The True Story of Lance Armstrong

At one point in his life, Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with brain, lung, and testicular cancer all at the same time. That is probably the worst news somebody could ever her from their doctor. What was even more remarkable was Armstrong's ability to go back out on his bike, and not only compete at the highest level, but win not one...not two.... but SEVEN Tour de France's in a row, Cycling's equivalent to the Super Bowl. No man has ever come close to matching that mark. However, what would you do if I told you all of this was a lie? That no, Lance Armstrong did not just use a grueling workout regiment to get to the pinnacle of Cycling? Throughout his career, Lance Armstrong has never reportedly failed a drug test,, but that is all about to change. In August earlier this year, the United States Anti-Doping Administration (USADA) filed charges against Armstrong to strip him of not only his eligibility to compete, but strip away his seven Tour de France's. After vehemently defending himself throughout his career, Armstrong decided not to challenge the insurmountable claims, proclaiming that he was tired of the "witch hunt" the USADA was conducting. IN other words, Armstrong finally realized he should just give up. Mountains upon mountains of evidence continues to pile upon itself against Armstrong, from former teammates like Floyd Landis, who also lost his Tour de France victory for testing positive for steroids, to doctors to personal assistants have all given testimony that Armstrong not only used Performing Enhancing Drugs (PED's) like Erythropoietin (EPO), but was the ring leader when in came to PED's in Cycling, not only forcing members of his United Postal Cycling Team to take PED's, but also punishing members of the entire sport for not doing the same. In fact, when it comes to his cancer diagnosis, Dr. Michele Ferrari, Armstrong's personal doctor, believed that his cancer could have been based on the fact of the massive amount of doping Armstrong partook in. In the end, it is a sad and depressing story. Just the ability for Armstrong to come back and ride in the Tour de France was remarkable, however Armstrong felt like he needed the grand finale, to seem like he was bigger than the rest of the world. Armstrong received what he wanted,, time and time again the general public refused to believe that this great story could be tainted by something so heinous. Armstrong became so enveloped in his lie that he began to believe it himself, Armstrong became the person he had crafted in his head. As a child who looked up to the accomplishments of Lance Armstrong, I can now say that any respect and admiration for him has flown out the door, nothing can make me believe a word of what that compulsive liar declares. Lance Armstrong has become another athlete taken down by the evils of his own hubris. Roger Clemons, Barry Bonds, and Tiger Woods are just a few of the infamous names that Lance Armstrong is now associated with. It is sad because these athletes were great, they just believed the superhero fantasies that the American society built them up to be. However, America is a society that forgives and forgets, I am just not sure that America will forget about this one.