Lance Armstrong has quit the board of his namesake foundation - the latest fallout from allegations of doping that brought about the cycling icon's epic downfall.
He chose to resign from the Lance Armstrong Foundation - known by the name Livestrong - "to spare the organization any negative effects as a result of controversy surrounding his cycling career," according to a statement by Jeff Garvey, the foundation's chairman.
"We are deeply grateful to Lance for creating a cause that has served millions of cancer survivors and their families. We are beholden to the Armstrong family for the nearly $7 million in contributions throughout the foundation’s history. Lance Armstrong was instrumental in changing the way the world views people affected by cancer."
Armstrong previously gave up his position as chairman in the wake of the growing scandal, but said he would remain involved.
Although the Tour de France has revoked the seven victories that made him a legend, Armstrong tweeted a photo over the weekend showing himself lounging on a sofa beneath the seven prized yellow jerseys.
He has long insisted he did not cheat, and attacked those who accused him of using illegal substances. But the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency found "overwhelming" evidence that he was involved in "the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program."
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Its a sad day, i for one really don't care if he did or didn't dope. He's still the champ in my eyes. If he doped as it appears as all those around him did, then he was still the best out of all of them. The playing field was level so to speak. The tour was so exciting to watch in those days, now its a bore to watch.
It's a sad day when there are people in the world who think like you do. Armstrong is not a champ; he is a lying, cheating loser who deserves nothing but disdain and disgust.
He's a champ? What makes him a champ: doping better than all the others? Outsmarting the authorities better than the others? Bullying & threatening those who didn't desire to dope? Bullying & threatening the spouses & families of those who didn't desire to dope? Enforcing the doping culture in the professional peloton so clean riders could not participate & indeed see their careers ruined & natural talent wasted?
And all this is okay for your entertainment?
For the haters out there so certain Lance Armstrong cheated where were you in races #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, or #7? You could have gone out and stopped him and now you would be a hero. But as it stands you're just all talk. Probably never met the guy, never went to a foundation meeting in Austin, and don't really even know what you're talking about. At least Name*mtnbiker has the heart and desire to see the champion in that man. And doping or not there is a champion in that man.
if even one rider on each tour was clean, then the cheating disqualifies any cheater. since that can never be known, the cheaters must be condemned by default, since at the very least they broke The Rules knowingly in order to get ahead of everyone else, cheaters or non-. the boos and hisses are therefore deserved, and equivocating is no less a seeking of advantage – for someone else. which is just plain weird.
if it's ok to cheat then the sport has no value. Cheats are not heroes
So its not okay for our athlete to lie, cheat , and steal because they are just athletes. But its only okay for the men that run this country to continue to lie, cheat, and steal from the country every day and they all continue to work in politics. Yeah we are not a backwards country.
Everybody has to throw the tired old gvmt whine in.
What are you talking about, Romney didn't win the election and he was the only liar in the bunch that we knew for sure was a liar. I am sure there are many politicians that lie and that is just a part of their job. They don't know any other way. Still – That has nothing to do with Lance doing an act that I am sure most athletes do. They all dope it up one way or the other.
Well said! I guess the biggest problem with the lieing and cheating is that kids look up to athletes and not to politicians!
The Bigger problem is that Adults look up to Politicians and then go back and teach their kids. A child will tell you that they are a Republican or a Democrat and when you ask them why they say because that's what mommy told me I was.
Seriously, what was Armstrong thinking ? No one would ever 'wise up' to him ? What a wasted life !
Maybe we can invent a new endurance event just for Lance – the "go dig a hole in the desert and sit there for as long as you can" event. Tweet that picture!
So sad to see a hero to so many fall so far, It is unfortunate. Our children today have so few heroes or people to look up to.
This is sad Neal Armstrong is an icon. An American hero. I think he was the first man to step onto the moon. A great astronaut and hero.
Fail....dont give up your day job..Your comedy blows.
Do your investigative research and you will find that Armstrong never came close to the moon. NASA just doped up the story to try and beat Russia on the second tour. It's still a sad day.
Who cares if he doped. It doesn't make a differance. Almost all athletes do it
It does make a differance because not all the athletes do it, thats why its unfair.
Lance Armstrong severs ties with Livestrong? Not sure I believe him.
I wish the media would sever ties with him, maybe then he would go away.
He's more annoying than Brittney, Lindsey, Charlie & the rest of hollywood.
I believe he was involved in doping to "some" extent. I also am quite sure as most are that 'most" riders were involved in doping to "some" extent. Yea, it is unfortunate and sad. It is also true that apples to apples he was the best, by far, of all the apples in the barrel. They have vacated his tour wins as no one was not in the zone so to speak.
Nope, he was not the best. The 10 guys that finished last were the best!
Oh, I'm sorry – you meant the best at cheating. Yes of course he was!
Notice the "overwhelming" is in quotes? Take a look at the "overwhelming" evidence:
1. Blood samples from 1999 that tested positive for EPO... samples that UCI says were mishandled and can't prove anything.
2. Testimony from the likes of Floyd "I'm suing you for slander" Landis.
3. "Sophisticated" organization: Armstrong's wife distributing pills wrapped in tin foil
4. Motive for Armstrong FORCING OTHER riders to dope? Nah, we don't need a motive.
5. Kristin Armstrong, apparently the backbone of the operation, MIA. No testimony. (Can't get his EX-wife to testify? Are her alimony payments really that high?)
6. DOJ charges: None. Nothing to charge him with. No case.
But then, this isn't a court of law. They don't have the burden of proof the DOJ has. "Beyond a REASONABLE doubt" is not the motto of the USADA.
Bill,
Did you read the report?
Really?
All 200 pages? And the affadavits?
It's online. Very easy to find.
Or did you just read articles about it?
Or just sorta skim it?
I'd read it. See how you feel afterwards.
Heck, after you read it, toss half of it away. Discount half of it as B.S.
Three quarters of it.
See how you feel afterwards.
After you read it.
We need to stop idealizing athletes and entertainers as heroes and role models. They're just people, who have made no commitments to the general public.
BUT- They have made it where you have not. Doesn't that stand for something?
Great man. Great astronaut.
That's one small dope for man, one giant "performance enhancement" for mankind.
They need to rename it to "CheatStrong"
He made millions of dollars by cheating. How can there be so many apologists for this man? Would you feel the same way about some one who cheats the stock market or someone who cheats on their resume and gets a job over you? This is what is wrong withe the world people.
What about our cheating and crooked law makers, they get away with getting paid for doing nothing. We allow our law makers to make decisions on our nation and on us. and we just forgive them. So what is the difference between them and Armstrong.
If you cheat, you got to pay. Sometime people get away with cheating but sometimes they do not.
Proverbs 10:9
Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.