstrong hasmaintained his innocence yet is unwilling to challenge the evidence against himin a hearing and face his accusers.For all the sporting accusations, Armstrongwill celebrate next weekend the 15th anniversary of his charity foundation,which has evolved into the cancer-fighting Livestrong Foundation.
Donations to Livestrong have totaled almost $500 millionsince 1997 and the money has funded life-changing programs.
