Floyd Landis/Lance Armstrong -- I am not condoning Floyd Landis' lying and his behavior. He is a cheater, ethically bankrupt and his name will forever be associated with everything that is wrong in sports. To summarize, Landis won the 2006 Tour de France before having his title removed for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. He then entered a crusade against the anti-doping and cycling governing bodies while shouting his innocence from the top of his lungs. He even wrote a book comically named "Positively False."
This week Landis finally came out admitted he cheated his whole career. This didn't exactly come as a shock, but it did destroy all credibility he may have had left. However, he could just stop there. Whether it was jealousy, revenge or just being a bitter soul, he decided to implicate many others as his ship was sinking. Most notably, seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong was included in those allegations.
Landis knew this moment at the 2006 Tour de France was a complete fraud
Here's the kicker...I believe him. I am among those who has thought Armstrong has cheated for a long time. Yes, he hasn't failed any tests, but in this current PED climate I can no longer take his word on it because logic isn't on his side.
Armstrong has been accused several times of using illegal methods such as EPO, steroids and blood doping. Governing bodies and fellow riders are among his accusers. The problem is nothing sticks. Part of that is the lack of any positive tests, but the other part is not discussed much publicly.
Armstrong has a long history of law suits and threats of lawsuits or alternative actions against his individual accusers that has resulted in the loss of people's jobs and threatened their livelihoods. He has a stable of lawyers and money on his side and he badgers and bullies people into keeping quiet and dropping lawsuits. Even fellow American cycling legend Greg LeMond has accused Armstrong of cheating and bullying.
As I said before, logic fails me when it comes to Armstrong's side. I am supposed to believe this man, who had testicular cancer that metastasized to his brains and lungs and had an grim prognosis, not only survived but became the greatest cyclist of all-time?
Keep in mind, EVERY other top rider during Armstrong's prime tested positive for cheating one way or another. These riders were the best in the sport and in peak condition who never went through such arduous cancer treatments as Armstrong, yet they still couldn't beat him even while cheating! This man went from almost dying to the cream of the crop in one of the most physically-demanding sports and beat all of his cheating competition...and we are supposed to believe that in this day and age with the revelations across all sports over the last few years?
Maybe he is a complete miracle. I give the guy all the credit in the world for his fight against his cancer and the incredible effort he has undertaken trying to fight cancer worldwide. Maybe he did make himself into the best cyclist of all time without PEDs or cheating, but my brain won't let me wrap my head around it. It is a comment on the sad state of sports and PEDs.
Armstrong won the Tour de France seven times, but I think he was using more than champagne to get by.
They both cheated and deserve to be exposed. Not proven is distinctive from factually innocent and the circumstantial evidence surrounding this thing stinks something fierce. That said, Floyd is a special kind of ass!
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