Lance Armstrong: A man who erased history

He was a star, but now he shines no more.

Lance Armstrong has been a poster boy for grit, determination and all those virtues that go along with being an iconic sportsman. He has been an idol for those who believe in miraculous comebacks. Today, he’s stepped down from many a pedestal. Today is the day when history has been erased for the professional cyclist and there are no winners that he has left in his wake.

Drug-use allegations have been a part and parcel of Lance Armstrong’s life for most of his career, but he was still a force to be reckoned with, especially due to the goodwill he garnered with LiveStrong, his cancer foundation. He painted an inspirational story with his return from the deadly testicular cancer but his fall from grace has affected people more than his return.

Today, Lance Armstrong has been stripped of his seven Tour De France titles and has been banned for life by the International Cycling Union (UCI) following the sanctions drawn up by the United States Anti Doping Agency. The USADA previously published a report stating that Armstrong has been involved in the “most sophisticated professionalized and successful doping program sport has ever seen.” The UCI President Pat McQuaid has stated that he has accepted the allegations placed by the USADA and would not file an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Pat McQuaid also went on to say that Armstrong deserves no place in cycling and deserves to be forgotten.

The Tour De France will now no longer bear the name of Lance Armstrong. In fact, his name will be removed from all records, thereby erasing his consecutive victories from 1999 to 2005. This might not be the end of it, looking at the number of sanctions stacked up against him. Armstrong is all set to lose his Olympics bronze too. He has also been dropped by sponsors who showcased him as the blue eyed boy of the sporting arena.

While Armstrong still vehemently denies the allegations, he also refuses to fight against the USADA, claiming that the body is biased against him. He has called the sanctions a “witch hunt” against him, contracted to set him up for failure.

The truth may fall in a grey area. It may be a man pitted against an organization, or a beautifully constructed rue by a crafty sportsman. Whatever be the case, we have all lost a hero today. Sporting history has changed and it isn’t doing anyone any favours. May be it’s time to pull down those posters.