Jill Reynolds
Sports Editor
Athletic hero and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong has come clean.
After denying accusations of using banned performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) for over a decade, Armstrong recently admitted to doping throughout his career.
“Thirteen years he lived a lie,” said Athletic Director Joanne Renn. “For thirteen years, I was in awe of him.”
Armstrong inspired many with his fight through cancer and seven consecutive wins in the annual Tour de France. His fame helped launch the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which is best known for its “Livestrong” campaign to raise funds for cancer research.
“I was a big Lance Armstrong fan,” said Men’s Basketball Head Coach Dave Macedo. “I thought he was doing it the right way.”
Cycling is notorious for its common use of PEDs among competitors.
“They may have picked him out of the group, but he wasn’t the only one,” said sophomore baseball player Dylan Stoskus. “I guess it was wrong, but everyone else had a leg up, so I guess he had to get a leg up too.”
After admitting to his use of testosterone, EPO and blood transfusions in competition, Armstrong was stripped of his seven Le Tour de France titles.
“He embarrassed himself – as a person and as an athlete,” said senior track runner Randy Lott.
“Athletes work hard to get to the top, but he cheated his way there.”
Armstrong was one of the most beloved and respected athletes in the country, and his shocking confession has disgraced his reputation.
“He would have been heroic even if he didn’t win – just for fighting cancer – but he had to win,” said senior volleyball player Kala Guy.
Armstrong’s offense could potentially jeopardize support for his Livestrong campaign. The campaign’s funding came from supporter purchases of yellow bracelets that were worn regularly by fans.
“I just took mine off after five years,” Macedo said. “He’s disappointed a lot of people.”
Along with his titles being taken from him, Armstrong has been issued a lifetime cycling ban from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). A number of fans agree that the ban is appropriate.
“He’s getting what he deserved,” Renn said. “He shouldn’t get a second chance.”
Strong opinions, but others disagree.
“He can always go out with his buddies,” said Athletic Trainer Joe Witt. “That’s what most of the rest of the world does.”
“Taking away what he loves is one of the worst things to do,” Stoskus said. “It’s basically handicapping him.”
