Armstrong Strong-Armed

Despite repeated denials, despite having aced different drug tests, cycling champion Lance Armstrong faced the sports equivalent of still having to present his birth certificate, as the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) continued to accuse him of steroid use.  Armstrong still maintains his innocence but has decided not to further contest the allegations.  That means his seven Tour de France titles and possibly his Olympic bronze medal from the 2000 Sydney Games are being stripped from him based on circumstantial evidence that the International Cycling Union and officials from the Tour de France haven't even been able to corroborate.  Armstrong has his supporters among endorsers and the mayor of Austin, Texas, where Armstrong lives.  But the USADA is going ahead to ensure that Armstrong's accomplishments are stricken from the record - or at least as tainted as they say his blood is.

Armstrong's decision to walk away from a fight for his integrity is being interpreted as a de facto admission of guilt.  No, it's actually a realization by Armstrong that, no matter how hard you fight to clear your name and reputation, sometimes your opponents are too daunting to fight back against. This was Armstrong having had enough of traveling down a long and winding road different from the one he races a bike on.  This was Armstrong saying to the USADA, "Take these championships and shove them." 

This is the greatest injustice against a single individual who has trod upon French soil since Inspector Javert hunted Jean Valjean over stealing a loaf of bread.   

And so, Lance Armstrong will fight no more forever.  It says a lot about his detractors when he can beat back testicular cancer more easily than he can fight the USADA.  Disgusting. :-(