I want to point out an observation from a perspective of a pro cycling fan. I have followed professional cycling for many years. I watch all the races, it is an exciting sport to follow. The sport has been turbulent with scandals for years. Doping, cover ups, bullying, lies, bribes accepted by the governing body in change of overseeing the sport. The system was, and still is rigged.
Lance Armstrong was face of the sport for many years, dominating the Tour de France by winning it 7 times in a row from1999 to 2005. He retired on top of the world. If Americans were asked to name a cyclist, any cyclist, Lance would be the only one they knew. He was all over the media, pumped up by huge endorsement deals, made appearances, gave speeches and made millions…
Those of us who followed the sport closely knew all about Lance and what he was really like. He would do anything to win. He was notorious for being a bully. He would tear down anyone who crossed him. Frankie and Betsy Andreau , Tyler Hamilton, Floyd Landis, all former teammates of his, were destroyed for crossing him. While wearing the yellow jersey in 2004, He famously chased down Filippo Simeoni whom was tying to get in to a break because of negative comments he made testified against Armstrongs doping Doctor. He had a positive test swept under the rug after he made a “donation” to the UCI, the body that governs the sport.
He was still so powerful, such a celebrity, no one dared to cross him. The sport had what is called omerta, a code of silence. No one had the courage to challenge the status quo, not the riders, not the race organizers or sponsors. His surrogates would voraciously defend him. Journalists, who published articles accusing him of doping were smeared and sued. Lance would proudly state that, they have been saying negative things about me for years...and I’m still here.
His most infamous of all, “I have never tested positive."
Nevertheless, he was still revered in the USA. The majority didn’t really know what was beneath the surface.
His fans defended him tooth and nail:
“Everyone else was doing it!"
“He has a charitable foundation that does so much good!"
And my favorite tween pejorative, “You are just a Hater!"
He came back to the sport in 2009. We all thought, well, it looks like he got away with it, he is beyond reproach. He is above the law. Soon after, in 2010 the US Federal Prosecutors investigated him for doping violations. This was led by Jeff Novitsky, who also had investigated Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. We thought, wow finally, justice is coming. Much to our dismay, the case was dropped in February 2012. Speculation started as to what happened, how the case was quashed…
But soon after, the United States Anti Doping Agency USADA started their own investigation and released the “ Reasoned Decision” in June of 2012. A failed lawsuit later, Armstrong was stripped of his titles and banned for life. A mea culpa to Oprah, and the rest is history.
Moral of the story: beware of what lies beneath the surface, the truth eventually comes out, no matter how invincible and revered the Star.