The lifetime ban is justified. Again, from USADA's August 24, 2012 statement:
In accordance with the Code, aggravating circumstances including involvement in multiple anti-doping rule violations and participation in a sophisticated doping scheme and conspiracy as well as trafficking, administration and/or attempted administration of a prohibited substance or method, justify a period of ineligibility greater than the standard sanction. Accordingly, Mr. Armstrong has received a lifetime period of ineligibility for his numerous anti-doping rule violations, including his involvement in trafficking and administering doping products to others. A lifetime period of ineligibility as described in the Code prevents Mr. Armstrong from participating in any activity or competition organized by any signatory to the Code or any member of any signatory.
Again, did USADA performed (or was supposed to perform) drug tests for Mr. Armstrong? Of course they did! Do these tests discover doping through the analysis? Sure they do! So the question is: how come that for 12 years they couldn't prove any fact anti-doping rule violation? Personally I'm sure they found something but some important figures in this game where not interested in it to become public. Otherwise LA would get normal 2 year ban already 12 years ago and most likely the story would never come to the life time ban.
Now situation looks like LA got most severe penalty in the history of sport as a scapegoat for the first proven violation and people who were covering him all this time stay clear (from USADA side as well because I don't believe they were not aware).
The lifetime ban is justified. Again, from USADA's August 24, 2012 statement:
In accordance with the Code, aggravating circumstances including involvement in multiple anti-doping rule violations and participation in a sophisticated doping scheme and conspiracy as well as trafficking, administration and/or attempted administration of a prohibited substance or method, justify a period of ineligibility greater than the standard sanction. Accordingly, Mr. Armstrong has received a lifetime period of ineligibility for his numerous anti-doping rule violations, including his involvement in trafficking and administering doping products to others. A lifetime period of ineligibility as described in the Code prevents Mr. Armstrong from participating in any activity or competition organized by any signatory to the Code or any member of any signatory.
Again, did USADA performed (or was supposed to perform) drug tests for Mr. Armstrong? Of course they did! Do these tests discover doping through the analysis? Sure they do! So the question is: how come that for 12 years they couldn't prove any fact anti-doping rule violation? Personally I'm sure they found something but some important figures in this game where not interested in it to become public. Otherwise LA would get normal 2 year ban already 12 years ago and most likely the story would never come to the life time ban.
Now situation looks like LA got most severe penalty in the history of sport as a scapegoat for the first proven violation and people who were covering him all this time stay clear (from USADA side as well because I don't believe they were not aware).
