Some have called it the greatest fraud in the world of sport saying that Lance Armstrong used on a number of occasions, performance-enhancing drugs to aid him in winning seven consecutive Tour de France races. Others say Armstrong was the world’s best athlete after winning seven consecutive titles.
Armstrong has decided he will no longer fight the charges the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency has leveled against him. He has essentially walked from the case the USADA brought against him. He has called it a witch hunt and declined to fight it out via arbitration. Armstrong has always maintained his innocence and even though he decided to no longer fight the charges, he said he was innocent.
The governing body for the sport, the International Cycling Union, said it would wait for an explanation from the USADA as to why the former seven time champion should be stripped of his titles before it makes a comment regarding the case.
Armstrong’s lengthy statement said that if for one second he felt he could confront USADA’s charges against him in a setting that was fair, he would jump at the opportunity, but he refused to take part in something that was unfair and one-sided.
Travis Tygart the CEO of USADA, said on Thursday the group had not received a formal notice from Armstrong. Armstrong could be banned for life from all sports that are elite-level and stripped of his seven titles, said the USADA.
Armstrong is currently retired and argued that he has never failed any drug test and the USADA should not be able to strip him of any title. Armstrong was adamant saying that the USADA could not assert control over a professional sport and strip him of his titles.
