USADA to Strip Armstrong of Tour Wins

In a sport known more for being a haven for drug abuse there was always that one superstar that few believed would or could every cheat and/or lie about performance enhancement and that 

WAS Lance Armstrong.

Well I guess it was just a matter of time. After years of speculation,accusations and a seemingly endless pursuit it would appear that the truth has finally caught up to the once revered and celebrated athletes of our lifetime has seemingly been cut down and is just another disappointment.
For years it was common for other countries to accuse Lance Armstrong of cheating and he would deny it. All around him, before and after is 'amazing' run of 7 Tour de France wins, participants have pop'd positive. Never had Armstrong tested positive but now after all these years and countless allegations, Armstrong now is having to face the music, or at least turn that music off.

U.S. Anti-Doping Agency chief executive Travis Tygart says the agency will ban Lance Armstrong from cycling for life and strip him of his seven Tour de France titles for doping. The ban means nothing at this point as he is removed from being any sort of threat in the cycling world upon his retirement but what it does is crush a legacy that was inspiring to many sports fans, cycling fans and more importantly people fighting cancer, cancer victims, survivors, and those who have been able to beat the horrible enemy. Armstrong's LiveStrong products and branding at one time was unbelievably popular. There were so many people out there who rocked the yellow wrist bracelets is support for the cause. Livestrong was founded and made successful because of what Armstrong had done in the cycling world. It now appears to be all built on a lie.

There was always speculation that something was just not right and that Armstrong 'must have some kind of edge'. Armstrong without fail fought every rumor or accusation and say there was no proof and it was all fabricated, that was until Armstrong on Thursday night dropped any further challenges to USADA's allegations that he took performance-enhancing drugs to win cycling's premier event from 1999-2005.

You are almost looking for the 1920's newspaper kid on the corner yelling 'Extra Extra!' and hearing him say "Say it ain`t so, Lance, Say it ain`t so``

Armstrong says USADA doesn't have the authority to vacate his Tour titles. However, Tygart told The Associated Press that USADA can do it.

It will be interesting to see what the overall reaction to this really is. Have people become to use of drugs in sport and nothing surprises them? Maybe they don`t care anymore, or maybe they will feel betrayed by their one time hero. In any event the court of public appeal is one thing, being officially stripped of Tour Victories is another.

Armstrong has not admitted to any doping infractions but is just not issuing an appeal. That seems to only keep the conspiracy alive. It looks like no one will never know the truth for sure, believers will believe and detractors will continue. Did he or didn't he, the real truth may never be known.