All your statements ignore the simple fact that he admitted to doping and cheating.So did Floyd Landis. If I remember he bullied a few people and cried about unfair drug testing procedures until he didn't have a choice. Perhaps his smartest move was to know when it was over and accept the 2 year ban. Landis even alleged that the USADA was bribed to ignore a drug test. This would have been a good time to bust Armstrong except there was the issue of a big pile of cash rolling in from everyone looking at how a cancer survivor was suddenly winning the worlds biggest bike race. Turns out every TdF winner from 1996 to 2007 has either admitted to doping or was caught. All except Pantani could swim for USMS today. Only Armstrong and Contador have been stripped of any of those victories and Contador was allowed to keep 2 of his. Indurain was frequently suspected of it and was caught with an allowed substance due to his asthma. Merckx failed drug tests and still owns 5 titles. Anquetil has admitted to doping. None of this excuses Armstrong's actions. He cheated. He lied. He sued. And he lost. And perhaps he deserves the largest ban every handed out to any professional cyclist. But a lifetime ban for an athlete that no longer poses any threat to be at the top of any professional sport seems excessive... almost vindictive.
Note that I don't disagree with the USMS ruling. He can't swim... those are the rules as unfair as it may seem to some.
All your statements ignore the simple fact that he admitted to doping and cheating.So did Floyd Landis. If I remember he bullied a few people and cried about unfair drug testing procedures until he didn't have a choice. Perhaps his smartest move was to know when it was over and accept the 2 year ban. Landis even alleged that the USADA was bribed to ignore a drug test. This would have been a good time to bust Armstrong except there was the issue of a big pile of cash rolling in from everyone looking at how a cancer survivor was suddenly winning the worlds biggest bike race. Turns out every TdF winner from 1996 to 2007 has either admitted to doping or was caught. All except Pantani could swim for USMS today. Only Armstrong and Contador have been stripped of any of those victories and Contador was allowed to keep 2 of his. Indurain was frequently suspected of it and was caught with an allowed substance due to his asthma. Merckx failed drug tests and still owns 5 titles. Anquetil has admitted to doping. None of this excuses Armstrong's actions. He cheated. He lied. He sued. And he lost. And perhaps he deserves the largest ban every handed out to any professional cyclist. But a lifetime ban for an athlete that no longer poses any threat to be at the top of any professional sport seems excessive... almost vindictive.
Note that I don't disagree with the USMS ruling. He can't swim... those are the rules as unfair as it may seem to some.
